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37. Main Neerim Road - Unconformity

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:

Tarago - 027853. Three kilometres west of Rokeby on the Main Neerim Road.

Image: Sites of Significance Port Phillip Bay
Tertiary sands and gravels (A) unconformably overlying Palaeozoic sediments (B).

Access:

Main Neerim Road.

Ownership:

Crown Land.

Geomorphology:

The road cutting exposes a clear section that displays the angular unconformity between the sandstones and mudstones of the Walhalla Group (Silurian), and the overlying Tertiary sands and gravels. The gravels are most abundant at the base of the Tertiary and are succeeded by cross-bedded ferruginous sands.

Significance:

Regional. The site is one of the most accessible sections that displays the unconformity between the Palaeozoic bedrock and the Tertiary sediments in the catchment of Westernport Bay.

Management:

Class 2. Slope stabilisation works should not be carried out on the south side of the road as this would obscure the best aspect of the section.
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