31 
The shelly limestones and sandstones at Sharks Bay and along the coast, in 
one or two places, probably belong to this series. 
Pliocene. 
“ Pindan ’’—Cracked Plains.—These large sandy plains are largely developed 
on either side of the Fitzrov River, stretching far away to the Southward, where 
they form Warburton’s Great Sandy Desert,. Also on the Ord River thereare some 
S1 nall stretches of this country, but nowhere of any very great extent. Owing to its 
porous nature these plains are waterless in spite of the heavy rainfall, but as a rule 
they are covered with abundance of vegetation. 
Sand Plains.— These are the characteristic features of Western Australia, 
extending from one end of the Colony to the other. The great sand plains of the 
interior are often twenty or thirty miles across, but containing in places a good 
“ e . al of clay and iron which cement the grains of sand together, and there being a 
fair rainfall they arc covered with hardy vegetation, which during the two spring 
months are perfectly gorgeous with flowers, and form good summer grazing 
pound. They result mostly from the disintegration of the desert, sandstone, which 
°rins the t.abie-land of the interior of Australia. 
,, Psrruginous Sandstones and Variegated Clays. -Plant remains are met with on 
the lower courses of the Gascoyne River, also at the Nullagiue; and similar rocks, 
yuthout the plant remains, occur capping the low ranges in many places throughout 
J'j Us portion of the Colony. They are probably of Upper Tertiary age, although 
1 my may be still more recent. 
Gravel and Ironstone.— The deposits which are in reality indurated nodular 
ferruginous claystones called gravel, and either this latter cemented together or 
ferruginous sandstone called ironstone. They occur throughout all the Southern 
portion of the Colony, capping the spurs in the forest country up to elevations as 
great, as 1,200 feet. They are sometimes, but rarely, of great thickness, but are 
more generally underlaid by pale yellow or white clays. They apparently owe 
men- origin to the fires which, passing over the surface, would burn the clay into 
P'oces similar in shape to burnt ballast, and this would naturally get weathered 
" 0 a more or less rounded form. 
Eocene. 
Coralline Limestones.— These form the lower beds of the coast limestone, and 
a ^ n a great many fossils of Eocene age, some of which were sent to England a 
years ago to be described. The beds at Sharks Bay and on the islands there 
e probably of the same age. 
]• The Clays , Ferruginous Sandstones, Grits , and Conglomerates between the 
a hills and the ranges probably belong to this older Tertiary Series, as well 
r i' e ferruginous conglomerates which rest unconformably upon the Cretaceous 
the Southward of Champion Bay. 
tliG Coralline, and Chalky Limestones with Flints. --The beds extend 
w i e ^ en gth of the Great Australian Bight and for 150 miles inland.. They 
.,1 ‘ Gu f. a hold vertical face to the sea, the cliffs being of great height and evidently 
al0 ^ the line of a fault. 
MESOZOIC. 
Cretaceous. 
"fhese beds consist of chalky limestones with flints, sandstones, and 
fi ll V^ lU0l,s sandstones, conglomerates and clays, and are well developed m the 
2 t() W coast range from Gingin to the Northward, and m places contain 
The sandstones, ferruginous claystones, and grits of tins senes 
Thk r to the Eastward, capping the ranges and large table-lands of the interior, 
formation is probably the Western extension of the great desert sandstone 
