Authors / CoAuthors
English, P. | Bell, J. | Kilgour, P.
Abstract
A map of the distribution of palaeovalleys in the arid and semi-arid zones of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory has recently been produced by Geoscience Australia as part of a National Water Commission-funded project to investigate palaeovalleys, their aquifers and groundwater resources (Bell et al., 2012; English et al., 2012). Generation of the Palaeovalley Map was based on integrated datasets including NASA's Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) high-resolution topographic data and derived Digital Elevation Model (DEM) outputs. Geological information pertinent to palaeovalleys, such as Cenozoic alluvium, calcrete bodies and salt lakes, were combined with detailed information from field-based investigations and conceptual models for respective geologic provinces to present the third dimension and stratigraphic and hydrogeologic representation. Highly variable palaeovalley types are encompassed: Permian glacial valleys, remnants of Gondwana rivers, basin-and-range lacustrine basins, and Cenozoic valleys inset into Paleozoic-Mesozoic basins as well as ancient crystalline cratons. Palaeovalley networks that are substantially buried beneath our desert dunefields have been disclosed. Previously undocumented geomorphologic features and characteristics are diverse. These observations include newly-created drainage divides underlain by salt diapirs, and major impacts of both hydrologic closure of drainage systems and neotectonism. The mapping exercise and outputs provide a spatially consistent broad-scale framework for more focussed geologic and geomorphologic studies and near-surface groundwater resource investigations. References Bell, J.G., Kilgour, P.L., English, P.M., Lewis, S.J., Wischusen, J.D.H. and Woodgate, M.F., 2012. WASANT Palaeovalley Map - Distribution of Palaeovalleys in Arid and Semi-arid WA-SA-NT. English, P., Lewis, S., Bell, J., Wischusen, Woodgate, M., Bastrakov, E., Macphail, M., Kilgour, P., 2012. Water for Australia's arid zone - identifying and assessing Australia's palaeovalley groundwater resources. National Water Commission: Waterlines Report Series No 86, July 2012.
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nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
74806
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
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- External PublicationAbstract
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- AU-NTAU-SAAU-WA
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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- Published_Internal
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2012-01-01T00:00:00
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