251 
bed is conformable to the overlying Jurassic rocks, and along their strike 
they may pass into a bed of coarse sand and grit, or of local conglomerate 
or breccia. 
The occurrence of glacial conglomerate at Chitt Creek is the first un¬ 
doubted instance where this rock, associated with rocks which contain the 
common Victorian Jurassic flora, has been noted by me. Between Glen- 
rowan and Hansen, in the North-Eastern district, fossiliferous rocks of 
doubtful age occur. These are associated with glacial conglomerate, but 
the fossils noted were too fragmentary for identification, though probably 
better specimens might be obtained. 
It becomes necessary to consider the age of this deposit at Chitt Creek, 
as compared with similar occurrences at Bacchus Marsh, and other places, in 
Victoria, as well as in other countries. The rock in question lies at the 
base of the Jurassic series of Gippsland. The glacial conglomerate of 
Bacchus Marsh is considered to be of Permo-Carboniferous or Upper 
Carboniferous age. The glacial beds of Wynyard in Tasmania, of New 
South Wales, South Africa and India, are generally referred to the Permo- 
Carboniferous period. It is a question for consideration whether the Chitt 
Creek glacial bed is of the same age as the glacial beds of Bacchus Marsh, 
and those of the other countries mentioned ; or that two periods of glacial 
action have existed in Victoria ; or, again, if the lowest beds of the Gipps¬ 
land carbonaceous area are older than Jurassic and younger than Permo- 
Carboniferous. 
[.Report sent in 28th August, 1903.] 
REPORT ON THE DIATOMITE DEPOSITS AND GENERAL 
GEOLOGY OF THE PORTLAND DISTRICT, 
WITH PLAN (PLATE XXX.). 
By A. E. Kitson , F.G.S. 
Diatomite Deposits. 
The diatomite (dlatomaceous earth) deposits described herein occur in 
two localities, one in the parish of Bolwarra, the other in the parish of 
Gorae. 
The Bolwarra Deposit. 
This deposit is on the boundary line between allotment C, section XII. 
(now part of 12), and Ci, section III., parish of Bolwarra, between the 
railway to Portland and the main Hey wood to Portland road, about 7 miles 
from the latter town, as shown on the accompanying map—Plate XXX. 
As far as can be judged by a rapid examination of the locality, the 
deposit is very limited in extent. Bell’s Creek runs through the latter 
allotment a few chains from the deposit, but wherever any evidence of the 
underlying rock was obtainable along it this was found) to be decomposed 
basalt, not diatomaceous earth. As observed, the deposit is simply a mass 
of unknown thickness, contained within an area of about half an acre, and 
occurs on an almost flat extent of country of volcanic origin. It is roughly 
circular in shape with diameter of about two chains. An old shaft has 
been sunk, apparently near its northern margin; this now contains water to 
within 5 feet of the surface. The present depth, tested with a pole, is 
about 12 feet, but it is said to have been sunk to about 14 feet. Judging 
by the material on the surface, the deposit has not been pierced here, and 
