Groundwater Resource Investigations of the Rangitaiki Plains Stage 1

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Groundwater Resource Investigations of the Rangitaiki Plains Stage 1 DISCLAIMER This report has been pr epared by the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited (GNS Science) exclusively for and under contract to Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by GNS Science, GNS Science accepts no responsibility for any use of, or reliance on an y contents of this Report by any person other than Bay of Plenty Regional Council and shall not be liable to any person other than Bay of Plenty Regional Council, on any ground, for any loss, damage or expense arising from such use or reliance. The data presented in this Report are available to GNS Science for other use from September 2010. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE White, P.A.; Raiber, M.; Begg, J.; Freeman, J.; Thorstad, J.L. 2010. Groundwater resource investigations of the Rangitaiki Plains stage 1 – conceptual geological model, groundwater budget and preliminary groundwater allocation assessment, GNS Science Consultancy Report 2010/113. 193p. Project Number: 631W0603 Confidential 2010 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... VI 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1 2.0 RANGITAIKI PLAINS – A GEOLOGICAL REVIEW ................................................... 2 2.1 Geological setting .......................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Review of existing geological information ..................................................................... 3 2.3 Stratigraphy ................................................................................................................... 6 2.3.1 Basement rocks of Torlesse (composite) terrane ............................................ 6 2.3.1.1 Kaweka terrane ................................................................................ 9 2.3.1.2 Pahau terrane .................................................................................. 9 2.3.1.3 Whakatane Mélange ........................................................................ 9 2.3.2 Matawai Group ............................................................................................... 10 2.3.3 Quaternary deposits ....................................................................................... 10 2.3.3.1 Quaternary rocks and sediments ................................................... 11 2.4 Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 14 3.0 GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE ................................................................................... 14 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 14 3.2 Structural elements...................................................................................................... 15 3.2.1 Taupo Rift ....................................................................................................... 15 3.2.1.1 Edgecumbe Fault ........................................................................... 16 3.2.1.2 Otakiri Fault .................................................................................... 17 3.2.1.3 Braemar - Awaiti Fault ................................................................... 17 3.2.1.4 Matata Fault ................................................................................... 17 3.2.1.5 Te Teko Fault ................................................................................. 18 3.2.1.6 Rotoitipaku Fault ............................................................................ 18 3.2.2 North Island Fault System .............................................................................. 18 3.2.2.1 Waiohau Fault ................................................................................ 18 3.2.2.2 Whakatane Fault ............................................................................ 19 3.2.2.3 Waimana Fault ............................................................................... 19 3.3 Constraints on structure .............................................................................................. 20 3.3.1 Greywacke basement surface ........................................................................ 20 3.3.2 Matahina Ignimbrite ........................................................................................ 20 3.3.3 Large Okataina Volcanic Centre eruptions .................................................... 21 3.3.4 High sea level stand marine incursions .......................................................... 21 3.4 Overall basin structure ................................................................................................ 22 3.4.1 Rates of vertical tectonic deformation ............................................................ 23 4.0 GEOLOGICAL MODEL DEVELOPMENT: METHODOLOGY .................................. 24 4.1 Geological model ......................................................................................................... 24 4.1.1 Data sources .................................................................................................. 24 4.1.1.1 Topographic data ........................................................................... 24 4.1.1.2 Geological maps ............................................................................ 24 4.1.1.3 Well log data .................................................................................. 24 4.1.1.4 Other data sources ........................................................................ 25 4.1.2 Digital terrain model ....................................................................................... 25 4.1.3 Data checking ................................................................................................. 25 4.1.4 Assignment of lithological property codes and creation of pseudo-logs ........ 26 4.1.5 Generation of 3D lithological property models ............................................... 27 4.1.6 Definition of boundary surfaces for major geological units ............................ 27 4.1.7 Assembly of the 3D geological model without inclusion of faults ................... 28 4.1.8 Assembly of geological model incorporating faults ........................................ 29 4.1.8.1 Identification of faults and development of fault tree ..................... 29 4.1.8.2 Integration of faults and horizons ................................................... 30 GNS Science Consultancy Report 2010/113 i Confidential 2010 5.0 GEOLOGICAL MODEL ............................................................................................ 30 5.1 Digital elevation model and identification of geographic features ............................... 30 5.2 Key lithologies ............................................................................................................. 31 5.2.1 Occurrence of key lithological descriptions in well logs ................................. 31 5.2.2 Distributions of key lithologies within the study area ...................................... 32 5.3 Geology of the Rangitaiki Plains area in 3D ................................................................ 33 5.3.1 Major geological units included in the geological model ................................ 33 5.3.2 Boundary surfaces of major geological units ................................................. 35 5.3.2.1 Top of “Basement undifferentiated” model unit.............................. 35 5.3.2.2 Top of “Matahina Ignimbrite” model unit ........................................ 35 5.3.2.3 Top of “Volcanics undifferentiated” model unit .............................. 35 5.3.2.4 Top of “Q6-Q8 non-marine” model unit .......................................... 36 5.3.2.5 Top of “Q5 marine” model unit ....................................................... 36 5.3.2.6 Top of “Q2-Q4” model unit ............................................................. 36 5.3.2.7 Top of “Q1 marine” model unit ....................................................... 36 5.3.2.8 Top of “Q1 non-marine” model unit ................................................ 36 5.3.3 Geology of the Rangitaiki Plains area in 3D ................................................... 37 5.3.3.1 Unfaulted model and location of faults ........................................... 37 5.3.3.2 Final geological model .................................................................. 37 5.4 Three-dimensional geological model and groundwater flow in the Rangitaiki Plains . 38 5.4.1 Depth to static water level .............................................................................. 39 5.4.2 Groundwater flow directions/potentiometric surface ...................................... 39 5.4.3 Insights into groundwater flow and recharge in the Rangitaiki Plains ............ 39 5.4.3.1 Q1 non-marine model unit ............................................................. 40 5.4.3.2 Q1 marine and Q5 marine model units .......................................... 40 5.4.3.3 Q2-Q4 and Q6-Q8 model units ...................................................... 40 5.4.3.4 Volcanics undifferentiated .............................................................. 41 5.4.3.5 Matahina Ignimbrite ....................................................................... 41 5.4.3.6 Basement undifferentiated ............................................................
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