Tessellated Pavements

31 December 2023

It was a grey and drizzly morning! Plan A , a canyon, was out; Plan B, a bushwalk, was in. Six water-resistant souls set off to misty Mount Irvine. The track to Tesselate Hill (with one L) is well-defined suggesting that the area is getting popular!
As we moved along the track, we soaked up the rainwater from the foliage and soon we were drenched.
We climbed Tesselate Hill and were on the Tessellated Pavements (with two Ls). Usually there are magnificent views on the Wollangambe River and Bowens Creek but today everything was blanketed in fog!
We explored the pavements and its tessellations. Evidence of aboriginal occupation include a well, numerous grinding grooves and an engraving representing a woman. Unfortunately people have been scratching patterns on the rock surface: vandalism is alive and well!

We headed back to the car soaking up more moisture on the way. A great little walk for the last day of the year!

RESEARCH PAPER ON TESSELLATIONS

I found this research paper on tessellations present at Yellow Knolls.in Utah. The tessellations – domed hexagons – are similar to the ones present in Tesselate Hill.

Hexagonal Fracture Patterns On Navajo Sandstone Crossbeds At Yellow Knolls, Washington County by David B. Loop (Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska).