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  • This GA Record is one of a series of 4 reports completed by the GA Groundwater Group under the National Collaboration Framework Project Agreement with the Office of Water Science (Dept of the Environment). The report was originally submitted to OWS as a GA Professional Opinion, and was subsequently reviewed by Queensland government. The Laura Basin in north Queensland is a priority coal-bearing sedimentary basin that is not currently slated for Bioregional Assessment.

  • In 2017, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) completed the State Natural Hazard Risk Assessment which evaluated the risks presented to Queensland by seven in-scope natural hazards. This publication can be found at www.disaster.qld.gov.au. The risks presented by tsunami were not evaluated as part of this assessment as there were State and Commonwealth projects underway at the time that would better inform the understanding of the hazard. These have since been completed and now underpin this guide. Following the release of the State Natural Hazard Risk Assessment and through consultation with stakeholders at all levels of Queensland’s Disaster Management Arrangements, the need for consistent information regarding Queensland’s risk from tsunami impact and inundation was identified. Accordingly, this Tsunami Guide for Queensland was developed, with support from Geoscience Australia and the Department of Environment and Science’s Coastal Impacts Unit (CIU), through a consultative process which also helped contextualise the findings of Geoscience Australia’s Probabilistic Tsunami Hazard Assessment 2018 (PTHA18) for Queensland.

  • The Cloncurry Extension Magnetotelluric (MT) Survey is located north of the township of Cloncurry, in the Eastern Succession of the Mount Isa Province. The survey expands MT coverage to the north and west of the 2016 Cloncurry MT survey. The survey was funded out of the Queensland Government’s Strategic Resources Exploration Program, which aims to support discovery of mineral deposits in the Mount Isa Region. The survey area is predominantly covered by conductive sediments of the Carpentaria Basin. The cover thickness ranges from zero metres in the extreme south west of the survey, to over 345 meters in the north. Acquisition started in August 2019 and was completed in October 2020. The acquisition was managed under an collaborative framework agreement between the Geological Survey of Queensland and Geoscience Australia until April 2020, after which the GSQ took over management of the project. Zonge Engineering and Research Organization were responsible for field acquisition. Data were collected at 2 km station spacing on a regular grid with a target bandwidth of 0.0001 – 1000 s. Instruments were left recording for a minimum of 24 hours unless disturbed by animals. The low signal strength posed a significant impediment for acquiring data to 1000 s, even with the 24 hour deployments. Almost all sites have data to 100 s, with longer period data at numerous sites.

  • <div>This data package is a key output from the integrated, basin-scale hydrogeological assessment of South Nicholson-Georgina as part of Geoscience Australia’s National Groundwater Systems project in the Exploring for the Future program.&nbsp;This comprehensive desktop study has integrated numerous geoscience and hydrogeological datasets to develop a new whole-of-basin conceptualisation of groundwater flow systems and recharge and discharge processes within the regional unconfined aquifers of the Georgina Basin.</div><div><br></div><div>This data release includes an ESRI geodatabase and ESRI shapefiles with associated layer files:</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Georgina Basin watertable trend surface</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Georgina Basin reduced standing water level (RSWL) contours</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Regional scale groundwater divides</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Groundwater flow paths</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bores with aquifer attribution and water level information where available</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hydrochemistry data for bores and springs, and aquifer attribution (where available)</div><div>-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Basin boundary extents</div><div><br></div><div>For more information and detail on these products, refer to associated report, Dixon-Jain et al. (2024).</div><div><br></div><div>Dixon-Jain, P., Bishop, C., Lester, J., Orlov, C., McPherson, A., Pho, G., Flower, C., Kilgour, P., Lawson, S., Vizy, J., Lewis, S. 2024. Hydrogeology and groundwater systems of the South Nicholson and Georgina basins, Northern Territory and Queensland. Record 2024/37. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/149730</div>

