Alligator Rivers Analogue Project

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Alligator Rivers Analogue Project ALLIGATOR RIVERS ANALOGUE PROJECT ISBN 0-642-59928-9 DOE/HMIP/RR/92/072 SKI TR 92:20-2 FINAL REPORT VOLUME 2 GEOLOGIC SETTING i 1992 AN OECD/NEA INTERNATIONAL PROJECT MANAGED BY: AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION r<6 ALLIGATOR RIVERS ANALOGUE PROJECT FINAL REPORT VOLUME 2 GEOLOGIC SETTING A. A. Snelling' 'Consultant Geologist, P.O. Box 302, Sunnybank, Qld, 4109, Australia PREFACE The Koongarra uranium ore deposit is located in the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory of Australia. Many of the processes that have controlled the development of this natural system are relevant to the performance assessment of radioactive waste repositories. An Agreement was reached in 1987 by a number of agencies concerned with radioactive waste disposal, to set up the International Alligator Rivers Analogue Project (ARAP) to study relevant aspects of the hydrological and geochemical evolution of the site. The Project ran for five years. The work was undertaken by ARAP through an Agreement sponsored by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). The Agreement was signed by the following organisations: the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO); the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI); the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation of Japan (PNC); the Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI); the UK Department of the Environment (UKDoE); and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC). ANSTO was the managing participant. This report is one of a series of 16 describing the work of the Project; these are listed below: No. Title Lead Author(s) 1 Summary of Findings P Duerden, D A Lever, D A Sverjensky and L R Townley 2 Geologic Setting A A Snelling 3 Geomorphology and Paleoclimatic History K-H Wyrwoll 4 Geophysics, Petrophysics and Structure D W Emerson 5 Hydrogeological Field Studies S N Davis 6 Hydrogeological Modelling L R Townley 7 Groundwater Chemistry T E Payne 8 Chemistry and Mineralogy of Rocks and Soils R Edis 9 Weathering and its Effects on Uranium Redistribution T Murakami 10 Geochemical Data Bases D G Bennett and D Read 11 Geochemical Modelling of Secondary Uranium Ore D A Sverjensky Formation 12 Geochemical Modelling of Present-day Groundwaters D A Sverjensky 13 Uranium Sorption T D Waite 14 Radionuclide Transport C Golian and D A Lever, 15 Geochemistry of 239Pu, 291, "Tc and 36CI J T Fabryka-Martin 16 Scenarios K Skagius and S Wingefors (i) I CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (iv) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (vi) 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 The Locational Setting 1 1.2 Uranium Orebodies as Natural Analogues 1 2 GEOLOGIC DESCRIPTION 4 2.1 Exploration History 4 2.2 Regional Geology 7 2.3 Local Geology 9 2.4 Structure 14 2.5 Distribution of the Mineralisation 15 2.6 Hydrothermal Alteration 17 2.7 Primary Ore Mineralogy and Chemistry 18 2.8 Age and Genesis of the Primary Ore 20 2.9 The Secondary Mineralisation 21 3 THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOLID GEOLOGY 22 3.1 The Archaean Nanambu Complex Basement (2500-2200 My) 23 3.2 Sedimentation - The Cahill Formation (2200-1900 My) 23 3.3 Dolerite Intrusion (1900-1885 My) 24 3.4 Metamorphism and Deformation (1870-1800 My) 25 3.5 Erosion (1800-1650 My) 26 3.6 Sedimentation -The Kombolgie Formation (1650-1610 My) 26 3.7 Faulting (Approximately 1600 My) 27 3.8 Mineralisation-The Formation of the Koongarra Primary Ore (1600-1550My) 30 3.9 Erosion with Geological Stability (1500-135 My) 31 3.10 The Site Today 32 4 SAMPLING FOR THE NATURAL ANALOGUE STUDY 43 4.1 Reference Grid Used for Drilling and Sampling 43 4.2 Pre-ARAP Drilling and Uranium Analyses 44 4.3 ARAP Sampling and Drilling 46 4.4 Groundwater Measurements and Sampling 59 5 SUMMARY 62 6 REFERENCES 62 (ii) APPENDIX 1 Analyses of Koongarra Chlorites 68 APPENDIX 2 Representative Analyses of Koongarra Uraninites 90 APPENDIX 3 Representative Analyses of Koongarra Sulfides 93 APPENDIX 4 Noranda Bulk Drill Core Assays 97 APPENDIX 5 Representative Analyses of Koongarra Uranyl Oxides and Silicates 104 APPENDIX 6 Representative Analyses of Koongarra Uranyl Phosphates 108 APPENDIX 7 Logs of ARAP Drill Holes 110 (iii) I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Koongarra