Coolcran ASSI

The area is of special scientific interest because of its important geology, which is found at outcrop in a stream section approximately 2km south of Brougher Mountain. The rocks exposed are of Carboniferous age, some 320 million years old.

The area provides access to a sequence of sedimentary rocks exposed in the bed and banks of a stream.

The rocks were originally soft sand, mud and gravel laid down by flowing water during the Carboniferous, some 320 million years ago. At this time, this part of the Earths’ surface was sinking and being slowly filled with sediment eroded from a nearby ridge. As this ridge was raised higher, so more sand, mud and rock were eroded and deposited in the area that was sinking. Microscopic fossil plant remains, called miospores, have been found in a thin layer of mudstone at the site. These are very important as they allow geologists to place the rocks more accurately in time.