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Towards developing a 3D hydrogeological framework for Australia

Aims:

Groundwater is vital for community water supplies and economic development in Australia. It also supports indigenous cultural values and sustains a range of groundwater dependent ecosystems, including springs and vegetation communities. Geoscience Australia’s regional assessments and basin inventories are investigating Australia’s groundwater systems to improve knowledge of the nation’s groundwater systems under the Exploring for the Future (EFTF) Program. Where applicable, we applied integrated basin analysis workflows to build models of geological and hydrostratigraphic architecture and link them to a nationally consistent chronostratigraphic framework. While the focus of this paper is the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), the overlying Lake Eyre Basin (LEB) and the Upper Darling Floodplain (UDF) region, these datasets and surfaces continue expanding beyond this current study area by linking additional studies using this consistent approach, towards building a national picture of groundwater systems.


Method:

Geoscience Australia continues to refine the chronostratigraphic framework that correlates time equivalent geological units from neighbouring basins and hydrostratigraphy for the GAB, LEB and UDF (Figure 1), infilling key data and knowledge gaps from previous compilations and adding new interpretation. In collaboration with Commonwealth, State and Territory government agencies, we compiled and standardised data from thousands of boreholes, including stratigraphic (Norton & Rollet, 2023; Vizy & Rollet, 2023a) and biostratigraphic picks (Hannaford & Rollet, 2023), 2D and 3D seismic (Szczepaniak et al., 2023) and airborne electromagnetic derived conductivity sections across the study area (McPherson et al., 2022a &b; Wong et al., 2023). We undertook a detailed stratigraphic review of thousands of boreholes with geophysical logs to construct consistent regional transects across the GAB, LEB and UDF (Norton & Rollet, 2023). In addition we applied geological time constraints from hundreds of boreholes with existing and newly interpreted biostratigraphic data (including from legacy palynological preparations from the Geoscience Australia archives where old reports could not be found) (Hannaford & Rollet, 2023). New biostratigraphic data from core samples has been analysed from bores in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. The biostratigraphic data was calibrated to the most recent biostratigraphic zonation scheme and used to provide geological time constraint to the stratigraphic picks.


Results:

We infilled the stratigraphic correlations along key transects across Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory to refine nomenclature and stratigraphic relationships between the Surat, Eromanga and Carpentaria basins, improving chronostratigraphic understanding within the Jurassic‒Cretaceous to Cenozoic units. We extended the GAB geological framework to include the overlying LEB and UDF as well to better resolve the Cenozoic stratigraphy and structure and potential for hydrogeological connectivity. The new data and information fill recognised gaps and refine the previous 3D geological model of the entire GAB and extend it to the LEB and UDF region (Vizy & Rollet, 2023b).


The updated 3D geological and hydrostratigraphic model provides a framework to integrate additional hydrogeological and rock property data. It assists in refining hydraulic relationships between aquifers within the GAB, LEB, UDF and provides a basis for developing more detailed hydrogeological system conceptualisations.


The improved cross-jurisdictional chronostratigraphic understanding supports improvements to the common agreed terminology for Australian hydrogeological units and groundwater provinces between jurisdiction borders


( http://www.bom.gov.au/water/groundwater/naf/). This enables the delivery of geologically and hydrogeologically consistent datasets to inform decision makers and the broader groundwater community in Australia.


This abstract was submitted/presented to the 2023 Australasian Groundwater / New Zealand Hydrological Society (AGC NZHS) Joint Conference ( https://www.hydrologynz.org.nz/events-1/australasian-groundwater-nzhs-joint-conference)


References:

Hannaford, C. and Rollet, N. 2023. Palynological data review of selected boreholes in the Great Artesian, Lake Eyre basins and Upper Darling Floodplain (part 2): Infilling data and knowledge gaps. Record 2023/27. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/147173


McPherson, A., Rollet, N., Vizy, J., Kilgour, P. 2022a. Great Artesian Basin eastern recharge area assessment - northern Surat Basin airborne electromagnetic survey interpretation report. RECORD: 2022/017. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. http://dx.doi.org/10.11636/Record.2022.017


McPherson, A., Buckerfield, S., Tan, K., Kilgour, P., Symington, N., Ray, A., Buchanan, S. 2022b. Developing (hydro)geological conceptual models to support improved groundwater management. The Upper Darling Floodplain Project, New South Wales. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/147055


Norton, C. J. and Rollet, N. 2023. Regional stratigraphic correlation transects across the Great Artesian, Lake Eyre basins and Upper Darling Floodplain region (part 2): Infilling data and knowledge gaps. Record 2023/28. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/147243


Szczepaniak, M., Rollet, N., Bradshaw, B, Lund, D., Iwanec, J., Bradey, K., Vizy, J., 2023. Western and central Eromanga and underlying basins seismic interpretation ‒ Data package. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/147900


Vizy, J. & Rollet, N. 2023a. Australian Borehole Stratigraphic Units Compilation (ABSUC) 2023 Version 1.0. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/147641


Vizy, J. & Rollet, N., 2023b. 3D geological and hydrogeological surfaces update in the Great Artesian, Lake Eyre basins and Upper Darling Floodplain region (part 2): report and data package. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/148552


Wong, S.C.T., Hegarty, R.A., Pitt, L., Crowe, M.C., Roach, I., Nicoll, M., LeyCooper, Y., Hope, J., Bonnardot, M. 2023. Eastern Resources Corridor Airborne Electromagnetic Interpretation Data Package. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/147992

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Identification info

Date (Creation)
2023-07-25T17:11:00
Date (Publication)
2024-02-01T05:44:08
Citation identifier
Geoscience Australia Persistent Identifier/https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/148641

Identifier

Codespace

Digital Object Identifier

Cited responsible party
Role Organisation / Individual Name Details
Publisher

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)

Voice
Author

Rollet, N.

