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Geological Formation

The Organ Pipes, Victoria

Volcanic Formations

The Organ Pipes are a set of vertical, closely packed basalt columns in the Organ Pipes National Park near Sydenham, Victoria, Australia, formed around one million years ago when lava from a nearby volcanic vent flowed into the valley of Jacksons Creek and pooled to a considerable depth. As the thick lava mass cooled slowly and evenly from the surface inward, it contracted and cracked into a dense array of roughly hexagonal columns up to 20 meters tall, later exposed in cross-section on a cliff face by the erosive action of the creek cutting down through the surrounding rock. The formation is regarded as one of the finest examples of columnar basalt jointing in Australia.

Facts
Classification
Protected Status
National Park or Reserve 1
FAQs

What else can visitors see in Organ Pipes National Park besides the columns?

Rosette Rock and the Tessellated Pavement.

The park also holds Rosette Rock, where basalt columns radiate like the spokes of a giant wheel, and the Tessellated Pavement, a mosaic-like basalt outcrop.
Connections

Associated With

Basalt, Materials
Source Wikipedia: Organ Pipes National Park - Wikipedia
Mudstone, Materials
Source Wikipedia: Organ Pipes National Park - Wikipedia
Pleistocene, Eras
Source Wikipedia: Organ Pipes National Park - Wikipedia
Sandstone, Materials
Source Wikipedia: Organ Pipes National Park - Wikipedia
Silurian, Eras
Source Wikipedia: Organ Pipes National Park - Wikipedia

Caused By

Volcanism, Processes
Source Wikipedia: Organ Pipes National Park - Wikipedia

In Discipline

Geomorphology, Disciplines
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Australia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Organ Pipes National Park - Wikipedia
  • Geography
    The Organ Pipes National Park, abbreviated as OPNP, is a national park located in the Central region of Victoria, Australia.
  • Associated With: Pleistocene, Lead section
    the valley walls of Jacksons Creek expose Pleistocene volcanic rocks of the New Volcanic Group
  • Associated With: Pleistocene, Lead, age Pleistocene
    Within Organ Pipes National Park, the valley walls of Jacksons Creek expose Pleistocene volcanic rocks of the New Volcanic Group.
  • Associated With: Silurian, Lead, age Silurian
    The bottom of the valley of Jackson Creek also exposes a prehistoric buried creek valley, which is cut into 400 million year-old (Silurian) mudstones and sandstones.
  • Associated With: Mudstone, Lead, rock Mudstone
    The bottom of the valley of Jackson Creek also exposes a prehistoric buried creek valley, which is cut into 400 million year-old (Silurian) mudstones and sandstones.
  • Associated With: Sandstone, Lead, rock Sandstone
    The bottom of the valley of Jackson Creek also exposes a prehistoric buried creek valley, which is cut into 400 million year-old (Silurian) mudstones and sandstones.
  • Associated With: Basalt, Lead, rock Basalt
    Both the ancient river valley and the Silurian sedimentary rock lies buried beneath the basaltic volcanic rocks of the New Volcanic Group.
  • Caused By: Volcanism, Lead, process Volcanism
    Within Organ Pipes National Park, the valley walls of Jacksons Creek expose Pleistocene volcanic rocks of the New Volcanic Group.
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