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I1 - Werribee Gorge - Rejuvenated Streams

This information has been developed from this publication:

  • Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Western Region of Melbourne (1986) by Neville Rosengren
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 (external link) section of the Geological Society of Australia website for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Location:Eclipse Creek - 472067. Shire of Bannockburn. Western valley slope of small tributary 500 m west of the Moorabool River and 4.5 km east of Meredith..
Image: Sites of Significance Werribee I1
Werribee Gorge

Access:

Unnamed forest road from Meredith-Steiglitz Road.

Ownership:

Private land.

Site Description:

A circular intrusion about 120 m in diameter occurs on the valley slope and on the floor of the shallow valley. The rock is now considerably weathered and only fragments occur at the surface. Originally considered as a volcanic pipe of the Older Volcanics, it has recently been suggested that the material is a kimberlite pipe. Kimberlite is an altered ultrabasic intrusion and is of geological interest as it has been identified as a host rock for the occurrence of diamonds.

Significance:

National. The mineral assemblage described from the site is unique in eastern Australia and is the only known kimberlite in Victoria.

Management:

Class 2. As there is little outcrop, the site is not sensitive to disturbance. Maintenance of the site as open space or a small farm is appropriate to keeping its significance.

References:

Ferguson (1914)

Day RA, Nicholls IA and Hunt FL (1979)

Image: Sites of Significance Werribee I1a
Werribee Gorge - Rejuvenated Streams
Image: Sites of Significance Werribee I1b
Werribee Gorge
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