Murrindal Limestone

Caves are present through much of the limestone. The topographically highest caves have formed in the Murrindal Limestone in the centre of the synclinorium. These caves vary from simple shafts to complex joint-controlled mazes of narrow passages, but all display predominantly vertical development. The Murrindal Limestone caves are believed to have formed beneath an Eocene river system, and were probably drained by incision of the rivers in the Late Eocene - Early Oligocene (Webb et al., 1991). 

The topographically lower caves in the Buchan area are predominantly horizontal systems, usually developed sub-parallel to the strike of bedding, and are present only within the Buchan Caves Limestone. The main passages in these caves are less than 30 m above the nearest surface stream or river bed, and many contain active streams in their lowest levels. Thus these caves are of more recent origin than the Murrindal Limestone caves. 

Jenkin, J. J., and Baxter, G. W., 1969, Limestones and Dolomites of the Buchan-Murrindal Area., BHP Exploration Report No. 744 (unpublished). 

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