Geologist explains rocks along the Great Ocean Rd
Damia Ettakadoumi, GeoScience Victoria
Respected landscape photographer Anita Harris from the USA was captivated by the 100 million year old rocks she snapped at Lorne Beach last year. Anita thought she could see giant fossils in the rock formations. She describes seeing “a footprint, wings of a huge bird, a large plant and a delicate nest”.
Anita approached senior geologist Avi Olshina, GeoScience Victoria, to describe what was really going on with the rocks in her photos.
“Sadly, but not unexpectedly, not a fossilised footprint, just a section through one of many and varied, both is size and shape, concretions…” wrote Avi in a letter to Anita. “The reason I wouldn’t expect footprints is that the rocks are far too old (Cretaceous)”.
Although a little embarrassed, Anita thanked Avi for his explanation, to which Avi graciously responded “Ahhh! The eye of an artist! The gift is to see what others don’t, and amaze them by bringing the unexpected to their attention”.
The artist is displaying her Lorne rock photo collection, complete with geological annotations, at a gallery in Massachusetts, USA.
Link to photos
Photo caption: Fantastical rock formation at Lorne Beach, snapped by photographer Anita Harris
Damia Ettakadoumi
Project Liaison
GeoScience Victoria | Earth Resources | Department of Primary Industries
Phone: 03 9658 4532 | Mobile: 0437 090 381 | Facsimile: 03 9658 4555