Palaeozoic Geology of Victoria. 



103 



taken place along this line at successive intervals during the late 

 Kainozoic uplift, which produced the existing highlands. The posi- 

 tion and general direction of the Macallister valley coincides in 

 part with this line, and some of the physiographic features suggest 

 at any rate that its course has been controlled to some extent by 

 this feature. 



Kainozoic Basalt .—The extent of this rock is small, it is but a 

 remnant of an extensive Hoav which once occupied the valley. It is 

 about a thousand feet above the present stream bed, and was at one 

 time clearly continuous with other more extensive fragments, which 

 are to be found chiefly to the south iri the vicinity of Blanket Hills, 

 where the basalt forms a striking shelf about 800 feet above the 

 existing stream, Avhich is now entrenched to that amount along the 



.eastern margin. 



A fine view of this feature is seen from Wallaby Hill, showing also 

 the sudden termination of the Highlands in the south, a portion 

 of the plains of the Great Valley of Victoria, and the Southern 

 Highlands in the distance. (See ^ketch A.) The basalt of Gipps- 

 land generally is usually regarded as the Older Basalt, and may, 

 therefore be at least pre-Miocene. There is no satisfactory petro- 

 logical distinction, by which the various Kainozoic basalts can be 

 recognised. 



It is, therefore, often very difficult to correlate many of the lava 

 flows in even adjacent areas. For instance, the high N. and S. 

 ridge to the west of the Macallister, from Mount Useful in the 

 south, where it forms the divide between the Thompson Valley, to 

 'Connor's Plains in the north, where it is part of the) Main Divide, 

 is capped at intervals with basalt resting on river gravels. These 



Sketch A 



TlicCrfutVflllfu. 

 Cippslnnd Plains. 



Soulk Ctpps!uri<l Hir|hlan(!s 



Noifh Ccp|>sliiul Hiahlflnds . 

 BIf.rK R(l 



'■'i'-^-'*^<]^^^^^-smymf^ 



Missmss'.:i':wr^,.^-M%m. 



