8822-10 Allan Head - Mallacoota Inlet

Sites 8822 1 to 10 - Mallacoota to Cape Howe

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:	465447 and 462432 – eastern shore of the Lower Lake of Mallacoota Inlet.	Sites 8822-1 to 10
Abstract:	Massive Ordovician sandstone beds. Fault breccia.
Access:	Boat across Mallacoota Inlet or dry-weather track via Buckland’s farm from Princes Highway.
Ownership:	Crown Land (Allan Head), private property at the breccia site (462432).
Geology:	At Allan Head, exposures of the Ordovician Mallacoota Beds include massive sandstones up to 10 m thick. Interbedded with these are thinner mudstones and beds of an altered highly siliceous cherty material. Minor folding of these beds occurs. South of Allan Head the Ordovician rocks include a brecciated zone related tot he east-west Barracoota Fault.
Geomorphology:	Allan Head is a tombolo – the outcrops of Ordovician are tied tot he mainland by a narrow sandy isthmus.
Significance:	Local. The thickness of the sandstone bed is unusual in the Ordovician rocks. The breccia is important evidence for the existence of the Barracoota Fault.
Management:	The outcrops should not be obscured by construction works.

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