Environmental isotopes as indicators of inter-aquifer mixing, Wimmera region, Murray Basin, Southeast Australia.

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dc.contributor.authorCartwright, Ien_AU
dc.contributor.authorWeaver, TRen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCendón, DIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSwane, Ien_AU
dc.date.accessioned2010-11-22T04:52:01Zen_AU
dc.date.available2010-11-22T04:52:01Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2010-10-20en_AU
dc.date.statistics2010-10-20en_AU
dc.description.abstractComplex groundwater flow systems in confined aquifers that result from geological structures, stratigraphic changes, or the absence of efficient aquitards are difficult to constrain using physical parameters alone. Despite a relatively simple aquifer configuration, the distribution of groundwater total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations, δ13C values, 87Sr/86Sr ratios, and 14C activities (a14C) in groundwater in the Wimmera region of the southern Murray Basin implies that considerable inter-aquifer flow has occurred. Given the presence of both silicate and carbonate aquifers, δ13C values and 87Sr/86Sr ratios are the key parameters that demonstrate inter-aquifer flow. Locally, between 40 and 95% of water from one aquifer has infiltrated the underlying aquifer homogenising many aspects of the groundwater geochemistry. Groundwater residence times estimated from a14C range from modern to > 30 ka and the distribution of 14C residence times confirm that inter-aquifer flow is regional scale and long term. Recharge of the deepest aquifers occurs across a broad region and not solely at the basin margins. Vertical leakage rates are ~ 6–10 × 10−3 m/year and long-term recharge rates 0.1–0.2 mm/year (< 1% of annual rainfall). Groundwater from this region is a locally valuable resource and failure to recognise that inter-aquifer flow occurs threatens the sustainability of this resource. © 2010, Elsevier Ltd.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationCartwright, I., Weaver, T., Cendón, D. I., & Swane, I. (2010). Environmental isotopes as indicators of inter-aquifer mixing, Wimmera region, Murray Basin, Southeast Australia. Chemical Geology, 277(3-4), 214-226. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2010.08.002en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc3064en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0009-2541en_AU
dc.identifier.issue3-4en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleChemical Geologyen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination214-226en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2010.08.002en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/2868en_AU
dc.identifier.volume277en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevieren_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectGround wateren_AU
dc.subjectAquifersen_AU
dc.subjectCarbon 14en_AU
dc.subjectSolutesen_AU
dc.subjectIndicatorsen_AU
dc.titleEnvironmental isotopes as indicators of inter-aquifer mixing, Wimmera region, Murray Basin, Southeast Australia.en_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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