8524-3 Stony 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:	960200. Stony Creek and Claire Creek, near the junction with Limestone Creek.	SItes 8524 1-4
Abstract:	Type section of Cowombat Siltstone including Claire Creek Limestone Member.
Access:	Walk from Black Mountain Road.
Ownership:	Crown Land.
Geology:	The Cowombat Siltstone is characterised by massive to finely banded siltstone interbedded with occasional conglomerate and pebbly mudstone lenses and rare sandstone beds. Conglomerates outcrop near the Stony Creek- Limestone Creek junction. In addition to the clasts of quartzite, acid Volcanics, slate and occasionally chert commonly found in conglomerate lenses of the Cowombat Siltstone, rare pebbles of granitic rock and of sandy conglomerate with slate clasts also occur at this locality. Near the head of Claire Creek and Stony Creek, two lenses of limestone outcrop (Claire Creek Limestone Member). The limestone foliated, includes occasional beds, which contain abundant volcanic quartz granules, and has been intruded by two lamprophyre dykes. Some of the limestone contains coloured bands and has been quarried in the past for building stone. The limestone passes laterally upwards into, well-bedded, occasionally richly fossiliferous siltstones with occasional interbeds of limonite, and then slaty silstone.
Geomorphology:	Four caves are known in the limestone outcrops in Claire and Stony creeks. These include two outflows caves which exhibit a stream passage from and some chambers of excellent cave decoration.
Significance:	Regional. Type site in Silurian Cowombat Siltstone.
Management:	Landuse, which involved substantial land disturbance in the area of the Claire Creek Limestone Member, would degrade the quality of the site. Access to the Stony Creek- Claire Creek stratigraphic section should be maintained.
References:	Matthews, P.G. (ed) 1968. Speleological Handbook. Victorian Speleological Association. Vandeberg, A.H.M., Bolger, P., O'Shea, P.J. (in press) 'Geology and Mineral Exploration of the Limestone Creek-Reedy Creek Area, North-East Victoria', Geol. Surv. Vict.

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