Heritage Places
Heritage Place Details
| LOCATION |
| Map |
Show Map
|
| Address |
Narungga Country, Pondalowie Bay Road INNESTON |
| Locality |
|
| Accuracy |
H - high level confidence |
| Development Plan |
Yorke Peninsula Council |
| Polygon Type |
B - Building footprint |
| DESCRIPTION |
| Details (Known As) |
Inneston Lake and Deep Lake Geological Sites, Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park [designated places of geological and palaeontological significance] |
| Registered Name |
Inneston Lake and Deep Lake Geological Sites |
| Significance |
Inneston Lake and Deep Lake are among a small number of places in South Australia where living stromatolites occur. Stromatolites (structures formed in rock by an ecosystem composed of several extremely ancient life forms, bacteria and cyanobacteria) have long been known in the fossil record and are among the earliest life forms known, existing 3,500 million years ago. They were believed to have become extinct about 100 million years ago, until the discovery of recent stromatolites in several lakes in South Australia and Western Australia.
Inneston and Deep Lakes are of outstanding scientific importance because of the occurrence of living stromatolites, and provide rare opportunities in which to study the morphology and environmental conditions for the formation of a modern occurrence of one of the earliest life forms on earth (Yorke Peninsula Heritage Survey, 1997)
(Validated 22 February 2000)
STATEMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The Inneston Lake and Deep Lake Geological Sites, Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park are the result of thousands of years of hydrological and geological change. There are abundant gypsum deposits at both Inneston Lake and Deep Lake, with those at Deep Lake remaining highly intact. The precipitated minerals in the base of the lakes illustrate recent sea level changes and sediment depositions that ofcontributed to the geological fabric of the place as well as the formation of rare living stromatolites.
Groundwater movement fills Inneston Lake and Deep Lake through springmounds and fissures, while boxwork gypsum texture at Inneston Lake contributes to the ecosystem of the place. The many geological features associated with the carbonates at both lakes demonstrate the continuing development of the geological landscape and yield opportunities to research the geological history of the Yorke Peninsula coast.
Elements of heritage significance include (but are not necessarily limited to):
* A highly intact natural environment supporting stromatolites (Deep Lake),
* Exceptional tepee structures (Deep Lake)
* Brecciated, cemented and chemically altered rock formations,
* Continually forming Gypsum deposits, quarried and natural,
* Spring mounds and fissures feeding groundwater into the lakes,
* Continually forming selenite domes and other remaining high-purity gypsum deposits,
Elements not considered to contribute to significance of place include (but are not necessarily limited to):
* Human-made structures, railways, fences, and paths
STATEMENT OF PALAEONTOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The Inneston Lake and Deep Lake Geological Sites, Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park is a highly preserved habitat for assemblages of layered stromatolites formed from ancient microbial mats. Comprised of both fossilised and living stromatolites the structures are made from some of the earliest lifeforms on earth. Once abundant worldwide three billion years ago, the `living fossils' at Inneston and Deep Lakes are very rare and provide a glimpse into the ancient development of microbial organisms and the evolution of life. Living microorganisms continue to grow and thrive as they layer upon decomposing and lithified microorganisms and sediment. Climatic data is retained within the laminations making the structures highly likely to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the evolution of the climate and landscapes within the State.
Elements of heritage significance include (but are not necessarily limited to):
* Rare living stromatolites growing rapidly at two separate lakes, some untouched by mining activity,
* Hypersaline lake environments supporting growth of microbial organisms,
* Geological features that support the growth of microbial organisms, such as carbonate crusts, and boxwork limestones,
Elements not considered to contribute to significance of place include (but are not necessarily limited to):
* Human-made structures, railways, fences, and paths |
| Subject Index |
Landscape area - Geological Site; Landscape area - Palaeontological Site |
| Class |
State |
|
|
| STATUS |
| Status Code |
REG - Confirmed as a State Heritage Place in the SA Heritage Register |
| Status Date |
08-JUL-1999 |
| REFERENCE |
| LGA |
Yorke Peninsula |
| State Heritage ID |
16678 |
| Heritage Number |
16061 |
|
|
|
| SECTION 16 INFORMATION |
| Section 16 |
b - it has rare, uncommon or endangered qualities that are of cultural significance
c - it may yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the State's history, including its natural history
|
| PLAN PARCEL & TITLE |
| As listed in the SA Heritage Register |
| Plan Parcel & Title Information |
CR 6240/20 H131500 S101; 131 |
Disclaimer
While due care has been taken to ensure that the SA Heritage Places Database accurately reflects the South Australian Heritage Register and listings of Local Heritage Places in Development Plans, the State of South Australia does not accept liability for the use of the SA Heritage Database for any purpose. Users should consult the Department for Environment and Water - Heritage South Australia to confirm the listing of State Heritage Places and the relevant Development Plan for Local Heritage Places/Contributory Items.
In the majority of cases, the maps of State Heritage Places on this web site show the footprints of the most significant structures on a registered Place. However, sometimes they simply indicate the complete area of land comprising the Place. Work is proceeding to further refine the mapping of such places. It is also important to note that development control is not limited to the registered structures but extends to their setting and structures nearby (what is termed ‘development affecting’ a State Heritage Place). Hence it is vital that exact details of the listed place and implications for any proposed development be discussed with Heritage South Australia staff, as they cannot be deduced solely from the information on this web site. The inclusion of a place in the SA Heritage Register gives no right of public access. Permission to visit properties must be sought from the owners. The accuracy of the mapping of State Heritage Places is not guaranteed. Please contact Heritage SA ( https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/heritage/sa-heritage-register) if you believe there is an error.
GIS files
To access downloadable GIS files, go to Data.SA.