Hydrogeological atlas of the Great Artesian Basin

Project completed 2015

Background

The Atlas presents a compilation of maps documenting some of the key regional geological, hydrogeological and hydrochemical aspects of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB). It provides insights into the regional geometry and physical characteristics of the rocks and water contained within this vast groundwater basin, as well as baseline information to assess future hydrological changes.

The Atlas draws upon work undertaken by Geoscience Australia that contributed to a number of projects, such as the CSIRO-led Great Artesian Basin Water Resource Assessment (GABWRA) project and Geoscience Australia's Carbon Capture and Storage project. Since these projects, new information has led to some of the concepts and interpretations being revised or refined for this Atlas. New work presented in this Atlas includes revised interpretations of the extent and thickness of the major aquifers and aquitards and the basin-wide perspective of the variation of water chemistry within the major aquifers.

The Atlas and associated datasets are a valuable information resource for state and Commonwealth governments, resource and environmental agencies, water managers and communities. The Atlas helps inform water management decisions within the GAB, assisting agencies to better understand the basin’s aquifers and groundwater resources and evaluate the effectiveness of management activities.

Outputs

Download a high resolution copy of the Atlas here: