Shoalhaven District Geology

  FIELD GEOLOGY OF THE SHOALHAVEN DISTRICT (PART 10) Chapter 5: Kangaroo Valley  The Cambewarra Range effectively seals in one of Australia’s scenic gems –  Kangaroo Valley . Like any other impressive piece of nature’s handiwork, people have ascribed its origin to anything but the simplest of causes. Since 1818, when white men first entered the “Kangaroo Ground”, as it was then known, there have been numerous suggestions to explain its existence. It has been described as a ‘picturesque sunken valley’, the implication being that its present form is the result of subsidence. Others have thought that it represents a former lake, or that volcanoes led to its formation. The truth is that the Kangaroo River and its tributaries have carried away the products of erosion over a period of many thousands of years, leaving the framework of the rock structure exposed as we see it today.  Volcanic rocks belonging to the upper Berry Formation are mainly confined to the eastern half...

  FIELD GEOLOGY OF THE SHOALHAVEN DISTRICT (PART 5) Reminder that all the maps, diagrams etc referred to in the text have been lost. CHAPTER 2 CONTINUED Excursion 2b   Gerringong- Berry  (17 miles)  This excursion deals mainly with the stratigraphy of the Berry Formation and the effects of differing lithology on landforms and soil fertility.  Route: Prince’s Highway from Gerringong to Berry, with diversions to Toolijooa and Foxground.  Gerringong is close to the former centre of Permian volcanic activity. On this excursion, the flows are seen to become thinner and finally vanish while the tuffaceous sediments merge to become one unit, the Broughton Sandstone.  Stop 1. In the road cutting opposite Gerringong station, the Kiama Sandstone is well exposed. It is much the same as the outcrops seen at Kiama and Bombo, but with a higher proportion of pebbles.  Proceed towards  Berry . Outcrops of Kiama Sandstone are seen for the next two miles, at w...