This preliminary report will provide a geochemical and ionic characterisation of groundwater, to determine baseline conditions and, if possible, to distinguish between different aquifers in the Laura basin. The groundwater quality data will be compared against the water quality guidelines for aquatic ecosystem protection, drinking water use, primary industries, use by industry, recreation and aesthetics, and cultural and spiritual values to assess the environmental values of groundwater and the treatment that may be required prior to reuse or discharge.

This report summarises the outcomes of the NPI-AB's second meeting in July 2015.

This record presents a compilation of new zircon U-Pb SHRIMP geochronological results (total of 17 samples) from the east Arunta region, the Litchfield Province and the Nimbawah Domain of the Pine Creek Orogen, and the Murphy Inlier, Northern Territory/Queensland. These data was collected through the ongoing collaborative NTGS-GA geochronology project during the period July 2007-June 2009 under the National Geoscience Agreement (NGA). Six samples were analysed from the east Arunta region (HALE RIVER, ILLOGWA). Five of these samples were from Palaeoproterozoic metasediments and intrusives, one sample (1945963) was from the overlying Neoproterozoic Amadeus Basin (Table 1). Ten samples in total were collected from the Pine Creek Orogen; one from the Litchfield Province (CAPE SCOTT), the remainder from the Nimbuwah Domain (COBOURG PENINSULA, ALLIGATOR RIVER). One sample (from the base of the Westmoreland Conglomerate) was analysed from the Murphy Inlier region (WESTMORELAND; Qld). Three additional samples were submitted for SHRIMP analysis but which did not yield zircons or the zircons extracted were unsuitable for analysis.

Legacy product - no abstract available

Legacy product - no abstract available

Several scenarios of an original 3D model based on the petroleum systems model of Fuji et al. (APPEA 2004) were simulated using the PetroMod 3D V.10 modeling software. In general the results of the modelling study presented here confirms the modelling results of Fuji et al. (2004) with respect to the timing of generation in the different sub-basins as well as present day maturity. The main differences between the work of Fuji et al. (2004) and the work presented here are based on the use of PhaseKinetic models for the individual source rock formations and the ensuing compositional predictions of the fluids in different fields. Source rock transformation ratios as well as the bulk generation rates indicate that the source rocks are presently still generating. The Central Swan Graben area is presently more mature than the other kitchen area of the Vulcan Sub-basin, the Cartier Trough. The locations of predicted accumulations coincide with the locations of most of the proven fields. In many cases accumulation sizes and predicted column heights are large, mainly due to the fact that the resolution of the numerical model is low which leaves rather large volumes of the cells to be filled. Modelling results predict a series of accumulations at locations which have, as yet, not been tested. However, most of them depend on fault closure, thus increasing exploration risk. The main risks as observed from this modelling exercise are: 1) source rock presence and definition, 2) definition of the traps, 3) resolution of the input model, 4) cap rock properties, which are still largely unconstrained. The different scenarios modelled show distinct variations with respect to predicted petroleum distribution as well as the physical properties of the accumulated fluids.

No abstract available

The Sustainable Management of Coastal Groundwater Resources (SMCGR) project aims to improve the management of groundwater in coastal dune aquifers, which is used to supply water for coastal communities in the Mid North Coast region. There is increasing pressure on groundwater resources from expanding urbanisation and tourism in this region, which has made sustainable management of existing groundwater supplies an important issue for coastal communities and councils. Over extraction from groundwater systems can affect the water available for ecosystems, which may be dependent on shallow groundwater resources. Withdrawal of groundwater resources in excess of the sustainable yield may also result in fresh water resources being degraded by seawater intrusion or by upcoming from underlying saline water bodies.

Australia's rich neotectonic record provides an opportunity to understand the characteristics of intraplate deformation, both at the scale of a single 'active' fault and at the scale of the entire continent. Over the last decade our knowledge of Australian intraplate faults has advanced significantly (e.g. Crone et al., 1997, 2003; Clark & McCue, 2003). Herein, six preliminary seismicity source zones spanning continental Australia, and based upon neotectonics data, are proposed. Each source zone contains active faults that share common recurrence and behavioural characteristics, in a similar way that source zones are defined using the historic record of seismicity. The power of this domain approach lies in the ability to extrapolate characteristic behaviours from well-characterised faults (few) to faults about which little is known (many). This data, and conceptual and numerical models describing the nature of the seismicity in each source zone, has the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of seismic hazard in Australia at a time scale more representative than the snapshot provided by the historic record of seismicity.

During 2004 Geoscience Australia operated geomagnetic observatories at Kakadu and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory; Charters Towers in Queensland; Learmonth and Gnangara in Western Australia; Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory; Macquarie Island, Tasmania, in the sub-Antarctic; and Casey and Mawson in the Australian Antarctic Territory. A number of geomagnetic repeat stations were also occupied in 2004. The Australian Geomagnetism Report 2004 describes instrumentation and activities; absolute reference magnetometers; data distribution; and presents monthly and annual mean magnetic values, plots of hourly mean magnetic values and K indices at the magnetic observatories and repeat stations operated by Geoscience Australia during calendar year 2004.