Strontium isotopes in the atmosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere: developing a systematic “fingerprinting” framework of rocks and water in sedimentary basins in eastern Australia

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dc.contributor.authorRaiber, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorFeitz, AJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCendón, DIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFlook, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSuckow, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSchöning, Gen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHofmann, Hen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMartinez, Jen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMaas, Ren_AU
dc.contributor.authorKelly, BFJen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-14T05:54:26Zen_AU
dc.date.available2024-10-14T05:54:26Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2024-11-15en_AU
dc.date.statistics2024-10en_AU
dc.description.abstractUnderstanding the connection between aquifers, aquitards, and groundwater-dependant ecosystems remains a key challenge when developing a conceptual hydrogeological model. The aim of this study was to develop a systematic strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) fingerprinting framework of rocks and water within the sedimentary Surat and Clarence-Moreton basins (SCM basins) in eastern Australia – an area of extensive coal seam gas development and high potential for aquifer and groundwater-surface water connectivity. To do this, new groundwater samples (n = 298) were collected, analyzed and integrated with published data (n = 154) from the basins' major sedimentary, volcanic and alluvial aquifers, including the major coal seam gas target, the Walloon Coal Measures. Samples were also analyzed from rainfall (n = 2) and surface water (n = 40). In addition, rock core samples (n = 39) from exploration and stratigraphic wells were analyzed to determine the range of Sr isotope composition from host rocks. The analyses of cores demonstrate a distinct and systematic contrast in 87Sr/86Sr between different hydrogeological units. This confirms that all major hydrogeological units have a narrow range with unique 87Sr/86Sr population characteristics that are useful for guiding conceptual model development. Comparison with selected hydrochemical and groundwater age tracers (14C and 36Cl) suggests only limited changes of 87Sr/86Sr from recharge beds to the deeper parts of the basins or with a decrease in natural 14C and 36Cl tracer content along flow paths. Stream sampling during baseflow conditions confirms that 87Sr/86Sr in surface waters are similar to those of the underlying bedrock formations. We demonstrated that 87Sr/86Sr analyses of rocks and water provide a powerful hydrostratigraphic and chemostratigraphic fingerprinting framework in the SCM basins, enabling reliable assessments of plausible aquifer and groundwater-surface water interconnectivity pathways. Applied in other complex multi-aquifer sedimentary basins in Australia, and globally, a similar approach can help to constrain conceptual hydrogeological models and facilitate improved water resource management. © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY - NC 4.0 license.en_AU
dc.format.mediumPrint-Electronicen_AU
dc.identifier.articlenumber175522en_AU
dc.identifier.citationRaiber, M., Feitz, A. J., Flook, S., Cendón, D. I., Suckow, A., Schöning, G., Hofmann, H., Martinez, J., Maas, R., & Kelly, B. F. J. (2024). Strontium isotopes in the atmosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere: developing a systematic “fingerprinting” framework of rocks and water in sedimentary basins in eastern Australia. Science of The Total Environment, 951, 175522. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175522en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0048-9697en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1879-1026en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleThe Science of The Total Environmenten_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175522en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175522en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/handle/10238/15742en_AU
dc.identifier.volume951en_AU
dc.languageEnglishen_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevieren_AU
dc.subjectStrontium isotopesen_AU
dc.subjectAquifersen_AU
dc.subjectGround wateren_AU
dc.subjectRocksen_AU
dc.subjectSedimentary basinsen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.titleStrontium isotopes in the atmosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere: developing a systematic “fingerprinting” framework of rocks and water in sedimentary basins in eastern Australiaen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
dcterms.dateAccepted2024-08-12en_AU
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