Aspects of stratigraphy and structure in relation to the Woolpunda Groundwater Interception Scheme, Murray Basin, South Australia  


Authors / CoAuthors

Lindsay, J.M. | Barnett, S.R.

Abstract

Micropalaeontological and biostratigraphic studies have been used to assist understanding of the stratigraphic and structural context of groundwater flow systems in the vicinity of the Woolpunda Groundwater Interception Scheme (WGIS) - a major area of saline groundwater discharge to the River Murray in the western Murray Basin. Structure was defined by tracing several stratigraphic markers in the Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene succession, including the Lepidocyclina foraminiferal zone and three clay or marl units of low permeability. A cross-section through the upper part of the Cainozoic sequence illustrates east- west arching gentle Middle to Late Miocene folding, and intermittent mild Cainozoic uplift. Arching and doming across the WGIS area is confirmed by a structure contour plot on top Renmark Group, and by limited drilling in the deeper Eocene and Cretaceous sediments. The arched structure apparently relates to draping of the Tertiary succession over a high of pre-Tertiary rocks related to the Hamley Fault. This high acts as a permeability barrier to the Renmark Group confined aquifer which thins significantly over it, promoting upward leakage into the water table aquifer, with resultant high saline discharge to the River Murray.

Product Type

document

eCat Id

81253

Contact for the resource

  Custodian

Corp  

  Owner

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)  

  Custodian

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)  
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia

Keywords

  • GA PublicationJournal
  • SA
Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
  • Earth Sciences
  • Published_External

Publication Date

1989-01-01T00:00:00

Creation Date

Security Constraints

Australian Government Security ClassificationSystem    

Classification - unclassified

Legal Constraints

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence    

Access - license

Use - license

Status

Purpose

Maintenance Information

unknown

Topic Category

geoscientificInformation

Series Information

BMR Journal of Australian Geology and Geophysics 11:2-3:219-225

Lineage

Unknown

Parent Information

Extents

[-35.83, -33.47, 137.87, 141.12]

Reference System

Spatial Resolution

Service Information

Associations

Downloads and Links

Journal article (pdf)  

Source Information

Source data not available.