54 



is very different to the others. The medullary ray bundles 

 resemble those in the Elm and other woods, being thick, 

 elliptical, and containing somewhat large porous vessels. 

 See Fig. 19.20. 



The Pine and Banksia in sections No. 10-13, 16-18, are 

 unmistakably clear, being almost identical in every feature 

 with existing woods of the same class. The tree remains are 

 embedded in many cases in a highly crystalline agglomerate* 

 and have been converted into a carbonate of lime. Towards 

 the centre of the branches or trunks the carbonate is of a 

 black crystalline structure, in which it is either very difficult 

 to trace the original woody structure, or it has altogether dis- 

 appeared. 



The exterior and weathered portions are of a dullish white 

 color, and show the structure admirably. Many of the water-worn 

 silicified pines found elsewhere,appear to be identical in struc- 

 ture with those found here almost in situ, and it is remarkable 

 that many of them (silicified specimens) correspond with some 

 of the Corra Lynn trees, in that they become opaque and 

 structureless towards the centre. May it not be possible that 

 the waterworn silicified specimens, have been derived from a 

 similar matrix, to that which encloses the numerous Corra Lynn 

 fossils, and may not the change to a siliceous state have been 

 induced subsequently ? Those of the Fellows skilled in 

 chemistry may be able to say whether this is probable or not, 

 so far as chemical change is concerned. 



The section in which these fossil woods appear is about 80 

 feet high, and has been exposed by the North Esk river, 

 which is still undermining its face ; the detritus is forming 

 a small island in its immediate vicinity. This section is com- 

 posed of a series of beds of brecciated tuffs, conglomerates and 

 agglomerates, in regular bands, and it abuts horizontally 

 against the Corra Lynn basalt, which latter appears to be 

 much older. 



Although the agglomerates are all more or less indurated 

 it is the lowest stratum now forming the bed of the river, 

 which appears to have undergone the greatest alteration. 

 Had it not been that certain angular blocks of an altered clay- 

 stone, are found embedded in it, I should have imagined that 

 the older basalt was not thoroughly cooled when the first 

 stratum of agglomerate was thrown down on its surface, but 

 as the altered claystone is found in situ, overlying and in con- 

 tact with the older Corra Lynn basalt, at the bridge over the 

 river, it is most probable that the cause of alteration must have 



* I use the term agglomerate advisedly, for although a stray block or two of a 

 foreign element enters into its composition, it is very evidently directly formed from 

 ihe ejecta of a recent volcano In the neighbourhood 



