56 



Personal Observations in the 



corded amongst those geological wonders which in different 

 countries have so frequently excited the curiosity of even the 

 most thoughtless of mankind. There is also a very interesting 

 group of boulders on Dr. Baynton's run. 



The second species of granite on the dividing ranges, con- 

 sists of line crystallized felspar, with a small admixture of 

 mica and quartz, the latter in minute particles. This granite 

 constitutes the higher ranges on Moliison's run,, and appears 

 similar to that at Mount Macedon ; it exhibits a strong ten- 

 dency to sgllt perpendicularly. 



The celebrated spot which supplies the natives with stone 

 (phonolite) for their tomahawks, and of which I had been 

 informed by the tribes 400 miles distant, I was unable, at 

 this period of my journey to trace out ;. but subsequently 

 was fortunate enough to hit upon it accidentally while in 

 search of other objects, with the a^&lstance of F. Mackenzie, 

 Esq. 



Three miles east of Lancefield is a lofty chain of hilk, 

 running nearly north and south; the highest summit of which 

 is called Mount William. These ranges- are intersected by the 

 road leading froui Lancefield to Kihnore, and which divides the 

 basaltic strata, on the north from tlie clay slate rocks and slate 

 of the southern portion of the range. The basalt gradually 

 changes its specific character, northward, till at Mount Wil- 

 liam it becomes distinct phonolite, of a hard and glassy tex- 

 ture. A most excellent stone for macadamizing roads occurs 

 in this locality, and will be a treasure to the neighbouring 

 district, when the progress of the country shall demand its 

 applic-atlon. Good brown iron ore also occasionally occurs, 

 though not in grexit quantities. 



Having observed on the tops of these hills a multitude of 

 fragments of stones Avhich appeared to have been broken 

 artificially, and which I recognised as phonolite or clink- 

 stone, I was led to trace them to the source from which 

 they appeared to have proceeded, a spot three-quarters of a 

 mile eastward, on somewhat loAver ranges. Here I unex- 

 pectedly found the deserted quarries (kinohahm) of the 

 aboriginals, which I had previously been unable to discover. 



The phonolite (tadijem), as before mentioned, is that of 

 which their tomahawks are formed* The quarries which extend 

 over an area of upwaixls of 100 acres, present an appearance 

 somewhat similar to that of a deserted gold field, and convey 

 a faithful idea of the great determination displayed by th<! 

 aboriginals, prior to the intrusion of the white races. Thej 



