Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia's diverse geology is home to a variety of aquifers, which are geological formations that store and transmit water. These aquifers play a crucial role in providing water for drinking, industry, and farming, as well as supporting unique ecosystems. One of the most well-known aquifers in Australia is the Great Artesian Basin, which covers one-fifth of the continent and has been a vital water source for rural communities and industries such as cattle stations and irrigation. Other notable aquifers include the major alluvial aquifers of the Murray-Darling Basin and the Perth Basin. The sustainability of groundwater use in these aquifers is a concern, with declining groundwater levels due to factors such as drought and extraction rates exceeding natural recharge.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of Aquifers | Alluvial Aquifers, Coastal Aquifers, Fractured Rocks, Sedimentary Basins, Palaeovalleys, Karst |
| Geological Formation | Geological formations that can store and transmit water |
| Location | The Great Artesian Basin, Murray-Darling Basin, Perth Basin, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia |
| Importance | Drinking water, industry, farming, primary industries, groundwater-dependent ecosystems, Aboriginal communities and trade routes |
| Environmental Impact | Groundwater contamination, depletion, and chemical damage due to coal seam gas extraction |
| Government Initiatives | Improving Great Artesian Basin Drought Resilience program, Great Artesian Basin Strategic Management Plan |
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What You'll Learn
Alluvial aquifers
Australia's geology is diverse, resulting in a variety of aquifer types. Alluvial aquifers are one of the six representative categories of the country's key geological and topographic provinces. They are formed of sediments such as gravel, sand, and silt deposited by rivers or other running water.
The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is another example of an aquifer in Australia. It is the largest and deepest artesian basin in the world, covering 1,700,000 square kilometres (660,000 sq mi) and providing the only source of freshwater for much of inland Australia. The basin underlies 22% of the Australian continent, including most of Queensland, the southeast corner of the Northern Territory, northeastern South Australia, and northern New South Wales.
The discovery and use of water in the Great Artesian Basin enabled the settlement of thousands of square kilometres of land away from rivers in inland New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia. European discovery of the basin dates back to 1878 when a shallow bore near Bourke produced flowing water. The Great Artesian Basin became an important water supply for cattle stations, irrigation, and livestock and domestic purposes, and it continues to be a vital lifeline for rural Australia.
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Coastal aquifers
Australia's geology is diverse, so the types of aquifers found across the continent vary. One type of aquifer found in Australia is a coastal aquifer. These are deposits of sand formed along the coast by wind and water.
The discovery and use of water in the GAB have had a significant impact on the settlement and development of rural Australia. European discovery of the basin dates back to 1878 when a shallow bore near Bourke produced flowing water. The water in the GAB allowed for the settlement of thousands of square kilometres of land away from rivers, which would otherwise have been unavailable for pastoral activities. Today, the GAB continues to be a vital lifeline for rural communities, providing water for cattle stations, irrigation, and domestic purposes.
However, the GAB has also faced challenges due to human activities. There have been concerns about depletion and chemical damage to the basin resulting from coal seam gas extraction. In 2011, it was revealed that the Queensland Gas Company (QGC) had released potentially toxic chemicals into the basin during a "fracking" incident in 2009. This incident and others like it have highlighted the potential risks to the basin and the ecosystems and communities that depend on it.
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Fractured rocks
Australia's geology is diverse, and its aquifers vary in type. One such type is fractured rock aquifers, which are found in fractures and fissures within hard and impermeable rock, such as granite. In these aquifers, groundwater is stored in the rock mass's fractures, joints, bedding planes, and cavities. About 40% of groundwater in Australia is stored in fractured rock aquifers, and this water is used for irrigation, town water supplies, stock watering, and domestic use. Fractured rock aquifers account for about 33% of all bores in Australia and about 10% of total water extraction.
The groundwater yield from fractured rock aquifers is extremely variable and depends on the distribution of major fractures. The rates of groundwater movement in these systems are challenging to quantify, and existing techniques cannot easily characterise groundwater flow. The flow direction is often related to the orientation of fractures rather than the hydraulic head distribution.
