46 THE NATIVE QUARRY OF SYNDAL. 



fence between Syndal and Charlton Estate, till a hut 

 near an artificial lagoon, which is' somewhat north of the 

 boundary fence, was reached. Passing it, we eventually 

 reached a wire-netted cross fence running north and 

 south, and, passing through the -hurdle gate, we turned 

 towards right (south), and, following the cross fence for 

 about a quarter of a mile, we came on the slope of a low 

 hill right on to the quarry. The run where it occurs is 

 known as the " Front Shelves Run." 



At first it did not seem very extensive ; but further 

 examination showed that it extended for at least half- 

 a-mile in an eastern direction. The sight is really a re- 

 markable one, and the photographs give only a very 

 poor idea of it. Hundreds of thousands of fragments of 

 rock are lying about, sometimes in large heaps, some- 

 times more scattered. No better comparison could be 

 made than with a road recently covered with fresh 

 broken metal, and every one of the fragments we see 

 has once passed through human hands. 



Unfortunately, the bush is rather dense, and this 

 made a closer geological examination impossible. A 

 short distance towards south-east there are sandstone 

 cliffs, in which now and then a little cave has been hol- 

 lowed out. The relationship of the chert which was 

 used for implements and the sandstone is not quite 

 clear ; neither did I see any volcanic rock close to the 

 outcrop of the chert. As far as can be made out, the 

 chert forms a band of about 120 feet in width and half- 

 a-mile in length, striking almost due east-west. Perhaps 

 a closer examination will reveal more with regard to 

 the geological features. For the present it is impossible 

 to say anything more in particular with regard to the 

 origin of the chert, Whether it is metamorphosed or an 

 original sedimentary rock. The extremely fine bedding 

 would almost suggest that it is a true siliceous shale. 



At the western part the chert is of dark blue colour, 

 and of very fine grain ; it is very evenly striated, and 

 darker and lighter-coloured bands are irregularly 

 alternating. At the eastern end, however, a chert of 

 'light greyish colour occurs. It would be interesting to 

 see the passage of the dark blue into the grey chert ; 

 but I am afraid this is impossible without a good deal of 

 dig"ging and blasting. However, this occurrence proves 



