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Multidata approach to map paleovalleys in the Western Musgrave region

Created 17/10/2025

Updated 17/10/2025

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The Australian Government’s Exploring for the Future Musgrave Palaeovalley Project investigated the groundwater systems of the Western Musgrave region. This arid desert area spans the borders of Western Australia, Northern Territory, and South Australia, and contains no perennial surface water features. Consequently, remote communities, the environment, and industry in the area depend solely on groundwater. To enhance the understanding of palaeovalley geology and groundwater systems, 19,400 line kilometres of airborne electromagnetics (AEM) were acquired, and 18 bores were sampled for hydrochemical data, including isotopes and environmental tracers. These new data were integrated with legacy AEM data from historical mineral exploration and a regional bore database of approximately 200 bores. Utilising these datasets, we developed a three-dimensional model of palaeovalleys and Cenozoic systems, producing the region’s first hydrogeological conceptual model. Palaeovalleys in the study area generally slope gently southward, with sufficient thickness to contain significant amounts of groundwater. We also identified several areas where neo-tectonic faulting disrupts palaeovalley flow paths, likely leading to groundwater compartmentalisation and upwelling.< Cenozoic groundwater in the region was found to be fresh to brackish and well-connected on a regional scale. Isotopic and tracer data indicate that most groundwater is relatively young (<100 years) and recharged by events associated with cyclones and monsoons. We also propose a hypothesis linking high nitrate groundwaters commonly encountered in arid Australia with conditions created by the often-targeted calcrete aquifers. The project's findings highlight the crucial role of groundwater in arid environments and demonstrate the importance of integrating geophysical and hydrochemical methods. Presented at the 52nd Congress of International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH2025)

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Field Value
Title Multidata approach to map paleovalleys in the Western Musgrave region
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/50d91ac1-26b5-4efb-a427-e1b750c6b0f8
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
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  "coordinates": [
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        125.5238,
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      ],
      [
        128.9461,
        -27.6066
      ],
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        128.9461,
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      ],
      [
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      ],
      [
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      ]
    ]
  ],
  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Multidata approach to map paleovalleys in the Western Musgrave region". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/multidata-approach-to-map-paleovalleys-in-the-western-musgrave-region