OBJECTIVES

The aim of this field excursion is to give you practical experience in identifying structures in areas with more than one deformation, which are superimposed on greenschist facies sediments and granites. This involves identifying small-scale structures, measuring and plotting orientation data, drawing cross sections and relating complicated geometry to large-scale structures. You will see folds and faults superimposed on an already deformed sequence. You will have to make use of a simple concept that the axial surface of the second phase of folding is constant and bears a simple and consistent relationship to an overall tectonic regime that existed in this eastern portion of the Lachlan Fold Belt.

PROGRAM

Friday, 20th February, 2009

Leave Melbourne 9 a.m. Drive to Mallacoota (caravans overnight at Mallacoota). Stop for lunch in Bairnsdale - there are plenty of shops.

Saturday, 21st February, 2009

Walk turbidite sequence at Mallacoota (caravans overnight at Mallacoota).

Sunday, 22nd February, 2009

Map the turbidites at Mallacoota.

Monday, 23rd February, 2009

Inspect deformation of the Cann Valley granite. Drive to Cape Conran and observe the structure of the granite. Overnight in National Park Cabins at Cape Conran.

Tuesday, 24th February, 2009

Map the Cape Conran granite and contact relationships. Lecture in the evening.

Wednesday, 25th February, 2009

Mapping at Cape Conran. Lecture in the evening and East Gippsland Quiz.

Thursday, 26th February, 2009

Complete mapping and return to Melbourne (will arrive back at approximately 17.30).

REQUIREMENTS

Transport will be provided (no private cars will be allowed) and accommodation has been reserved for you at the A' Wangralea Caravan Park, Mallacoota (03-5158 0222) and in cabins at Cape Conran (03-5154 8438), and for this reason there is an accommodation/transport charge for this excursion. The cost for this excursion is $200 (includes GST) and is payable to the Front Office, 4th floor Earth Sciences Building by Monday, 16th February, 2009.

You will need to bring a sleeping bag, towel and pillow, personal gear (be prepared for wet and cold weather) etc. You will also require food. However there is no need to bring plates, pans etc as these are all supplied in the caravans and cabins.

Food: bring food for breakfasts and packed lunches on Thursday and Friday - please be organised. We may not be near shops at lunchtime. You can cook dinner in your cabins, or buy dinner/food at Mallacoota in the evening. However at Cape Conran you will have to cook for yourself and there are no shops. However, you can purchase additional food in Cann River on Sunday afternoon, there is a supermarket at Cann River.

Geological equipment: should include clipboard, hand lens, hammer, compass, note book, Texta pen, pencils, saftey glasses (if you have them).

Fieldwork during the day will involve looking at cliff and beach exposures along the coast, so wear appropriate footwear. We will also be looking at the geology in rocky exposures in the Cann River so make sure you have proper sturdy field boots. The weather can be cool and/or wet, and quite often windy, so make sure you bring warm clothes and wet weather gear. It is advisable to look at a long term weather forecast before you depart Melbourne.

BEHAVIOUR IN THE FIELD

This trip includes a visit to inland outcrops and will also examine a number of coastal exposures between Mallacoota and Cape Conran. Read the 'Code of Conduct' in the Introduction to Geological Mapping handout that you were given with the Buchan Excursion. In particular:

1. Leave gates as you find them.
2. Do not climb fences. Take care in getting through them.
3. Do not light fires.
4. Firearms and dangerous knives are banned at all times. Do not bring any.
5. Take all your rubbish back to the camp for disposal
6. Do not hammer at key geological sites, particularly those pointed out by staff as exhibiting special geological features.
7. No alcohol to be consumed in University or hired vehicles used on excursions.
8. At A' Wangralea Caravan Park (Mallacoota) and the Cape Conran Reserve there is to be absolutely no noise after 11.00 pm, as there are other campers and neighbours who require peace and quite.

SAFETY IN THE FIELD

Fieldwork frequently puts geologists in hazardous situations. Therefore use your common sense in the field:

• If someone is injured or is ill in the field, make sure a staff member is informed. There will be first aiders on staff to assist. An incident report form should also be filled out upon returning from the trip if there has been an injury.
• If there is any situation on the excursion in which you feel unsafe or unconfident, do not proceed. Inform a staff member of your situation.
• Make sure you have a regular tetanus booster in case you cut yourself on rusty wire or metal. You may not always be close to a vehicle and/or medical help.
• Carry a small first aid kit and be familiar with the current first aid treatment of injuries such as sprains, cuts, snake bites, heat distress and exposure.
• Wear adequate, easily visible clothing for the conditions in which you are working.
• Carry a water bottle and be prepared for strong sun. Use plenty of sun-screen, have a hat and sun-glasses.
• Do not attempt to climb rock faces or cliffs of any type without the permission and supervision of a staff member.
• Do not drop rocks or any other object over cliffs
• Do not stand near the edge of significantly vertical drops as the edge may give way.
• When approaching a rock face, always look up to check if there are loose rocks which could fall.
• Take great care in rocky shoreline areas when there is a swell.
• Do not go swimming unless you have permission and supervision of a staff member.

