PHYSIOGRAPHY OF SOUTH GIPPSLANU. 461 



which caused the uprising--;. The htholngical character of the heels 

 has been descrihed elsewhere."' It is somewhat remarkable that 

 the sandstones are principally made up of partly volcanic materials, 

 and may be derived from the detritus of Devonian ash beds and 

 tufas, with an admixture of the felspathic constituents of Plutonic 

 rocks. 



Fossil Flora. — The vegetable fossils discovered during my sur- 

 veys in South Gippsland have been referred to by Professor 

 McCoyf as confirming the Oolitic age of the beds, as formerly sug- 

 gested by him. He also remarks that the species of Baierce are 

 closely allied to the French and German Oolitic species, and that 

 Albertia and Palissya are represented by species not yet published 

 in Australia. 



The only representative of the fauna of the period yet discovered 

 is Unio Slirlingi, which I have found at both the eastern and 

 western portions of the area ; and this, together with the flora, 

 suggests fluviatile and lacustrine conditions as prevailing during- 

 the deposition of the Gippsland Oolitic beds. Although some of 

 the members of the group are in parts calcareous, yet no distinct 

 limestone bed has been proved in any part of the area. 



Eocene or Miocene. 



Overlying the Mesozoic rocks at various localities in the Latrobe, 

 Tarwin, and Lang Lang valleys, and extending from Cape Liptrap 

 to the Hoddle Ranges, are deposits of silicious conglomerates and 

 quartzites with, in some localities, interbedded lenticular-shaped 

 deposits of indurated claj-, containing plant impressions of an 

 Eocene facies, and apparently formed by fluviatile or lacustrine 

 agencies. Associated with these silicious beds are deposits of 

 gravels, sandy clays, clays, and lignites; the last apparently over- 

 lying the partly abraded surfaces of the more silicious rocks. 

 Altliough occurring m situ, the contemporaneity of the lignite 

 beds and the silicious conglomerates is by no means established. 

 At Thorpdale,J at the heads of the Tarwin, the following section is 

 obtained at 620ft. above sea level : — Older basalt, at lower levels ; 

 gravels (ferruginous), then a bed of lignite at 560ft.. then 40ft. of 

 brown coal resting upon clays at 480ft. above sea level, and under- 

 lying the clays about 80ft. of conglomerates resting on Mesozoic 

 rocks. 



At Calignee, on the northeastern extension of the Strzelecki 

 Range, are similar lignite beds, biit at a much higher altitude ; 

 and similarly at Carrajung and McKerley's Creek, in the Neerim 

 district. 



In some localities the underlying strata have been silicified for 

 a short distance from the contact with the conglomerates. This is 



• Uuarterly Reports of the Mining Department (see illustriitions ol diamond drill ores). 



♦ Special report on Victori^.n coalfields, p. 12. 



t See Quarterly Reports, Mines Dept., Victoria, for March, 1890, p. 31. 



