Site 19 Coburg Lake - Basalt Flows

This information has been developed from one or more of these publications:

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 for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Location:	YARRA 5000/04.089 E20700 N21700
	Right bank of Merri Creek 50 m south of the first footbridge south of Carr Street.
Access:	Carr Street.
Ownership & Municipality:	Public Land, City of Coburg. Lake Reserve.
Site Description:	The cliffs above the lake displays a number of primary features and basalt lava flows. These include ropy lava, massive basalt, strings of vesicles and differing orientations of joints. Detailed analysis of lava features indicates there are at least two flow units in this area. Weathering features and basalt pavements are exposed in the channel of Merri Creek at the head of the lake.
Significance Rating:	Local.
	The site is a clear and safely accessible example of the primary structures of lava flows.
Site Sensitivity:	Class 3.
	The site is robust, visible and the features are not readily damaged or vandalised. It is a good teaching site to show methods of analysis of flow directions and relative age of lavas.
References:	Schleiger, N. W. 1988, Coburg, in Clark, I., Cook, B. & Cochrane, G. C (eds.) Victorian Geology Excursions Guide, Aust. Acad. Sci., Canberra.

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