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Geophysical investigations of water deposits, Western Australia

Created 16/10/2025

Updated 16/10/2025

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At the request of the Geological Survey of Western Australia, the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics provided geophysical staff and equipment to assist in the search for underground water supplies in certain areas of Western Australia where additional supplies are required for further development of the farming 'industry. The main objects of the survey were to test several -types of resistivity equipment and to determine their limitations and optimum working conditions, to estimate the accuracy of depth determinations to formation discontinuities, to determine, the nature of the discontinuities, and to estimate the degree of salinity of the ground water. Results show that in 75 per cent of the measurements made, errors in depth determinations were within ± 20 per cent. Although limited control data were available, it was often possible to recognize limestones, cementation zones in limestone, sands and ground-water levels, and in granite areas, the transition from weathered to fresh granite was readily recognized. Where conditions were favourable, a satisfactory correlation was obtained between resistivity values and the salt content of solutions in a formation, provided the porosity of the formation was known. Although the main object of the survey was not, the finding of new underground water supplies, this WJ.S one of the aims in the Cue area, and a location was found where conditions for a large supply of good-quality water appeared to be favourable. The resistivity meter which was used in the tests was developed by the Bureau of Mineral Resources, and operated very satisfactorily. The Megger earth tester was reliable up to electrode spacings of 100 feet. The value of future test surveys for underground water would be greatly enhanced if more comprehensive bore information were available for correlation and combination with geophysical and geological observations. Such information should include the porosity and permeability of formations, screen analyses of samples, and salt content and resistivity of bore water.

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Field Value
Title Geophysical investigations of water deposits, Western Australia
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/901ed6c0-1013-4cee-8708-e2f4fcf1d742
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 20/04/2018
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    [
      [
        118.0,
        -35.0
      ],
      [
        125.0,
        -35.0
      ],
      [
        125.0,
        -26.0
      ],
      [
        118.0,
        -26.0
      ],
      [
        118.0,
        -35.0
      ]
    ]
  ],
  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Geophysical investigations of water deposits, Western Australia". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/geophysical-investigations-of-water-deposits-western-australia