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6.1.1 Eruption points; maars, scoria cones and lava shields, including associated ash and scoria deposits (Lake Purrumbete, Mt. Elephant, Mt. Cottrell)

6. Western Plains (WP)
6.1 Volcanic plains

The most obvious features — scoria cones, lava shields, composite cones (of both scoria and lava), and maars — indicate the most recent eruptive activity. Mount Anakie (398 m) and Mount Elephant (393 m) on the eastern and western boundary of the Corangamite CMA region respectively, form the highest cones. Some of the maars have lakes in their wide craters, such as Lake Purrumbete, Lake Bullen Merri and Lake Gnotuk. The young volcanoes, with their craters, flows and ash deposits, are from less than one million years in age and were active almost up to the present day

Associated soil types include shallow to moderately deep friable (black, red or brown) gradational soils (
Dermosols, Ferrosols) often stony.
Image: 6.1.1

Image: Eruption Point, Mt Noorat
The deep central crater and quarries at Mt Noorat.
Image: Eurption Point, Mt Elephant
Breached crater of Mount Elephant.

The Maar Crater Lakes of Bullen Merri (foreground)

and Gnotuk.

Related information on VRO


Eruption Points of the Newer Volcanics - Rosengren 1994
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