Sundown National Park, along the Queensland/NSW border, is a rugged wilderness area with spectacular steep-sided gorges, sharp ridges and peaks of over 1,000 metres that rise above the Severn River. These rugged ridges and gorges contrast markedly with the rounded hills and gullies of the Granite Belt to the east.
About 240 million years ago, molten rock was forced up from within the earth beneath the Red Rock area. It didn’t reach the surface. Instead, it cooled very, very slowly at depth to form granite.
Ever so slowly, layer after layer of overlying ‘traprock’ weathered away to expose the hidden pocket of granite. A gorge began to form as the granite eroded away in large collapsing blocks.
The area is known locally as high traprock country because of the high concentration of traprock. Traprock is a hard, dense rock formed from ancient marine sediments modified by heat and pressure. It was created when sandstones and mudstones were squeezed, heated and folded under intense pressure by major earth movements.
This resulted in sedimentary rock that over time has been carved into sharp ridges and spectacular steep-sided gorges by the Severn River and its numerous creeks.
Deeply eroded Red Rock Gorge is an intrusion of granite into the traprock. Two granite dykes run roughly parallel through the area. Mineral deposits, principally tin, copper, molybdenum and arsenic, were formed in the rock intrusions and have been mined sporadically at Sundown since the 1870s.
To reach GZ you need to leave from Ballandean and travel the 16 km of gravel via Curr Road and Sundown Road to the park’s eastern boundary (and 4WD only entrance). A semi-rough but maintained 4WD track leads to Red Rock camp site. The drive takes less than an hour. Towing trailers or campers is not recommended due to the rough, steep and narrow road.
Sundown is a great place to get away from it all. Visitors must be self-sufficient as few facilities are provided. A walking track takes you from the car parking area to a scenic lookout with views of Red Rock Gorge. The remote character of Sundown National Park and Sundown Resources Reserve (15,275 ha in total) is maintained by keeping development to a minimum.
You may log this Earthcache straight away but then please email your answers to the questions to the CO. We will contact you ONLY if your answers need extra work. Logs with no answers sent will be deleted.
The answers can be found by observing the landscape and reading the information boards. Please do not post your answers in your log.
Q1. What type of rock is granite?
Q2. Name a kind of crystal which is visible in the granite.
Q3. The granite is actually sandy in colour here. Why does it appear to be red?
Q4. Are sandstones hard or soft?
Q5. Using the geological map at GZ, are you standing above traprock or granite?
You are welcome to post a photo of yourself enjoying your time in the park. Remember to take only photos and leave no trace of your visit. We hope you enjoy your visit to this remarkable Australian geological formation.