In Australia, groundwater is a critical natural resource, providing drinking water to communities, supporting industries, agriculture, and sustaining streams and wetlands. With increasing water demand, communities are turning to fractured rock aquifers, where water moves through fractures in the rock. However, fractures may not always convey or store large water quantities, and understanding groundwater flow in these aquifers is an area of ongoing research.
Land-use practices can significantly impact water quality in fractured rock aquifers, especially where groundwater flows rapidly through fractures. Additionally, these aquifers are considered potential repositories for radioactive and other types of waste, where slow-moving or inaccessible groundwater is desirable.
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Sedimentary basins
Australia's geology is diverse, and the country is home to 26 sedimentary basins. Sedimentary basins are relatively large areas where thick layers of sedimentary rock, such as sandstone, siltstone, and conglomerate, have been deposited over many years. They are one of the six categories of geological and topographic provinces in Australia.
One of the most well-known sedimentary basins in Australia is the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), which is a vital water supply for rural Australia and has supported the settlement of thousands of square kilometres of land in inland New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia. The GAB is part of the larger East Australian Basins division and includes the smaller Wilcannia Threshold physiographic section. The water in the GAB is held in a sandstone layer laid down by continental erosion during the Triassic, Jurassic, and early Cretaceous periods. During these periods, much of what is now inland Australia was below sea level, and the sandstone was covered by a layer of marine sedimentary rock, forming a confining layer that trapped water in the sandstone aquifer. The water in the GAB is under pressure, and when tapped with boreholes, the pressure often forces the water up without the need for pumps.
The age of the groundwater in the GAB has been determined using carbon-14 and chlorine-36 measurements, combined with hydraulic modelling. The age of the water ranges from several thousand years in the recharge areas in the north to nearly 2 million years in the southwestern discharge zones. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the GAB's water discharged through mound springs in arid South Australia, sustaining various endemic invertebrates and supporting Aboriginal communities and trade routes. After the European discovery of the basin in 1878, the springs facilitated exploration and faster communication between southeastern Australia and Europe.
However, there are significant concerns about depletion and chemical damage to the GAB due to coal seam gas extraction. Instances of groundwater contamination have been widely documented, and they have impacted the population's ability to cope with droughts by relying on groundwater sources. For example, in one incident, the Queensland Gas Company (QGC) released a potentially toxic chemical into the Springbok aquifer, which is connected to the GAB.
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The Great Artesian Basin
The basin is an extensive underground freshwater resource, lying beneath parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia, and New South Wales. It is composed of several geological basins, including the Eromanga, Surat, and Carpentaria basins. The water in the GAB is held in a sandstone layer, formed during the Triassic, Jurassic, and early Cretaceous periods when much of inland Australia was below sea level. The sandstone is covered by a layer of marine sedimentary rock, which acts as a confining layer that traps water in the aquifer.
Despite its importance, the Great Artesian Basin faces significant challenges, including depletion and chemical damage due to coal seam gas extraction. There have been incidents of groundwater contamination, with high levels of lead, aluminium, arsenic, and other heavy metals found in the water. These issues have raised concerns about the long-term impact on the aquifer, agriculture, and the health of people supported by the basin. Coordinated efforts are needed to ensure the sustainable use and protection of this crucial water resource.
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Frequently asked questions
Aquifers are found across Australia, with iconic groundwater resources including the Great Artesian Basin, the Murray-Darling Basin, and the Perth Basin.
The Great Artesian Basin is a vital water supply for rural Australia, covering one-fifth of the continent. It is a sandstone aquifer, formed by continental erosion during the Triassic, Jurassic, and early Cretaceous periods.
The types of aquifers found in Australia vary due to its diverse geology. Examples include alluvial aquifers, coastal aquifers, fractured rocks, sedimentary basins, palaeovalleys, and karst.
The Great Artesian Basin has experienced depletion and chemical damage due to coal seam gas extraction. Groundwater contamination by coal seam gas has led to the presence of heavy metals and other chemicals beyond recommended levels, impacting the ecosystems and communities that depend on this water source.
