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103. Drouin south - Volcanic Plug

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:Rippblebrook - 008755. Abandoned quarry three kilometres south of Drouin.

Image: Sites of Significance Port Phillip Bay
Plug of Older Volcanics rock south of Drouin.

Access:

Greenshields Road.

Ownership:

Private land.

Geology:

The steep quarry face provides an excellent exposure of a volcanic plug. The section is over 30 metres high and 70 metres wide although the steepness of the face makes access to the bulk of the material difficult and dangerous. The rock is fine grained, tough and dark and was described by Mahoney (1931) as olivine-nephelenite.

Significance:

State. The site is a clear example of a minor intrusion and provides one of the best cross-sections in Victoria of a volcanic plug of the Older Volcanics.

Management:

Class 2. Any form of land use that resulted in the quarry being filled or the major faces being obscured should be prohibited.

References:

Mahoney, D.J., 1931. Alkaline Tertiary rocks near Trentham and at Drouin.
Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict. 43(2) 123-29.

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