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similarities. including large size and poor soning of the clasts. 'floating' nature of many
of the clasts, common preferred orientation of a ues of the c1asts, erosional bases, and
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the existence of layers of sandstones within the conglomerales.
Ahhough saods1one
layers are not present in all conglomerate beds of the Lower Head Formation, they are
present in several (see plate 3.16) and their presence, in add ilion to the varia1ion in clast
types belween the conglomerate layers, suggests that several different events may have
contributed to Ihe deposition of one bed, 1hus allowing for application o( 1he term
'compound' (Hendry, 1913).
Rip.up clasts within Ihe Lower Head conglomerate horizon \~..ere nen observed,
again similu 10 the situation described by Hendry (1113l. Hendry (1973lilllerpreted this
to mean lhal the transpofl energy of layers arriving at the depositional site did not vary
sufficiently 10 allow erosion and deposition to alternate during the buildup of tile
compound beds. and suggested that individual layers within the beds were related to each
olher in lime and space, thus qualifying these beds for the term 'composite'.
Hendry
(1913) suggested that sands which now conslilute the salldy matrix 10 the conglumerates
were previously deposited further upslope and were subsequemly liquefied, possibly hy
an earthquake. An upper layer of sand would be transported as a gravity flow down
slope, leaving a newly exposed layer SUbjecilO backrush, liquefaction and failure. Thus
several successive failures would occur 10 complete the buildup of the composite bed,
The presence of fining upward sequellCes, abundant amalgamation surfaces. and
a deep basal scour at Manin Point North suggest that here the conglomerate~ were
deposited in a channel. The same may also be true of the locality at Black Point where