  • The document summarises new seismic interpretation metadata for two key horizons from Base Jurassic to mid-Cretaceous strata across the western and central Eromanga Basin, and the underlying Top pre-Permian unconformity. New seismic interpretations were completed during a collaborative study between the National Groundwater Systems (NGS) and Australian Future Energy Resources (AFER) projects. The NGS and AFER projects are part of Exploring for the Future (EFTF)—an eight year, $225 million Australian Government funded geoscience data and precompetitive information acquisition program to inform decision-making by government, community and industry on the sustainable development of Australia's mineral, energy and groundwater resources. By gathering, analysing and interpreting new and existing precompetitive geoscience data and knowledge, we are building a national picture of Australia’s geology and resource potential. This will help support a strong economy, resilient society and sustainable environment for the benefit of all Australians. The EFTF program is supporting Australia’s transition to a low emissions economy, industry and agriculture sectors, as well as economic opportunities and social benefits for Australia’s regional and remote communities. Further details are available at http://www.ga.gov.au/eftf. The seismic interpretations build on previous work undertaken as part of the ‘Assessing the Status of Groundwater in the Great Artesian Basin’ (GAB) Project, commissioned by the Australian Government through the National Water Infrastructure Fund – Expansion (Norton & Rollet, 2022; Vizy & Rollet, 2022; Rollet et al., 2022; Rollet et al., in press.), the NGS Project (Norton & Rollet, 2023; Rollet et al., 2023; Vizy & Rollet, 2023) and the AFER Project (Bradshaw et al., 2022 and in press, Bernecker et al., 2022, Iwanec et al., 2023; Iwanec et al., in press). The recent iteration of revisions to the GAB geological and hydrogeological surfaces (Vizy & Rollet, 2022) provides a framework to interpret various data sets consistently (e.g., boreholes, airborne electromagnetic, seismic data) and in a 3D domain, to improve our understanding of the aquifer geometry, and the lateral variation and connectivity in hydrostratigraphic units across the GAB (Rollet et al., 2022). Vizy and Rollet (2022) highlighted some areas with low confidence in the interpretation of the GAB where further data acquisition or interpretation may reduce uncertainty in the mapping. One of these areas was in the western and central Eromanga Basin. New seismic interpretations are being used in the western Eromanga, Pedirka and Simpson basins to produce time structure and isochore maps in support of play-based energy resource assessment under the AFER Project, as well as to update the geometry of key aquifers and aquitards and the GAB 3D model for future groundwater management under the NGS Project. These new seismic interpretations fill in some data and knowledge gaps necessary to update the geometry and depth of key geological and hydrogeological surfaces defined in a chronostratigraphic framework (Hannaford et al., 2022; Bradshaw et al., 2022 and in press; Hannaford & Rollet, 2023). The seismic interpretations are based on a compilation of newly reprocessed seismic data (Geoscience Australia, 2022), as part of the EFTF program, and legacy seismic surveys from various vintages brought together in a common project with matching parameters (tying, balancing, datum correcting, etc.). This dataset has contributed to a consolidated national data coverage to further delineate groundwater and energy systems, in common data standards and to be used further in integrated workflows of mineral, energy and groundwater assessment. The datasets associated with the product provides value added seismic interpretation in the form of seismic horizon point data for two horizons that will be used to improve correlation to existing studies in the region. The product also provides users with an efficient means to rapidly access a list of core data used from numerous sources in a consistent and cleaned format, all in a single package. The following datasets are provided with this product: 1) Seismic interpretation in a digital format (Appendix A), in two-way-time, on key horizons with publically accessible information, including seismic interpretation on newly reprocessed data: Top Cadna-owie; Base Jurassic; Top pre-Permian; 2) List of surveys compiled and standardised for a consistent interpretation across the study area (Appendix B). 3) Isochore points between Top Cadna-owie and Base Jurassic (CC10-LU00) surfaces (Appendix C). 4) Geographical layer for the seismic lines compiled across Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory (Appendix D). These new interpretations will be used to refine the GAB geological and hydrogeological surfaces in this region and to support play-based energy resource assessments in the western Eromanga, Pedirka and Simpson basins.

