South-east Australian Fractured Rock Hydrogeology Inventory

South-east Australia's fractured rock aquifers are described in this dataset, which contains attribute information grouped into themes like location, geology, hydrogeology, and groundwater use. The dataset is associated with a Hydrogeology Index map and was published by the Australian Ocean Data Network. Fractured rock aquifers store about 40% of Australia's groundwater and account for approximately 33% of all bores.

Use Cases

• Model groundwater flow direction based on fracture orientation described in the hydrogeology theme.
• Assess groundwater availability for irrigation and town supplies based on groundwater management and use attributes.
• Study the relationship between lithological units (e.g., granite bodies, volcano-intrusive complexes) and mineral deposits (e.g., orogenic gold) in the Lachlan Orogen region.
• Evaluate localized recharge patterns in fractured rock aquifers using the physical geography and hydrogeology themes.

Strengths

• Descriptive attributes are grouped into 11 specific themes, including hydrogeology and groundwater management.
• The dataset quantifies fractured rock aquifers as storing about 40% of Australia's groundwater and comprising approximately 33% of all bores.
• Focuses on a significant region, the Lachlan Orogen, which contains diverse lithological units and mineral deposits.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The study does not include additional Orogens in the east (New England) and west (Thomson and Delamerian), limiting geographic completeness.
• Data is provided in PDF format, which may hinder direct analysis and integration.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Likely compiled from spatial groundwater features and associated Hydrogeology Index maps.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-16 15:48:42.190622; freshness should be verified.

Geography

South-east Australian Fractured Rock Province, specifically the Lachlan Orogen extending from central and eastern New South Wales to Victoria and Tasmania.