In 2009, as part of its Onshore Energy Security Program, Geoscience Australia, in conjunction with the Northern Territory Geological Survey, acquired 373 km of vibroseis-source, deep seismic reflection, magnetotelluric and gravity data along a single north-south traverse from the Todd River in the south to nearly 30 km north of the Sandover Highway in the north. This traverse, 09GA-GA1, is referred to as the Georgina-Arunta seismic line, extends from the northeastern Amadeus Basin, across the Casey Inlier, Irindina and Aileron provinces of the Arunta Region and Georgina Basin to the southernmost Davenport Province. Here, we report the results of an initial geological interpretation of the seismic and magnetotelluric data, and discuss some preliminary geodynamic implications.

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Assessment of archive and contemporary mineral exploration data has highlighted prospective sand-bearing aquifers >200 metres deep in several Cenozoic Basins in central Australia. Funded by the National Water Commission's Palaeovalley Groundwater Project we conducted initial evaluation of the aquifer potential of these deep fluvial sands by drilling new waterbores. Our borehole data indicates significant groundwater resources (10s-100s of GL), hitherto unknown, exist at depth in the Ti Tree Basin, 200 kilometres north of Alice Springs. Previous groundwater studies here have focussed solely on the upper 100 metre-thick sedimentary sequence, neglecting the significant deeper resources. Based on new drilling and other exploration data, we now conceptualise the Ti Tree Basin as a three-layer hydrostratigraphic system. Our work also demonstrates the potential for deep and previously unidentified groundwater resources elsewhere in central Australia. In the Mount Wedge Basin, located ~220 kilometres west of Alice Springs, we intersected a sand-rich sequence buried >400 metres deep. Here, new drilling data integrated with remote sensing and geophysical mapping has enhanced understanding of the regional groundwater potential of deep Cenozoic aquifers. Hydrostratigraphic correlations with other arid zone palaeovalleys indicate that these relatively thick multi-layer aquifers are unique to central Australia. Importantly, new hydraulic head data also implies that the deep groundwater resources are, at least in part, connected with the shallower groundwater systems. As these near-surface aquifers are commonly exploited in central Australia (e.g., Ti Tree horticulture), recognition of connectivity with deeper groundwater systems has important implications for current and future resource management.

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