49 



gorge, a section of an anticlinal fold is clearly shown, the first 

 stratum being near the edge of a fault in the limestone which 

 runs near the foot of the escarpment just mentioned, and along 

 which the Love joins with the Ross. 



North of the fault or at the mouth of the gorge, the stratum is a 

 white gritty sandstone similar to that of the tableland hills, and is 

 capped with a red glazing. Portions of the glazed section have fallen 

 to the foot in huge masses, and have rounded by weathering into 

 shapes suggestive of the appellation of turtle-backs. Following 

 this comes the lissile sandstone, weathered red, and then the 

 limestone series, the different bandings of which are displayed in 

 the cliffs in zigzag contortions of striking aspect. In this series 

 is the " Bitter Spring," the water of which tastes like quinine, 

 it has no ill effect on man, and the camels drink it as though 

 they would never be satisfied. The length of the gorge now lies 

 altogether in this series, except at the extreme north end, where 

 the crown of the anticline is distinctly shown, and then the fissile 

 sandstone, surmounted by the argillaceous glazed-grit, again ap- 

 pears The white grit, with its porcelain capping, is termed the 

 "Made Hills" by the diggers, which are well-known landmarks. 



Beyond the " Made Hills " a fault brings up the schists and 

 granites again, and diorite dykes, running E.S.E. through it, are 

 numerous. The creek now occupies the end of an elevated valley- 

 plain about twelve miles long and four wide, whose sides are com- 

 posed of quartzite ridges, the south one dipping southward and 

 the north one — the Georgina Range — dipping northward. The 

 plain is therefore along the crest of the anticline, and has been 

 formed by the degradation of the schists, vrhich are now covered 

 by a Tertiary alluvium. There is one patch of limestone lying 

 flat on it in thin layers, but I am uncertain as to its relationship. 

 Eastwards the plain contracts to about a mile in width, and then 

 granitic dykes of small dimensions, and numerous thin leaders of 

 quartz rock are found in micaceous schist and hornblendic schists, 

 with diorite dykes on the northern edge. The quartz veins carry 

 small spots of galena, argentiferous grey copper ore, brown iron- 

 stone, and free gold in cavities, evidently marking the site of 

 decomposed pyrites. This is the Paddy's Hole Goldfield, and 

 receives its name fi-om a rock waterhole in the southern quartzite 

 ridge. Passing over the anticline through a broad faulted por- 

 tion of the Georgina Ridge, another systeui of auriferous quartz 

 veins in the neighbourhood of diorite dykes is crossed in the des- 

 cent to the Hale or Elder River. Beyond the broad valley of 

 this watercourse, Mdiich has large gum trees growing in its sandy 

 bed, the Hart Range rises, and is about 16 miles across, and con- 

 sists of the same series of beds as the other range, but which, 

 though greatly faulted, are more easily inclined, especially at the 



