Hydrochemical variations of groundwater and spring discharge of the western Great Artesian Basin, Australia: implications for regional groundwater flow

Abstract

The western Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is an important water source for pastoral and town water supplies, as well as for springs containing endemic flora and fauna, within arid Australia. This study focuses on the hydrochemical variations of groundwater and spring discharge in order to determine the major geochemical processes responsible for water quality and evolution across the western GAB. Regional hydrochemical trends within groundwater generally support the modern groundwater potentiometric surface and interpreted flow paths, highlighting that these approximately represent the long-term flow paths. Additionally, the regional chemical variations along the flow paths in the western GAB are complex, with their composition being a function of several controlling processes, including location of recharge, evapo-concentration, mixing and various water-rock interactions. These processes cause groundwater east of Lake Eyre to be predominantly of Na-HCO 3 type, whereas groundwater originating from the western margin is of Na-Cl-(-SO 4 ) type. The GAB springs appear to be discharging water predominantly from the main GAB aquifer, the J Aquifer; however, a component of the discharging water from several springs is from a source other than the J Aquifer. Current understanding of the hydrochemical variations of groundwater and spring discharge of the western GAB can help provide constraints on groundwater flow, as well as provide an understanding of the geochemical and hydrological processes responsible for water quality evolution.

Hydrochemistry Highlights Potential Management Issues for Aquifers and Springs in the Lake Blanche and Lake Callabonna Region, South Australia

“…Water Quality and Major Ions Field water quality parameters are provided in Table 3, whereas Table 4 provides laboratory analyses for major ion and trace elements. The major ion and trace element analyses obtained during this study are supplemented by additional historical results sourced from Radke et al (2000), , Priestley et al (2013), Mahara et al (2009) and the South Australian Government online database Waterconnect (www.wwaterconnect.sa.gov.au).…”

“…Major Ion and F-hydrochemistry of the J-K Aquifer Nat+ HCO," + (Cl-) dominant groundwater from the J-K aquifer was described by Habermehl (1980), Herczeg et al (1991) and Priestley et al (2013) as being predominantly sourced from the eastern portion of the GAB. In contrast, the J-K aquifer along the western margin of the GAB is predominantly Na* + Cl-+ SO er (Priestley et al, 2013).…”

“…Major Ion and F-hydrochemistry of the J-K Aquifer Nat+ HCO," + (Cl-) dominant groundwater from the J-K aquifer was described by Habermehl (1980), Herczeg et al (1991) and Priestley et al (2013) as being predominantly sourced from the eastern portion of the GAB. In contrast, the J-K aquifer along the western margin of the GAB is predominantly Na* + Cl-+ SO er (Priestley et al, 2013). Herczeg et al (1991) used mass-balance and equilibrium hydrochemistry models to describe the likely water-rock interactions responsible for the predominance of Na* + HCO," hydrochemistry in J-K aquifer groundwater: (a) dissolution of Na-bearing minerals (e.g.…”

Hydrogeochemical characteristics and source identification of salinity in groundwater resources in an arid plain, northeast of Iran: implication for drinking and irrigation purposes

“…>1.5) in the samples located in recharge areas suggesting other sources of the alkalis, e.g., the weathering of silicate minerals and/or cation exchange (Yang Fig. 6 -Plots of a) Gibbs (1970) (Webster et al 1994;Priestley et al 2020). (Gaillardet et al 1999 (Webster et al 1994;Priestley et al 2020).…”

“…The diagram of Na + versus Clcan be used to identify the mechanism salinity in groundwater (Priestley et al 2020). High contents of Na + and Clin the groundwater samples may be originated from evaporite mineral dissolution.…”