Pink Cliffs : Autumn morning . . .
The Pink Cliffs Reserve is about 140km from Melbourne CBD. It was originally man made but is now considered one of Victoria's natural wonders. The multi-coloured soft granite exposed as a moonscape surface in the central portion of the reserve is the best known feature hence its name, Pink Cliffs.
The colourful phenomenon was created by early gold-mining activities: sluicing work in the 1880s revealed the 'pink' hills near the historic town of Heathcote.
"The colour kaleidoscope you can see today is the remaining granite sliced through with reddish brown cracks filled with quartz. The surface fine granite was washed by percolating ground water containing sodium, chlorides and carbonates, which helped to dissolve the iron ore minerals and weather the granite. In the process, the granite became stained with iron rich solutions, the colour intensity being directly related to the amounts of iron ore minerals within the cracks. Erosion has proceeded at such a rate that the present surface still resembles a moonscape. ." (Heathcote information Center Website)
This geological reserve offers hills of fine clay with an almost talcum-powder texture. The pinkness is more intense when the area is moist, i.e, shortly after a rain or shower.
The shadows in the foreground from nearby gum trees add additional interest.
Pink Cliffs : Autumn morning . . .
The Pink Cliffs Reserve is about 140km from Melbourne CBD. It was originally man made but is now considered one of Victoria's natural wonders. The multi-coloured soft granite exposed as a moonscape surface in the central portion of the reserve is the best known feature hence its name, Pink Cliffs.
The colourful phenomenon was created by early gold-mining activities: sluicing work in the 1880s revealed the 'pink' hills near the historic town of Heathcote.
"The colour kaleidoscope you can see today is the remaining granite sliced through with reddish brown cracks filled with quartz. The surface fine granite was washed by percolating ground water containing sodium, chlorides and carbonates, which helped to dissolve the iron ore minerals and weather the granite. In the process, the granite became stained with iron rich solutions, the colour intensity being directly related to the amounts of iron ore minerals within the cracks. Erosion has proceeded at such a rate that the present surface still resembles a moonscape. ." (Heathcote information Center Website)
This geological reserve offers hills of fine clay with an almost talcum-powder texture. The pinkness is more intense when the area is moist, i.e, shortly after a rain or shower.
The shadows in the foreground from nearby gum trees add additional interest.