Recharge pathway domains - Beetaloo GBA region

Abstract

Interpretation of data on maps 522 and 528 and AusAEM maps. Within the Beetaloo GBA region, areas with higher potential for recharge to the Cambrian Limestone aquifer are those with the following conditions: A. Carpentaria Basin cover is thin, B. Carpentaria B sequence consists primarily of Carpentaria A sandstone, and C. there are areas with sinkholes at surface and other collapse features. These conditions are met in NW corner of Beetaloo GBA region. Areas with potential for recharge to Carpentaria Basin A sandstone aquifer, may occur where the Carpentaria Basin sandstone is partially saturated. Indirectly this may be a source of recharge to the underlying CLA as well. This area occurs in southern parts of the Beetaloo GBA region, where the Caprentaria sandstone is utilised as an aquifer.The rest of the eastern Beetaloo probably has lower potential for recharge as Carpentaria Basin sediments tend to be dominated by clay and black shale, and can be very thick. These areas need to be double checked against longterm water level data to confirm if any recharge is occurring.

Attribution

Geological and Bioregional Assessment Program

History

Produced by interpreting Caprentaria thickness and sinkhole maps (see factsheet 5 available from https://www.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/gba for more details). Polygons were generated in ArcGIS from visual interpretation and stored in shapefile format.