34th International Geological Congress (IGC): AUSTRALIA 2012

NSW Extended Trips
NSW-1 Lake Mungo - Early Man, Regolith, Landform Evolution
Post Trip: 6 days 5 nights - Saturday 11 August to Thursday 16 August 2012
Starts: Broken Hill
Finishes: Mildura
Numbers limited to 30
Cost: Land: $2480 per person share twin/double
Single supplement: $825
Air: $750
Trip description: Scenic Lake Mungo is in the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area. The study of the
regolith has also revealed a fascinating history of landform evolution and climate
change. Initially a freshwater lake, water levels gradually receded and prevailing
westerly winds shaped an extensive lunette on its eastern shore, which has since
been eroded to form the spectacular ‘Walls of China’. Aboriginal occupation of the
area is believed to extend back at least 40 000 years. Fossils of extinct megafauna
have also been found
Highlights: Indigenous history, fossils, Willandra National Park
Trip Leader: Roger Cameron
Special notes: Specific joining instructions apply to this field trip and will be provided upon
receipt and confirmation of trip booking.
Day by day itinerary Day 1 - Saturday 11th August 2012 - Arrive Broken Hill
Early morning arrival into Broken Hill. You are met on arrival to start your drive to
Silverton (Mad Max country) for lunch and a leisurely afternoon around Silverton.
Viewing of Duricrusts and regolith on basement and Silverton railway cutting,
Mundi Mundi lookout and possible duricrusts developed on Pre-Cambrian. Return
to Broken Hill for dinner and overnight.
Check into your hotel for the night and meet for dinner, followed by a talk on
surface and sub-surface characteristics of Murray Basin (M.B.) and Willandra Lakes’
place in that setting.
Overnight: Motel in Broken Hill
Meals: L / D
Day 2 - Sunday 12th August 2012 - Broken Hill to Lake Mungo
After breakfast, early departure from Broken Hill for Lake Mungo with visits along
the way to learn about the Northern limits of the Murray Basin, Darling River and
basement ‘islands’ in the Murray Basin. Drive to Wilcannia to see the Darling River
and continue to Manara Range to illustrate rocks that are basement to the Murray
Basin followed by Gypsum Palace to show the saline history of the Murray Basin.
Continue on to Ivanhoe and Mossgiel to show the Willandra Creek as the Palaeo-
Lachlan (feeding Wilandra Lakes). View the ‘featureless’ Riverine Plain, showing
imagery of the Lachlan Alluvial Fan. After lunch you will see the transition from
Riverine Plain to Aeolian sand plains and dunefields. Travel down to Mossgiel to
show the Riverine Plain then travel west to Garnpang - stopping at Alma Lake to
show the boundary between the Riverine Plain (to the east) and the Aeolian Plain
(to the west). Brief stop at the Lake Garnpang lunette then travel on to Mungo
Lodge.
Overnight: Mungo Lodge
Meals: B / L / D
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