34th International Geological Congress (IGC): AUSTRALIA 2012

Q-11 North Queensland: 1700 million years of Earth History on the
Proterozoic-Phanerozoic Margin of Eastern Australia
Post Trip: 6 days 5 nights - Saturday 11 August to Thursday 16 August 2012
Starts: Cairns
Finishes: Townsville
Numbers limited to 30
Cost: Land: $2140 per person share twin/double
Single supplement: $485
Air: $290
Trip description: Travel to the scenic Cairns hinterland in Far North Queensland to traverse the
Silurian to Devonian rocks of the Mossman Orogen. Cross the Tasman Line, a
major north-south structure that separates largely Palaeozoic rocks to the east
from the Proterozoic rocks of the North Australian Craton. The Paleoproterozoic to
Mesoproterozoic Etheridge Province, the Quaternary lavas at Copperfield Gorge,
the world famous Undara Lava Tubes, the voluminous Carboniferous to Permian
ignimbrite fields. Visit past and current mining at Chillagoe (gold and base metals)
and Georgetown and Charters Towers (gold).
Highlights: Tropical rainforest to savannah woodland, wildlife, outback scenery and culture,
world-famous Undara Lava Tubes, mining history
Trip Leader/s: Mr Ian Withnall, Geological Survey Queensland and Professor Bob Henderson,
James Cook University
Special notes: Specific joining instructions apply to this field trip and will be provided upon
receipt and confirmation of trip booking. This field trip is not suitable for children.
Day 1 - Saturday 11th August 2012 - Brisbane to Cairns
Fly from Brisbane to Cairns where you make your own way to the hotel. Enjoy an
afternoon at leisure before meeting for dinner.
Overnight: Motel in Cairns
Meals: D
Day 2 - Sunday 12th August 2012 - Cairns to Chillagoe
After breakfast depart Cairns for your visits to Barron River Falls at Kuranda to
view cleaved metapelites of the Devonian Hodgkinson Formation followed by a
visit to an abandoned townsite at Thornborough to see turbidites of the Devonian
Hodgkinson Formation. Continue on to historic Tyrconnell mine where you will
have lunch. Afterwards travel on to Chillagoe for the night with stops en route
near Kingsborough townsite to view melange in Hodgkinson Formation, the Burke
Developmental Road where you will see rhyolitic ignimbrite of Carboniferous
Featherbed Volcanic Group, the Burke Developmental Road for granite of the
Kennedy Igneous Association and the Chillagoe Smelter site.
Arrive at your Chillagoe motel for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Motel in Chillagoe
Meals: B / L / D
Day 3 - Monday 13th August 2012 - Chillagoe to Undara
After breakfast depart your motel to visit Balancing Rock in Chillagoe to view
Silurian to Early Devonian limestone of the Chillagoe Formation, including some
indigenous rock art. Travel on to the Palmerville Fault on the Chillagoe-Bolwarra
road followed by a visit to Red Dome or Mungana where you will view pits and
examine core. In the afternoon travel to Undara via Mt Garnet with a possible visit
to Innot Hot Springs/Hypipamee Crater, if time permits.
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