THE GEOLOGY OF LIMEKILNS, BATHURST DISTRICT. 295 



at the caves, but less distinctly fossiliferous, although the corals 

 are of the same genera and apparently the same species. This 

 limestone strikes about N.N.W. — S.S.E., like the other, and may 

 be followed on the right hand side of the road towards the 

 Diamond Creek, but gives place to slates, much tilted up, before 

 the creek is reached ; on the left it continues for at least two 

 miles. After crossing the outcrop the black slates come in again 

 and there is no more limestone on the road for about two miles. 

 A short distance back from the road, however, there is a very 

 fine outcrop of limestone, forming a bold escarpment, and 

 apparently dipping into the hill, that is, about E. The rock is 

 very massive and compact, mostly of the usual bluish tint, but in 

 places becoming red, and near the base of the escarpment there is 

 a seam of brown haematite, which seems to be a pure ore, but its 

 thickness has not been tested. The base of the limestone escarp- 

 ment is about eight hundred feet above Bathurst and the top at 

 least one thousand feet. It is capped by beds of grit, quartzite, 

 and impure limestone. The limestone and grits contain Bhyncho- 

 nella pleurodon and other fossils. The grits clearly belong to the 

 well known Brachiopod Sandstone series, and the quartzites are 

 quite similar to those obtainable anywhere to the east of Bathurst 

 where the ground rises to one thousand feet above the city. At 

 Limekilns they have been followed to a height of one thousand 

 two hundred feet, and the top of the hill was not reached. They 

 have the usual dip, about E.S.E. 20°. At other places the 

 quartzites and grits reach a height of two thousand feet above 

 Bathurst, but, as they dip easterly, the base is found lower down 

 as we proceed in that direction. There can be little doubt that 

 they are unconformable to the limestone, from which they are 

 separated by a thin band of slate, and are of very different age. 



The Palmer's Oakey road bends to the north-east and at about 

 three miles from Tobin's one reaches the Fernbrook quarries. These 

 are situated in a mass of limestone with a gentle slope, at a height 

 of about eight hundred and fifty feet. Only two small quarries 

 have been opened as yet, to a depth of about ten feet. The band 



