Hydrogeological Atlas of the Great Artesian Basin

Inter-aquifer connectivity between Australia’s Great Artesian Basin and the overlying Condamine Alluvium: an assessment and its implications for the basin’s groundwater management

“…In such instances, the methodology used in the study may be applied to further investigate the connectivity and its implications for integrated management of the GAB where responses to hydrogeological stresses imposed from groundwater extraction, mining or petroleum and gas development have to be considered. There are many alluvial systems overlying the GAB, such as the Namoi River Alluvium and the Border River Alluvium, where interconnectivity is considered highly likely (Ransley et al 2015). Similar to the CA, the depositional environment and the nature of erosional contact of those alluviums with the underlying GAB is likely to be an influencing factor in determining the connectivity and its implications for the management of the GAB.…”

“…There are a number of other alluvium covers across the GAB with similar settings, such as the Namoi River and Border River alluviums in New South Wales, Macquarie River Alluvium in South Australia, and St George Alluvium in Queensland. Hydraulic connection between these alluviums and the GAB aquifers is considered highly likely (Ransley et al 2015); therefore, an understanding of hydrogeological connectivity between the CA and the GAB potentially also has wider implications for the management of groundwater resources across the entire GAB. Hydraulic connectivity between alluvial aquifers and deeper coal seams has also been reported internationally.…”

“…Hillier (2010) identified a negative hydraulic gradient between the CA and the WCM and proposed that elevated salinities in the CA indicate input of lower-quality groundwater from the WCM. Ransley et al (2015) noted that in some parts of the CA, there is a negative pressure difference between the CA and the GAB, while the reverse is the case in others parts, suggesting that hydraulic interaction from the GAB to the alluvium is very likely. Based on a detailed investigation of the major hydrochemical evolutionary pathways of the CA and similarities between alluvium and sedimentary bedrock, Owen and Cox (2015) concluded some mixing between alluvial and sedimentary bedrock aquifers was possible in localised areas around outcrops of sedimentary bedrock in upstream areas based on similar hydrochemistry between the WCM and CA; however, this work also used inverse geochemical modelling to show that similar water types could evolve independently in situ in the WCM and CA .…”

Targeting Core Sampling with Machine Learning: Case Study from the Springbok Sandstone, Surat Basin

“…Applying these cutoffs to the study wells of this contribution will lead to >80% of the formation being classified as sandstone (see Levy and Gaede, this conference volume). Further, the Springbok Sandstone is one of the predominant host stratigraphic units of the Adori-Springbok Aquifer, which in turn is one of five major aquifers of the Great Artesian Basin (Ransley et al, 2015). In this context Ransley et al (2015) classify the Springbok Sandstone as a partial aquifer.…”

“…Further, the Springbok Sandstone is one of the predominant host stratigraphic units of the Adori-Springbok Aquifer, which in turn is one of five major aquifers of the Great Artesian Basin (Ransley et al, 2015). In this context Ransley et al (2015) classify the Springbok Sandstone as a partial aquifer. Recent groundwater modelling studies refer to the Springbok Sandstone either as a major aquifer (e.g.…”