Portion of the 2004 student excursion examining the structures
in the Cape Conran granite with Prof. Chris Wilson.

ASSESSMENT

Field exercises: You will be required to hand-in during the excursion two field exercises.

You were urged to use your own field observations in your report. Hence you should record field sketches throughout the excursions.

Assignment: The objective of this assignment is relate your detailed observations at Cape Conran to the regional geology that you observe at selected sites in east Gippsland.

Field observations that you recorded should be plotted and used in the written assignment of no more than 4 typed pages. The assignment should relate these observations to other studies found in the literature that discuss the folding, faulting and deformation of the sediments and granites in the east Gippsland area. Your Cape Conran field map, with appropriate sketches (no photos), should be included with this assignment.

Assignment to be handed in on Thursday 19th March 2009. To the Front Office, 4th floor Earth Sciences Building.

Note that this assessment is worth 10% of the total subject mark.

REFERENCES

References with an asterisk relate to this excursion and are available from the library reserve collection. They are also available as PDFs from the library.

*Begg, G., Burg, J.P. and Wilson, C.J.L., 1987. Ductile and brittle deformation in the Cann Valley granitoids, Victoria. Aust. J. Earth Sci., 34, 95-110.

*Birch, W.D. (Editor), 2003. Geology of Victoria. Geological Society of Australia Special Publication 23. Geological Society of Australia (Victorian Division).

*Burg, J.P. and Wilson, C.J.L., 1988. A kinematic analysis of the southernmost part of the Bega Batholith. Aust. J. Earth Sci., 35, 1-13.

Fenton, M.W., Keene, J.B. and Wilson, C.J.L., 1982. Sedimentology and depositional environment of the Mallacoota Beds. J. Geol. Soc. Aust., 29, 107-114.

Fenton, M.W. and Wilson, C.J.L., 1985. Shallow water turbidites: An example from the Mallacoota Beds, Australia. Sedimentary Geol., 45, 231-260.

Glen, R.A. and Fergusson, C.L., 1992 (editors). The Palaeozoic eastern margin of Gondwanaland: Tectonics of the Lachlan Fold Belt, southeastern Australia. Tectonophysics, 214, 1-461.

*Miller, J. McL and Gray, D.R. 1996 Structural signature of sediment accretion in a Palaeozoic accretionary complex, southeastern Australia. J. Struct. Geol., 18, 1245-1258.

Miller, J. McL and Gray, D.R. 1997 Subduction-related deformation and the Narooma Anticlinorium, Eastern Lachlan Fold Belt Aust. J. Earth Sci., 44, 237-251.

VandenBerg, A. H. M., Willman, C. E., Maher, S., Simons, B. A., Cayley, R. A., Taylor, D. H., Morand, V. J., Moore, D. H. and Radojkovic, A., 2000. The Tasman Fold Belt System in Victoria. Geological Survey of Victoria Special Publication.

Wilson, C.J.L. and de Hedouville, P., 1985. Early cleavage development in the Late Ordovician of north-east Victoria, Australia. J. Struct. Geol., 7, 401-408.

*Wilson, C.J.L., Harris, L.B. and Richards, A.L., 1982. Structure of the Mallacoota area, Victoria. J. Geol. Soc. Aust., 29, 91-105.

*Wilson, C.J.L. and VanDenberg, A.H.M., 1988. Mallacoota Zone, in Douglas, J.G. and Ferguson, J.A. Geology of Victoria (second edition), 23-26.

**Wilson, C.J.L., Gray, D.R., Foster, D.A., Morand, V. J., Schaubs, P.M., Spaggiari, C., 1999. The Great Southern Transect I : An Overview of the Geology of the Eastern, Central and Western Sub-provinces of the Lachlan Fold Belt; Mallacoota to Halls Gap, Victoria. Specialist Group in Tectonics and Structural Geology Field Guide No. 5, Geological Society of Australia.
This field Guide is available from the library - ask at the desk.