58 CRATER NEAR HERBERTON. 



These dykes are probably newer, though possibly 

 of the same period as the huge massive porphyry, which 

 extends from the Valley of the Dry River, some 3 J miles 

 southerly, from Watsonville and crosses the Wild River 

 some seven miles from Herl)erton and extends past 

 Evelyn Station to the Gorge Road and to the Millstream. 



In his report on " The Tin Mines of Watsonville," 

 (18®7), Mr. 8- J. B. Skertchly, r^erring t© the igneous 

 rocks of the Herberton and Watsonville Districts, says — 

 *' The granites are the oldest of the rocks and they are 

 newer than the per mo-carboniferous (? Devonian) sedi- 

 mentary strata for they can be seen forcing their way 

 into these rocks and sending strings and dykes into them, 

 and this is even more marked in the southern part of our 

 Colony than in the northern." 



" Next in geological sequence is the great porphyry 

 series which has pushed its way through tlie granite and 

 sent numerous dykes into it. Following this is the period 

 of the elvan dykes, which intersect alike the sedimentary 

 rocks, the granite and the porphyry. Connected with 

 these elvan dykes is the production of some of the tin- 

 bearing matter, as is abundantly shown in the sequeL 

 Next in order are the basic dykes (diorites, etc.) with which 

 the chief outpouring of the tin occurred." 



Last of all, there are the great basaltic outpourings 

 of the Tertiary period similar to so many other districts 

 in Australia. 



These main characteristics are well illustrated on the 

 main spur of the Hugh Nelson Range, on which the '* Crater'^ 

 is situated. Descending from the high granite point, 

 from which the view of Bartle Frere and Bellenden Ker 

 is obtained, it is necessary to proceed on foot through the 

 scrub. Here and there cedar trees are met with, and 

 except in a few places the rock is buried under the rich 

 vegetable mould of the scrub. But the main characteristics 

 above referred to are well illustrated, where fragments of 

 the rock are obtainable. Entering the scrub, the rock 

 is here elvan, further on the quartz porphyries appear, 

 and in the bed of the creek, about three quarters of a mile 

 in the scrub, hard elvan porphyry is exposed. Crossing 

 the Creek chocolate soil overlies the rock beneath. Ascend- 

 ing the high ridge forming the Gorge of the Barron River 



