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The evolution of groundwater in the Tyrrell catchment, south-central Murray Basin, Victoria, Australia

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Abstract

The Tyrell catchment lies on the western margin of the Riverine Province in the south-central Murray Basin, one of Australia’s most important groundwater resources. Groundwater from the shallow, unconfined Pliocene Sands aquifer and the underlying Renmark Group aquifer is saline (total dissolved solids up to 150,000 mg/L) and is Na-Cl-Mg type. There is no systematic change in salinity along hydraulic gradients implying that the aquifers are hydraulically connected and mixing during vertical flow is important. Stable isotopes (18O+2H) and Cl/Br ratios indicate that groundwater is entirely of meteoric origin and salts in this system have largely been derived by evapotranspiration of rainfall with only minor halite dissolution, rock weathering (mainly feldspar dissolution), and ion exchange between Na and Mg on clays. Similarity in chemistry of all groundwater in the catchment implies relative consistency in processes over time, independent of any climatic variation. Groundwater in both the Pliocene Sands and Renmark Group aquifers yield ages of up to 25 ka. The Tyrrell Catchment is arid to semi-arid and has low topography. This has resulted in relatively low recharge rates and hydraulic gradients that have resulted in long groundwater residence times.

Résumé

Le Bassin Versant de Tyrell se situe sur la bordure occidentale de la Province de Riverine, dans la zone centrale sud du Bassin de Murray, l’une des ressources en eau souterraines majeures en Australie. Les eaux souterraines de l’aquifère libre superficiel des Sables Pliocènes et de l’aquifère sous-jacent du Renmark Group sont salées (solides dissous totaux atteignant 150,000 mg/L), et de faciès chloruré sodique et magnésien. La salinité ne varie pas selon les gradients hydrauliques, suggérant que les aquifères sont connectés hydrauliquement et que les mélanges sont importants au cours du trajet vertical. Les isotopes stables (18O et 2H) et les rapports Cl/Br indiquent que l’eau a une origine exclusivement météorique, et que les sels sont essentiellement issus de l’évaporation de l’eau de pluie dans ce système, avec quelques effets mineurs de la dissolution de halite, de l’altération des roches (majoritairement dissolution des feldspaths) et des échanges de bases entre Na et Mg dans les argiles. Les similarités chimiques entre toutes les eaux souterraines du bassin versant impliquent une relative continuité des processus dans le temps, indépendamment de tout changement climatique. Les âges des eaux souterraines des aquifères des Sables Pliocènes et du Renmark Group sont estimés à 25,000 ans au maximum. Le Bassin Versant de Tyrell est aride à semi-aride, avec un relief bas. La recharge est par conséquent lente et les gradients hydrauliques peu marqués, générant des temps de résidence élevés.

Resumen

La subcuenca de Tyrell queda en el margen occidental de la Provincia de Riverine en la Cuenca de Murray sur-central, uno de las fuentes de agua subterránea más importantes de Australia. El agua subterránea del acuífero somero y libre de las Arenas del Plioceno, lo mismo del acuífero subyacente del Grupo Renmark es salina (Los Sólidos disueltos totales alcanzan hasta 150,000 mg/L) y es el tipo de Na-Cl-Mg. No hay ningún cambio sistemático en la salinidad a lo largo de los gradientes hidráulicos, implicando que los acuíferos se conectan hidráulicamente y que la mezcla durante el flujo vertical es importante. Los isótopos estables (18O+2H) y las proporciones de Cl/Br indican que el agua subterránea es completamente de origen meteórico y que las sales en este sistema se han derivado principalmente por evapotranspiración de lluvia, con una disolución menor de halita, meteorización de la roca (principalmente la disolución del feldespato), e intercambio iónico entre Na y Mg en las arcillas. La similitud en la química de toda el agua subterránea en la subcuenca, implica la consistencia relativa de los procesos con el tiempo, independiente de cualquier variación climática. El agua subterránea en los acuíferos de las Arenas del Plioceno y del Grupo Renmark tiene edades hasta 25,000 años. La Subcuenca de Tyrrell es árida a semiárida y tiene topografía baja. Esto ha producido proporciones de recarga y gradientes hidráulicos relativamente bajos, que a su vez han resultado en tiempos de residencia largos del agua subterránea.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Department of Primary Industries for access and availability to the observation bores. We thank Sinclair Knight Merz for information and data provided on the region and the Pickles family for access to bores on their property. We also thank Andy Christie (ANU) for the cation analyses and Fred Leaney (CSIRO) for 14C analyses. This project would not be possible without the funding from the Australian Research Council and Monash University.

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  1. Hydrogeology and Environmental Research Group, School of Geosciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia

    B. Petrides & I. Cartwright

  2. Hydrogeology and Environmental Research Group, Department of Earth Sciences, Melbourne University, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    T. R. Weaver

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Correspondence to B. Petrides.

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Petrides, B., Cartwright, I. & Weaver, T.R. The evolution of groundwater in the Tyrrell catchment, south-central Murray Basin, Victoria, Australia. Hydrogeol J 14, 1522–1543 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-006-0057-9

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