8524-2 Limestone 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:	940210. Limestone Creek between the junction of Jim Spean Creek and Stony Creek.	Sheehans Bluff Limestone Member, at Limestone Creek.
Abstract:	Outcrops of Cowombat Siltstone including the Sheehans Bluff Limestone member, fossil sites and caves and surface karst landforms.
Access:	Limestone Creek Track.
Ownership:	Crown Land with a small enclave of Private Land on Jim Spean Creek.
Geology:	Cowombat Siltstone is generally poorly exposed along Limestone Creek. However, fine-grained, banded and fossiliferous siltstone is exposed in a road cutting near Stony Creek while the Sheehans Bluff Limestone Member outcrops in discontinuous low cliffs, downstream from Jim Spean Creek. Copper-lead-zinc mineralisation is associated with the Member. The Cowombat Siltstone is faulted against Thorkidaan Volcanics to the east of the Creek, although the fault line is not apparent in outcrop.
Geomorphology:	The Sheehans Bluff Limestone Member is of particular significance as it contains 12 unknown caves, some of which contains extensive decoration. The area includes excellent examples of karren solution features. The major caves are Pendergasts Cave (LC-4) and Sheehans Cave (LC-5). The former is an extensive stream passage cave developed on several levels. The lower levels contain a permanent stream while the upper levels display excellent cave decoration. Some of the near entrance decoration has been badly defaced through vandalism. Sheehans Cave (LC-5) is an inflow cave with areas of well-decorated passage, which gave developed along joint planes. The cave passage extends to a water filled sump at approximately 80 metres. This cave is of particular significance for the limestone scalloping and boxwork weathering forms occurring in the entrance passage. Boxwork features are rare in Australian cave systems.
Significance:	State. The Sheehans Bluff Limestone Member is an important component of the Cowombat Siltstone and the many associated caves and some rare karst features warrant a State significance rating.
Management:	The copper-lead-zinc mineralisation associated with the Limestone Member indicates that future mining operations may occur. Such activities could seriously degrade the geomorphological quality of this site. In addition, the quality of some of the cave decoration has been degraded by vandalism and overuse, and some form of access supervision is needed to protect the cave systems. The management principles on page 398 apply here.
References:	Matthews, P.G. (ed) 1968. Speleological Handbook. Victorian Speleological Association. Vandeberg, A.H.M., Bolger, P., O'Shea, P.J. 1980. (in press) 'Geology and Mineral Exploration of the Limestone Creek-Reedy Creek Area, North-East Victoria', Geol. Surv. Vict.

SItes 8524 1-4

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