Mt Buninyong and the nearby Mt Warrenheip are the only two forested volcanic cones in Victoria.
Mt Buninyong was created by an accumulation of scoriaceous rocks, that were ejected during explosive volcanic eruptions.
Scoria cones generally range from about 50 to 200 meters in height, and consist of a steep sided mountain with a rounded top.
Two types of rocks were produced from the volcano. Scoria and basalt are both hardened lava but the difference is scoria is blasted into the air which causes air bubbles to form making it light, while basalt is formed from lava flows that runs along the ground and so is heavy.
Two separate volcanic cones exist at Mt Buninyong. The one you can see at the co-ordinates is the newer one, while the older cone has been destroyed mostly due to the eruption of the newer cone and erosion.
The volcano here produced lava flows in two directions; to the East out of a flank fissure in the side and to the West over the lip of the volcano.
The first volcanic cone was created between 100,000 and 150,000 years ago, while the second occurred only 12,000 years ago.
The crater is covered by native grass and ferns, and trees line the upper edges of the cone.
There is a track that takes you from the carpark near the bottom of the mountain to the crater.
Park at S37 38.962 E143 55.148.
Once at the crater you need to answer the following question and email me with the answer. What was the name of the first lava flow which erupted through a flank fissure? In your log please post something interesting you have learned at the crater. If you like you can also post a photo at the crater. See if you can get one standing in the middle of it!
Logs that do not meet the conditions above will be deleted.
NOTE: As of 1st January 2011 the EarthCache guidelines have changed and you do not have to provide a photo. However if your answers are incorrect your log will be deleted. You are more than welcome to add a photo if you so desire to your log as proof of a visit.