  • <div>This data package provides depth and isochore maps generated in support of the energy resource assessments under the Australia’s Future Energy Resources (AFER) project. Explanatory notes are also included.</div><div><br></div><div>The AFER project is part of Geoscience Australia’s Exploring for the Future (EFTF) Program—an eight year, $225 million Australian Government funded geoscience data and precompetitive information acquisition program to inform decision-making by government, community and industry on the sustainable development of Australia's mineral, energy and groundwater resources. By gathering, analysing and interpreting new and existing precompetitive geoscience data and knowledge, Geoscience Australia is building a national picture of Australia’s geology and resource potential. This will help support a strong economy, resilient society and sustainable environment for the benefit of all Australians. The EFTF program is supporting Australia’s transition to a low emissions economy, industry and agriculture sectors, as well as economic opportunities and social benefits for Australia’s regional and remote communities. Further details are available at http://www.ga.gov.au/eftf.</div><div><br></div><div>The depth and isochore maps are products of depth conversion and spatial mapping seismic interpretations by Szczepaniak et al. (2023) and Bradshaw et al. (2023) which interpreted 15 regional surfaces. These surfaces represent the top of play intervals being assessed for their energy resource potential (Figure 1). These seismic datasets were completed by play interval well tops by Bradshaw et al. (in prep), gross depositional environment maps, zero edge maps by Bradshaw et al. (in prep), geological outcrop data as well as additional borehole data from Geoscience Australia’s stratigraphic units database.</div><div><br></div><div>Depth and isochore mapping were undertaken in two to interactive phases; </div><div><br></div><div>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A Model Framework Construction Phase – In this initial phase, the seismic interpretation was depth converted and then gridded with other regional datasets. </div><div><br></div><div>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A Model Refinement and QC Phase – This phase focused on refining the model and ensuring quality control. Isochores were generated from the depth maps created in the previous phase. Smoothing and trend modelling techniques were then applied to the isochore to provide additional geological control data in areas with limited information and to remove erroneous gridding artefacts.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The final depth maps were derived from isochores, constructing surfaces both upward and downward from the CU10_Cadna-owie surface, identified as the most data-constrained surface within the project area. This process, utilizing isochores for depth map generation, honours all the available well and zero edge data while also conforming to the original seismic interpretation.</div><div><br></div><div>This data package includes the following datasets: </div><div><br></div><div>1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Depth maps, grids and point datasets measured in meters below Australian Height Datum (AHD, for 15 regional surfaces (Appendix A). </div><div>2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Isochore maps, grids and point datasets measured in meters, representing 14 surfaces/play internals (Appendix B).</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>These depth and isochore maps are being used to support the AFER Project’s play-based energy resource assessments in the Pedirka and western Eromanga basins, and will help to support future updates of 3D geological and hydrogeological models for the Great Artesian Basin by Geoscience Australia.</div><div><br></div>

  • From June 23rd to November 4th 2016 Geotech Ltd. carried out a helicopter-borne geophysical survey over part of East Isa in Queensland (figure 1). Operations were based at Cloncurry, Queensland. The traverse lines were flown in an east to west (N 90° E azimuth) direction with 2km and 2.5km traverse line spacings, with three Tie lines flown perpendicular to the traverse lines. During the survey the helicopter was maintained at a mean altitude of 76 metres above the ground with an average survey speed of 90 km/hour. This allowed for an actual average EM Transmitter-receiver loop terrain clearance of 38 metres and a magnetic sensor clearance of 68 metres. The principal geophysical sensors included a versatile time domain electromagnetic (VTEMTMPlus) full receiver-waveform system, and a caesium magnetometer. Ancillary equipment included a GPS navigation system, laser and radar altimeters, and inclinometer. A total of 15697 line-kilometres of geophysical data were acquired during the survey. The electromagnetic system is a Geotech Time Domain EM (VTEMplus) with full receiver-waveform streamed data recording at 192 kHz. The "full waveform VTEM system" uses the streamed half-cycle recording of transmitter current and receiver voltage waveforms to obtain a complete system response calibration throughout the entire survey flight. The VTEM transmitter loop and Z-component receiver coils are in a concentric-coplanar configuration and their axes are nominally vertical. An X-component receiver coil is also installed in the centre of the transmitter loop, with its axis nominally horizontal and in the flight line direction. The receiver coils measure the dB/dt response, and a B-Field response is calculated during the data processing. In-field data quality assurance and preliminary processing were carried out on a daily basis during the acquisition phase. Preliminary and final data processing, including generation of final digital data products were undertaken from the office of Geotech Ltd. in Aurora, Ontario. A set of Conductivity Depth Images (CDI) were generated using EM Flow version 3.3, developed by Encom Technologies Pty Ltd. A total of forty-five (45) dB/dt Z component channels, starting from channel 4 (21 µsec) to channel 48 (10667 µsec), were used for the CDI calculation. An averaged waveform at the receiver was used for the calculation since it was consistent for the majority of the flights with minor deviation from the average. Digital data includes all electromagnetic and magnetic data, conductivity imaging products, mulitplots plus ancillary data including the waveform.

