Abstract
Derangement of surface drainage systems across central and eastern Australia testify to subtle tectonic modification of the landscape on the million-year timescale that is relevant to groundwater residence in the Great Artesian Basin (GAB). In the central part of the overlying Lake Eyre Basin, spatial variations in drainage channel form, and lateral offsets in drainage channels, reflect an active north to northwest-trending fault system that correlates with a distinct potentiometric anomaly in the deeper GAB aquifers. There are correlations in both the distribution of seismic activity and drainage form with changes in lithospheric thickness. This suggests that active faulting reflects, in part, stress sourced from sublithospheric mantle flow beneath the GAB. These observations have implications for hydrogeological interpretations and the understanding of groundwater processes, while also providing constraints on water balance studies and studies on the distribution of pressure within GAB aquifers.
Résumé
Le dérangement des systèmes de drainage de surface dans le centre et l’est de l’Australie témoigne d’une modification tectonique subtile du paysage sur l’échelle de temps d’un million d’années qui est pertinente avec le temps de résidence des eaux souterraines dans le grand bassin artésien (GBA). Dans la partie centrale des formations sédimentaires supérieures du bassin du lac Eyre, les variations spatiales de la forme des canaux de drainage et leurs déplacements latéraux reflètent un système actif de failles du nord au nord-ouest qui est corrélé avec une anomalie de potentiel électrique distincte dans les aquifères les plus profonds du GBA. Il existe des corrélations à la fois dans la distribution de l’activité sismique et la forme de drainage avec des changements dans l’épaisseur lithosphérique. Ceci suggère que la faille active reflète, en partie, les contraintes provenant du flux sous-lithosphérique du manteau sous le GBA. Ces observations ont des répercussions sur les interprétations hydrogéologiques et la compréhension des processus des eaux souterraines, tout en fournissant également des contraintes pour les études de bilan hydrologique et les études sur la répartition de la pression au sein des aquifères du GBA.
Resumen
Los desajustes de los sistemas de drenaje superficial en Australia central y oriental atestiguan una sutil modificación tectónica del paisaje en la escala de tiempo de un millón de años que es relevante para la residencia de aguas subterráneas en la Great Artesian Basin, Australia (GAB, por sus siglas en inglés). En la parte central de la cuenca del lago Eyre, las variaciones espaciales en la forma del canal de drenaje y las compensaciones laterales en los canales de drenaje, reflejan un sistema activo de fallas con tendencia de norte a noroeste que se correlaciona con una clara anomalía potenciométrica en los acuíferos GAB más profundos. Hay correlaciones tanto en la distribución de la actividad sísmica como en la forma de drenaje con los cambios en el espesor de la litosfera. Esto sugiere que la falla activa refleja, en parte, el estrés proveniente del flujo del manto sublitosférico debajo del GAB. Estas observaciones tienen implicancias para las interpretaciones hidrogeológicas y la comprensión de los procesos de las aguas subterráneas, al mismo tiempo que limitan los estudios de balance hídrico y los estudios sobre la distribución de la presión dentro de los acuíferos GAB.
摘要
澳大利亚中部和东部地表排水系统的错乱证实了大自流盆地(GAB)地下水滞留相关的百万年时间尺度上构造对景观的微小影响。在上覆的Eyre湖盆地的中心,排水通道类别的空间变化和排水通道的侧向偏移反映了活跃的北-西北向断层系统,该系统与GAB深部含水层中的明显电位异常相关。地震活动分布和排水方式都与岩石圈厚度的变化有关。研究表明活动断层反映了部分应力来源于GAB盆地底的次岩石圈地幔流动。这些观测结果对水文地质解释和地下水过程理解有意义,同时也对水平衡和GAB盆地含水层内压力分布的研究提供了约束。
Resumo
O desarranjo dos sistemas de drenagem superficiais na Austrália central e oriental é testemunha da sutil modificação tectônica da paisagem na escala de tempo de um milhão de anos, fato que é relevante para a residência das águas subterrâneas na Grande Bacia Artesiana (GAB). Na parte central da Bacia do Lago Eyre sobreposta, as variações espaciais na forma e os desvios laterais dos canais de drenagem refletem um sistema ativo de falhas de tendência norte-noroeste correlacionado com uma distinta anomalia potenciométrica nos aquíferos mais profundos da GAB. Existem correlações tanto na distribuição da atividade sísmica e quanto na forma da drenagem com mudanças na espessura da litosfera. Isso sugere que a falha ativa reflete, em parte, o estresse proveniente do fluxo do manto sublitosférico sob a GAB. Estas observações têm implicações para interpretações hidrogeológicas e para compreensão dos processos que envolvem água subterrânea, ao mesmo tempo em que fornecem restrições sobre os estudos de balanço hídrico e da distribuição da pressão nos aquíferos da GAB.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Nick Rawlinson for providing his lithospheric thickness map, and Gary Gibson for providing his curated Australian seismic catalogue. We thank Stephen Hostetler, Donna Cathro, Todd Halihan, Carlos Miraldo Ordens and an anonymous reviewer for reviewing an earlier draft of this manuscript.
Funding
This work forms a contribution to, and was supported in part by, the Geoscience Australia - University of Melbourne Groundwater Geodynamics Program and was funded in part by Geoscience Australia’s Exploring for the Future Programme.
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Published in the special issue “Advances in hydrogeologic understanding of Australia’s Great Artesian Basin”
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Sandiford, M., Lawrie, K. & Brodie, R.S. Hydrogeological implications of active tectonics in the Great Artesian Basin, Australia. Hydrogeol J 28, 57–73 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-019-02046-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-019-02046-4