116. The Gurdies - Williams Gravel Pit (Tertiary Gravels)

This information has been developed from one or more of these publications:

Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Westernport Bay Catchment (1984) by Neville Rosengren.
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Western Region of Melbourne (1986) by Neville Rosengren
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance on the Coast of Port Phillip Bay (1988) by Neville Rosengren.
Sites of Environmental Significance in the Flood Plain of the Upper Yarra Valley Region (1983) by Neville Rosengren, Douglas Frood and Kim Lowe (as part of a study of Sites of Environmental Significance by the University of Melbourne for the then Upper Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Authority).

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 (external link) for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Location:	Lang Lang - 768524. Two kilometres north-east of The Gurdies.	Site 116, Williams Gravel pit.
Access:	Peacock Road.
Ownership:	Private land.
Geology:	The site lies on the Heath Hill Fault scarp and includes several disused quarries exposing poorly sorted cross-bedded gravels, sands and clays. These were interpreted by Jenkin (1962) as alluvial fan deposits and he nominated the site as the type locality of the Grantville Gravels, a new formation he proposed to account for the widespread distribution of these materials along the escarpment. Tickell (1971) re-interpreted the site and suggested that the gravels belonged to the Baxter Formation as the outcrops were continuous with similar lithologies on the upthrown (eastern) side of the Heath Hill Fault. This interpretation received support from Thompson (1974) and Spencer-Jones et al (1975).
Significance:	State. The site is an important illustration of different stratigraphical interpretations of a sedimentary deposit.
Management:	Class 3. The deposits are extensive and further quarrying would assist interpretation by providing new stratigraphic sections. As the quarries are not being worked, the quality of display of outcrop is deteriorating due to regrowth and slumping. The general principles of quarry management outlined should be referred to.
References:	Jenkin, J.J. , 1962. The geology and hydrology of the Western Port area. Dept. of Mines, Vict Underground Water Investigation Rept. No. 5. Tickell, S.J., 1971. The geology of the Bass River Area. B.Sc. Hons thesis (unpub.) Dept. of Geol. Univ. of Melb. Thompson, B. R. ,1974. The geology and hydrology of the Western Port sunklands. Geol. Surv. Rept. 1974/1. Spencer-Jones, D., Marsden, M.A.H., Barton, C.M. & Carrillo-Rivera, J.J., 1975. Geology of the Western Port sunkland. Proc. Roy. soc. Vict. (87) 1&2, 43-68.

Page top