39 
Lignite near Kilmore. 
Tertiary clays are exposed on Mrs. J. T. Allen’s farm, on Mclvor-road, 
3! miles from Kilmore, in a gully that runs into Kilmore Creek from the 
south. This place is about 1,300 feet above sea-level. The lowest 
observable beds consist of black shales, with impressions of small plants; 
these shales strongly resemble the plant bearing shales at The Basin, 
Daylesford, and are'probably of the same age (Miocene). In these shales 
branches of trees and fragments of wood altered to black coaly material 
with bright lustre are found, but they do not occur as a distinct layer. 
There is not much of the lignite to be seen and only by boring could it be 
determined what is the thickness of the shales, and whether there are any 
thicker deposits of lignite. There is nothing to warrant any outlay in 
further prospecting the locality. 
Section across Lignite bearing Shales, Kilmore. 
Just above the black shales are beds of yellow and white clay of favour¬ 
able appearance and considerable thickness. Resting on top of these clays 
is a layer many feet thick of siliceous cherty rock, in which fragments and 
pebbles of quartz are embedded. 
The following report has been made by Mr. P. G. W. Bayly after 
testing the clay at the Laboratory 
“ The material as received has evidently been puddled, and appears 
to consist of white washed clay. It is free from grit. It is 
a good plastic clay, which makes up into 1 firm briquettes. At 
a muffle temperature a cane-yellow brick is produced; at a 
higher firing it changes to a grey slate colour with slight 
swelling, but only incipient vitrification :— 
Test. 
Conditions. 
Shrinkage. 
Appearance. 
0 
Air dried 
4.5 per cent. 
» 
Dull white, firm. 
1 
Muffle, 1100° C. 
11 *0 per cent. 
Yellow. 
2 
Twice fired, 1450° C. 
Slightly swelled 
Greyish. 
3 
Furnace, 1450°C. 
Slightly swelled 
Greyish, overburned. 
“ This clay should be of economic value for many varieties of 
pottery ware now being manufactured in Victoria.” 
In the bottom of the gully in consequence of the removal of the over- 
lying material and through the pressure of the material oar both sides of the 
gully by the clay beds and the soil resting on them, the black shales have 
been bent up and brought to the surface. Extending back from the gully, 
especially on the east side, is a series of cracks and subsidences caused by 
the clay below becoming saturated with water and being squeezed out at the 
bottom of the gully. 