MEG Internal Contact
Author

Vizy, J.

MEG Internal Contact
Author

Norton, C.J.

External Contact
Author

Hannaford, C.

External Contact
Author

McPherson, A.

MEG Internal Contact
Author

Symington, N.

MEG Internal Contact
Author

Evans, T.

MEG Internal Contact
Author

Szczepaniak, M.

MEG Internal Contact
Author

Bradshaw, B.

MEG Internal Contact
Author

Wilford, J.

MEG Internal Contact
Author

Wong, S.

MEG Internal Contact
Author

Nation, E.

External Contact
Author

Peljo, M.

MEG Internal Contact
Name

Australasian Groundwater / New Zealand Hydrological Society (AGC NZHS) Joint Conference 28 November - 1 December 2023, Auckland NZ

Purpose

Abstract for submission to the 2023 Australasian Groundwater Conference / New Zealand Hydrological Society (28 November-1 December 2023)

Status
Completed
Point of contact
Role Organisation / Individual Name Details
Point of contact

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)

Voice
Resource provider

Minerals, Energy and Groundwater Division

External Contact
Point of contact

Rollet, N.

MEG Internal Contact
Spatial representation type
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  • Geoscientific information

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Extent

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S
E
W


Maintenance and update frequency
As needed

Resource format

Title

Product data repository: Various Formats

Website

Data Store directory containing the digital product files

Data Store directory containing one or more files, possibly in a variety of formats, accessible to Geoscience Australia staff only for internal purposes

theme.ANZRC Fields of Research.rdf
  • EARTH SCIENCES

Keywords
  • EFTF - Exploring for the Future, National Groundwater Systems, Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian, stratigraphy, palynology, airborne electromagnetic data, seismic, Great Artesian Basin, Lake Eyre Basin, Upper Darling Floodplain, Eromanga Basin, Carpentaria Basin, Surat Basin

Keywords
  • Published_External

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

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CC-BY

Edition

4.0

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http://creativecommons.org/licenses/

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(c) Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia) 2023

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Australian Government Security Classification System

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2018-11-01T00:00:00
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https://www.protectivesecurity.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

Classification
Unclassified
Language
English
Character encoding
UTF8

Distribution Information

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Distributor

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)

Voice facsimile
OnLine resource

Link to Conference Page

Link to Conference Page

Distribution format
OnLine resource

Link to Abstract (Page 65)

Link to Abstract (Page 65)

Distribution format
OnLine resource

Download Presentation (pdf) [10.0 MB]

Download Presentation (pdf) [10.0 MB]

Distribution format

Resource lineage

Statement

Data integration across MEG EFTF projects with a common geological and hydrogeological framework to map consistently Australian hydrogeological units, as part of the EFTF NGS project.

Metadata constraints

Title

Australian Government Security Classification System

Edition date
2018-11-01T00:00:00
Website

https://www.protectivesecurity.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

Classification
Unclassified

Metadata

Metadata identifier
urn:uuid/ad1f1fff-f23b-485c-93a0-75f7092e545c

Title

GeoNetwork UUID

Language
English
Character encoding
UTF8
Contact
Role Organisation / Individual Name Details
Point of contact

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)

Voice
Owner

Rollet, N

Geoscience Australia Internal Contact
Point of contact

Rollet, N.

MEG Internal Contact

Type of resource

Resource scope
Document
Name

Conference Abstract

Alternative metadata reference

Title

Geoscience Australia - short identifier for metadata record with

uuid

Citation identifier
eCatId/148641

Metadata linkage

https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/5167d912-6784-4371-9938-3931e84ca6f1

Metadata linkage

https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/ad1f1fff-f23b-485c-93a0-75f7092e545c

Metadata linkage

https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/js/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/ad1f1fff-f23b-485c-93a0-75f7092e545c

Date info (Creation)
2019-04-08T01:55:29
Date info (Revision)
2019-04-08T01:55:29

Metadata standard

Title

AU/NZS ISO 19115-1:2014

Metadata standard

Title

ISO 19115-1:2014

Metadata standard

Title

ISO 19115-3

Title

Geoscience Australia Community Metadata Profile of ISO 19115-1:2014

Edition

Version 2.0, September 2018

Citation identifier
https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/122551

 
 

Spatial extent

N
S
E
W


Keywords

EFTF - Exploring for the Future, National Groundwater Systems, Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian, stratigraphy, palynology, airborne electromagnetic data, seismic, Great Artesian Basin, Lake Eyre Basin, Upper Darling Floodplain, Eromanga Basin, Carpentaria Basin, Surat Basin
theme.ANZRC Fields of Research.rdf
EARTH SCIENCES

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