8424-6 Morass Creek

This information has been developed from the publications:

Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in Central Gippsland (1981) by Neville Rosengren, M.S McRae-Williams and S.M Kraemers.
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Gippsland Lakes Catchment (1984) by Neville Rosengren.
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in East Gippsland, Victoria (1981) by Neville Rosengren, M.S McRae-Williams

Geological heritage sites, including sites of geomorphological interest and volcanic heritage sites, are under regular revision by the Geological Society of Australia, especially in the assessment of significance and values. Reference should be made to the most recent reports. See the Earth Science Heritage section of the Geological Society of Australia website for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Location:	625245. Morass Creek between the junctions of Deep Creek and Stony Creek, 13 kilometres north of Benambra.	Morass Creek Gorge. Cliff of multiple flows of basalt, (newer Volcanics). Lower flow displays strong columnar jointing contributing to talus slope. Dotted line indicates contact between two flows.
Abstract:	Exposures of Newer Volcanics, Triassic quartz porphyry and Wombat Creek Group sediments. Short river gorge, drainage modification by basalt flows.
Access:	Benambra- Corryong Road
Ownership:	Crown Land with a small enclave of Private Land at the junction of Deep Creek and Morass Creek.
Geology/Geomorphology:	Newer Basalts are restricted in extent in Eastern Victoria, occurring only near Frasers Tableland. These flows have occupied the valleys of Moras Creek and the Mitta Mitta River and attain a maximum thickness of between 130 and 140 metres in Moras Creek. Approximately 250 metres downstream from the junction of Deep Creek, the Moras Creek has cut a gorge in the basalt with cliffs reaching 100 metres in height. These expose a number of flows, some of which display prominent columnar jointing and large screes of basalt boulders have developed at the cliff base. The damming of Moras Creek behind these flows has given rise to the extensive alluvial deposits north and east of Benambra. The basalt overlies Triassic quartz-porphyry, which is poorly exposed in Morass Creek. However, highly weathered sections are displayed in road cuttings on the Benambra-Corryong road. The Silurian Wombat Creek Group sediments are down faulted against Ordovician sediments in Morass Creek. The exposures are mainly obscured by a dense growth of blackberries, however, the position of the fault is indicated by large boulders of breccia.
Significance:	State. The youngest basalt flows known in Eastern Victoria are well displayed in the Morass Creek gorge.
Management:	Because of the size of the area covered by the site, the value of the significant geological/ geomorphological features is unlikely to be seriously reduced by localised land disturbance. However, large scale construction works and/or flooding of the gorge section through the construction of reservoirs would significantly degrade the site.
References:	Crohn, P.W. 1950. 'The geology, petrology and physiography of the Omeo District, North-Eastern Victoria', Proc. R. Soc. Vict., 62 :1-70.

Site 8424-6

Page top