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Silkstone Formation

Silkstone Formation

Subterranean GDEs Limestone Subterranean GDEs Surface expression GDEs Surface expression GDEs Surface expression GDEs Terrestrial GDEs Terrestrial GDEs Infiltration and percolation Terrestrial GDEs Infiltration and percolation Negligible groundwater flow Negligible groundwater flow Spring Direction of groundwater flow Spring Direction of groundwater flow Direction of groundwater flow Direction of groundwater flow Direction of groundwater flow Direction of groundwater flow Direction of groundwater flow Direction of groundwater flow Direction of groundwater flow Direction of groundwater flow Direction of groundwater flow Eucalyptus spp Casuarina spp Casuarina spp Casuarina spp Evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration Springs Casuarina spp Eucalyptus spp Eucalyptus spp Evapotranspiration Casuarina spp Eucalyptus spp Hard surfaces and changes to the landscape Direction of groundwater flow Direction of groundwater flow Basement Moderate to high permeability rocks Moderate to high permeability rocks Moderate to high permeability rocks Moderate to high permeability rocks Moderate to high permeability rocks Limestone saturated with groundwater Limestone Fracture Fracture Permeable rocks

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The Silkstone Formation is mostly comprised of limestone and basalt both of which may store and transmit groundwater through inter-granular pore space, fractures and weathered zones. Groundwater may discharge typically along foot slopes and drainage lines from these permeable rock aquifers. In South East Queensland the Silkstone Formation is restricted to the Ipswich and Redbank Plains areas and one other small occurrence of limestone occurs south of Peak Crossing. In the conceptual model above, the Silkstone Formation is shown as limestone with inter-bedded basalt flows throughout the Silkstone Formation.

The permeable rock aquifers of the Silkstone Formation may provide a range of ecosystems with water required to support their plant and animal communities, ecological processes and delivery of ecosystem services.

  • Palustrine (e.g. swamps) and lacustrine (e.g. lakes) wetlands and riverine (e.g. streams and rivers) water bodies located on Silkstone Formation may depend on the surface expression of groundwater from these permeable rock aquifers.
  • Terrestrial vegetation along foot slopes and drainage lines on Silkstone Formation may depend on the subsurface presence of groundwater in these permeable rock aquifers where groundwater is typically accessed through the capillary zone above the water table.
  • Weathered rock aquifers in permeable rocks may also support ecosystems within the aquifer itself, which sometimes is indicated by the presence of stygofauna.

This discharge of groundwater from permeable rock aquifers may also support nearby channels, alluvium and associated aquatic ecosystems through prolonged flow or groundwater recharge.

Pictorial conceptual model PDF

Last updated: 18 December 2015

This page should be cited as:

Queensland Government, Queensland (2015) Silkstone Formation, WetlandInfo website, accessed 30 August 2024. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/aquatic-ecosystems-natural/groundwater-dependent/silkstone-formation/

Queensland Government
WetlandInfo   —   Department of Environment, Science and Innovation