Authors / CoAuthors
English, P. | Lewis, S. | Magee, J.
Abstract
Water security in extensive arid parts of Australia is reliant upon groundwater resources to meet the requirements of remote towns, isolated Aboriginal communities, the pastoral and mining industries and the environment. Greater understanding and predictability of groundwater resources in these regions is imperative for future sustainable water supplies, particularly where mining activities are increasing. Hydrogeological investigations in diverse geologic provinces in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory have been undertaken in frontier areas to assess palaeovalleys and associated groundwater systems. This work, funded by the Australian Federal Government, appraised various methodologies for regional reconnaissance of arid zone palaeovalley aquifers. Demonstration studies were conducted in large regions, spread across an area comparable in size to Europe. Permian glacial valleys, ancient fluvial valleys and Cenozoic basin-and-range lake settings were investigated. Mapping of buried palaeovalley networks beneath dunefields was a particular focus. Investigations in these little-known regions included integrated application of innovative landscape analysis, geophysics - including Airborne Electromagnetic and ground-based gravity surveys - drilling, bore installation and monitoring and hydrochemical analysis. The depths of the infilled valleys, their geographic extents and stratigraphy, and their groundwater resources were assessed. Substantial heterogeneity of palaeovalley aquifers was revealed. Neotectonism appears to have influenced palaeovalley evolution in some regions. Groundwater quality is variable and aquifer volumes and interconnectivity are yet to be established. A key finding has been the widespread presence of palaeowaters; 14C groundwater ages reveal residence times up to 30,000 years, with only limited, infrequent and localised recharge due to proximity to cyclonic trajectories and topographic position. This multidisciplinary approach to meet regional-scale groundwater resource challenges is applicable in desert lands in other Gondwanan sub-continents and arid to semi-arid zones elsewhere, particularly for reconnaissance investigations in 'greenfield' regions where major groundwater abstractions are required.
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nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
75772
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
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2601
Australia
Keywords
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- External PublicationAbstract
- ( Theme )
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- groundwater
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Geology
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- Published_Internal
Publication Date
2013-01-01T00:00:00
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geoscientificInformation
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Abstract prepared for ** conference 2013
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