Geological Formations. 
15 
Victoria presents no striking geological features of which 
counterparts cannot be found in other parts of the world. Of the 
formations given in the above list, some, as before stated, can 
with certainty be regarded, on palaeontological evidence, as 
equivalents of well-known European strata ; in the case of others, 
the evidence as to their precise position is meagre, but no doubt 
exists as to the accuracy of their general classification. Repre- 
sentatives of many of the subdivisions of European geology are 
wanting, or occupy very small areas, in Victoria, though, as 
regards some of them, Mr. Selwyn lias pointed out that they may 
at one time have existed, but have been removed by the action of 
denudation. 
Generally described, with reference to the physical configura- 
tion, Victorian geology presents the following main features : — * 
1st. The Main Divide and its accessory systems of ranges north 
and south, constituting a great central longitudinal area of Lower 
Palaeozoic rocks, through which protrude masses of granite and 
trappean rocks, and on which are overlying or flanking deposits 
of Upper Palaeozoic, Mesozoic, and Tertiary ages. 2nd. The two 
great southern projections of Victoria, comprising the Western 
Port and South Gippsland Ranges on tho east, and the Cape 
Otway Ranges on the west, of Port Phillip ; also an area in the 
western district, south of tho main road from Hamilton to 
Casterton, including a large portion of tho drainage-area of the 
Wannon, and extending westward to the Glenelg River. 
In all these areas the prevailing rock-formation is of Mesozoic 
age, though more or less overlaid by Tertiary sedimentary and 
volcanic layers. Wilson’s Promontory, however, tho extreme 
southern portion of the South Gippsland Ranges, consists entirely 
of granite; and from near Anderson's Inlet to the head of Corner 
Inlet the Silurian rocks bound the Mesozoic area on the south. A 
protrusion of tlie Silurian through the Mesozoic rocks occurs at 
T u rt on’s Creek, some 10 miles north from Corner Inlet. A small 
area of Mesozoic rocks occurs near Bacchus Marsh. Tho total 
extent of country in which the Victorian rocks of this series prevail 
near the surface is about 4,000 square miles, but an additional 
area of nearly equal extent is probably concealed by overlying 
Tertiary deposits. 3rd. The low-lying or slight ly-uudulatiug 
tracks, consisting of sedimentary deposits of Tertiary and Post- 
Tertiary ages. Of these, the principal are : — The level country 
lying southward of tho Murray River, from Wahgunyah to the 
western boundary of the colony, including the Wimmera district, 
and extending thence southward to tlie mouth of the Glenelg; 
tracts bordering the sea-coast, and extending for various distances 
inland, from tlie Glenelg to the Gellibrand ; from Loutit Bay 
to Port Phillip ; from between St. Kilda aud Frankston across 
to Western Port ; from the Powlett River to Anderson’s Inlet 
B 2 