  • This report presents key results of groundwater barometric response function development and interpretation from the Upper Burdekin Groundwater Project in North Queensland, conducted as part of Exploring for the Future (EFTF)—an eight year, $225 million Australian Government funded geoscience data and information acquisition program focused on better understanding the potential mineral, energy and groundwater resources across Australia. The Upper Burdekin Groundwater Project is a collaborative study between Geoscience Australia and the Queensland Government. It focuses on basalt groundwater resources in two geographically separate areas: the Nulla Basalt Province (NBP) in the south and the McBride Basalt Province (MBP) in the north. The NBP and MBP basalt aquifers are heterogeneous, fractured, vesicular systems. This report assesses how water levels in monitoring bores in the NBP and MBP respond to barometric pressure changes to evaluate the degree of formation confinement. The main process used to evaluate water level response to barometric pressure in this study is based on barometric efficiency (BE). The BE of a formation is calculated by dividing the change in monitoring bore water level by the causative barometric pressure change. Both parameters are expressed in the same units, so BE will typically be some fraction between zero and one. BE is not necessarily constant over time; the way BE changes following a theoretical step change in barometric pressure can be described using a barometric response function (BRF). BRFs were calculated in the time domain and plotted as BE against time lag for interpretation. The BRF shape was used to assess the degree of formation confinement. Although there is some uncertainty due to monitoring bore construction issues (including long effective screens) and potentially air or gas trapped in the saturated zone, all BRFs in the current project are interpreted to indicate unconfined conditions. This finding is supported by the identification of recharge at many monitoring bores through hydrograph analysis in other EFTF project components. We conclude that formations are likely to be unconfined at many project monitoring bores assessed in this study.

  • <div>This report brings together data and information relevant to understanding the regional geology, hydrogeology, and groundwater systems of the South Nicholson – Georgina (SNG) region in the Northern Territory and Queensland. This integrated, basin-scale hydrogeological assessment is part of Geoscience Australia’s National Groundwater Systems project in the Exploring for the Future program. While the northern Georgina Basin has been at the centre of recent investigations as part of studies into the underlying Beetaloo Sub-basin, no regional groundwater assessments have focused on central and southern parts of the Georgina Basin since the 1970s. Similarly, there has been no regional-scale hydrogeological investigation of the deeper South Nicholson Basin, although the paucity of groundwater data limited detailed assessment of the hydrogeology of this basin. This comprehensive desktop study has integrated numerous geoscience and hydrogeological datasets to develop a new whole-of-basin conceptualisation of groundwater flow systems and recharge and discharge processes within the regional unconfined aquifers of the Georgina Basin.</div><div><br></div><div>Key outputs arising from this study include: (1) the development of a hydrostratigraphic framework for the region, incorporating improved aquifer attribution for over 5,000 bores; and (2) publicly available basin-scale groundwater GIS data layers and maps, including a regional watertable map for the whole Georgina Basin. This regional assessment provides new insights into the hydrogeological characteristics and groundwater flow dynamics within the Georgina Basin, which can aid in the sustainable management of groundwater for current and future users reliant on this critical water resource.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

  • The middle to lower Jurassic sequence in Australia's Surat Basin has been identified as a potential reservoir system for geological CO2 storage. The sequence comprises three major formations with distinctly different mineral compositions, and generally low salinity formation water (TDS<3000 mg/L). Differing geochemical responses between the formations are expected during geological CO2 storage. However, given the prevailing use of saline reservoirs in CCS projects elsewhere, limited data are available on CO2-water-rock dynamics during CO2 storage in such low-salinity formations. Here, a combined batch experiment and numerical modelling approach is used to characterise reaction pathways and to identify geochemical tracers of CO2 migration in the low-salinity Jurassic sandstone units. Reservoir system mineralogy was characterized for 66 core samples from stratigraphic well GSQ Chinchilla 4, and six representative samples were reacted with synthetic formation water and high-purity CO2 for up to 27 days at a range of pressures. Low formation water salinity, temperature, and mineralization yield high solubility trapping capacity (1.18 mol/L at 45°C, 100 bar), while the paucity of divalent cations in groundwater and the silicate reservoir matrix results in very low mineral trapping capacity under storage conditions. Formation water alkalinity buffers pH at elevated CO2 pressures and exerts control on mineral dissolution rates. Non-radiogenic, regional groundwater-like 87Sr/86Sr values (0.7048-0.7066) indicate carbonate and authigenic clay dissolution as the primary reaction pathways regulating solution composition, with limited dissolution of the clastic matrix during the incubations. Several geochemical tracers are mobilised in concentrations greater than found in regional groundwater, most notably cobalt, concentrations of which are significantly elevated regardless of CO2 pressure or sample mineralogy.