3 
MIRBOO DISTRICT. 
Topography. 
The township of Mirboo is built upon n flat extension of the watershed line separating the streams 
flowing into the Tarwin on the south from those flowing into the Latrobe ou the north. To the west of 
Mirboo this watershed lino rises at Allambee to nearly 1,600 feet above sea level, and to the south-east to 
1,000 feet. The height at Mirboo North is between 800 and 900 feet above sea level. 
l’he spurs towards the Morwell valley ou the north slope more gradually than those on the south 
towards Berry’s Creek valley. Fault lines following approximately the course of the Little Morwell River to 
N.N.E. and Murray’s Creole northerly—as well as south-westerly down the Berry’s Creek valley—have 
influenced the surface contours, causing steeper slopes on the western sides of the valleys, as at Darlimurla, 
Murray’s and Berry’s Creeks (Scarlett’s selection). 
The greater part of the area is still covered with virgin forest growths, the latter presenting a 
striking contrast where flourishing on the different formations, that on the Mesozoic and volcanic areas 
consisting of distinct and more vigorous growths of eucalyptus species than that on the areas covered by 
tertiary sedimentary grits, sandy clays, &c. Similarly the shrub vegetation is characteristic, the dense 
growth of arboreous shrubs giving place ou the sandy areas to heath-like shrubs and cyperaceous plants. 
Geological Features. 
Mesozoic. 
The beds of sandstone and shale which are exposed at the surface in the area coloured brown on 
accompanying mnp or pierced by borings beneath the tertiary deposits, as at Mirboo North township, do 
not present any distinctive features which would separate them from the Mesozoic-Oolitic (?) (McCoy) beds 
of Korumburra or Hnzlewood districts. There are no well-defined beds which could be relied on to 
establish an horizon. The seams of coal are of similar character to those disclosed in the borings at most 
of the localities bored upon within the Gippslaud Mesozoic area. And at Berry’s Creek, where the largest 
and most persistent coal seams occur in the Mirboo district, they are contained within a depth of 900 feet 
from the surface. 
Extent and Character op the Coal Seams and of Boring Operations. 
During 1882 Mr. Scarlett discovered an outcrop of coal 2ft. 6in. thick in allotment 26, parish of 
Mardan. Subsequently a shaft was sunk near the outcrop, cuttiug it at between 40 and 50 feet from the 
surface. . According to Mr. Scarlett, this seam, as proved by the shaft, was 5 feet thick at one end and 
4ft. 8in. in the other, with a clay parting 1 inch to 1A inches thick dividing the seam. As the drive was 
extended to south-east the clay baud disappeared, and the coal seam was 3ft. Sin. of solid coal. 
Continuing the drive the seam thickened to 4ft. 6in. 
In driving westerly, i.e., to the rise, the coal was found to be crushed and deteriorated, in 
consequence of which the drive was abandoned at about 40 feet to the west. 
A distance of 60 feet was driven on tho underlay. Two other small shafts to the east were put 
down in one. The seam 3ft. 6in. thick was cut at 180 feet from the surface. 
During the visit of Coal Commission, 25th April, 1891, I measured tho soam as exposed by drives 
in shaft sunk near the outcrop, as follows:—East end of drive 3ft. lliu. West end 4ft. lin. Dipping 
32° to S. 50 E. (See diagram of Scarlett’s seam No. 1.) 
In order to test the extension of the seam, a number of bores wore put down to the east, south-east, 
and north-east, with the following results:— 
No. 1 bore (surface level 420 feet below Mirboo).—To the east of outcrop about 15 ohains (in 
allotment 26). 
Cut 1 foot coal at 321 feet from surface. 
„ 6 inches „ 328 „ „ 
„ 1ft. 3in. „ 365ft. 9io. „ 
„ 3 feet „ 457 feet 
,, 4 „ „ 895ft. 6in. „ 
„ 1ft. 6in. „ 970 feet „ 
The bore was carried to a depth of 1,050 feet. 
No. 2 bore, about 1H chains to N.N.E. of No. 1 bore (allotment 26), and about 50 feet higher 
level. 
Cut 1 foot of coal at 59 feet from surface. 
n 1 ii ii 460 ,, ,, 
„ 8 inches „ 837ft. 4in. „ 
„ 2ft. 2in. „ 932 feet 
Total depth, 1,000 feet. 
No. 3 bore (in allotment 27), about 20 chains south-west of No. I bore and 15 chains south of shaft, 
and about 80 feet lower level than No. 1 bore. 
Cut 1 foot of coal at 64 feet from the surface. 
ii 1 ii ii 560 ,, „ 
Total depth, 1,010 feet. 
No. 4 bore, between Nos. 1 and 3 bores, about 12 chains south-west of No. 1, and 8 chains south¬ 
east of shaft. Surface level 90 feet lower than No. 1 bore site. 
Cut 11 inches at 174ft. lin. from surface. 
„ 6 „ „ 266 feet „ 
» ^ ii ii 271 „ ,, 
„ 2ft. 4in. „ 286 „ 
Total depth bored, 1,000 feet. 