uranium deposit is 225 km east of Darwin, capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia, in the area known as the Alligator Rivers Region. It is one of four major uranium deposits discovered in the region. In 1981 the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) began to sponsor research by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO, then called the Australian Atomic Energy Commission) on aspects of all four uranium deposits in the region as natural analogues of radioactive waste repositories. As the USNRC-funded project progressed, efforts became almost entirely directed towards study of the Koongarra deposit, both because it has not yet been mined and so the ore is still in place, and because its No. 1 orebody comprises well-defined zones of primary, weathered primary and dispersion fan ore. Furthermore, results of extensive investigations by the mining companies, including hydrological data, and all the drill cores and samples, plus numerous vertical boreholes in and around the deposit, were also available. Thus the internationally sponsored Alligator Rivers Analogue Project (ARAP) focussed research on the dispersal of uranium from the weathered primary ore in the weathered rock zone to form the dispersion fan ore as the natural analogue most suitable for validation of models for radionuclide transport. Discovered in July 1970, the Koongarra deposit was delineated by diamond and rotary percussion drilling between 1970 and 1973 and concluded to consist of two orebodies, designated as the Koongarra No. 1 and No. 2 orebodies. The host rocks to the mineralisation are schists of the Cahill Formation, rocks that were once shales and siltstones deposited on the flanks of domes of older crystalline granitic rocks (the Nanambu Complex) about 2200 million years ago. Multiple severe folding accompanied the 550-630"C heat and 5-8 kb pressure of metamorphism between 1870 and 1800 million years ago. Subsequent uplift, weathering and erosion produced a new land surface on which thick layers of sandstone (the Kombolgie Formation) were then deposited probably between 1690 and 1600 million years ago. At Koongarra the host Cahill schists which dip at 550 to the south-east are now in reverse faulted contact with the younger Kombolgie sandstone, which is below the schists. The uranium mineralisation consists of uraninite veins and veinlets in crosscutting fractures and brecciated zones within a 50 m thick quartz-chlorite schist unit. Associated with the ore are minor volumes of sulfides, which include galena, chalcopyrite, bornite and pyrite, with rare grains of gold, clausthalite, gersdorffite- cobaltite and mackinawite. The orebodies consist of partially coalescing lenses that are elongated and dip at 550 broadly parallel to the reverse fault breccia which forms the footwall to the ore zone. The strongest mineralisation with grades in excess of 1%U over several metres are just below a distinctive sheared graphite- quartz-chlorite schist unit that forms the hanging wall to the ore. The No. 1 orebody is elongated over a distance of 450 m and persists to a depth of about 100 m. The width of the primary ore averages 30 m at the top of the (iv) unweathered schist, tapering out at the extremities. Secondary uranium mineralisation in the weathered schist zone, derived from decomposition and leaching of former primary ore, is present from the surface down to the base of weathering at 25-30 m, and consists of uranyl phosphate minerals, primarily saleeite. A tongue-like body of ore in the weathered schist has formed by the dispersion of uranium down-slope for about 80 m to the south-east - the dispersion fan ore. A distinct and extensive primary hydrothermal alteration halo has been ob~served about the mineralisation extending for up to 1.5 km from the ore. Uranium mineralisation is only present within the inner halo which extends to nearly 50 m from ore, and in which pervasive chlorite-dominant replacement of the schist fabric and removal of quartz has occurred. Consequently, chlorite (magnesium-rich) is the principal gangue mineral. The bulk rock geochemistry reflects this alteration and is characterised by magnesium enrichment and silicon depletion. The primary ore is enriched in copper, lead, sulfur, arsenic and vanadium, while nickel and cobalt form an enrichment halo about the deposit. The Sm-Nd isotopic data on uraninite suggests a 165D-1550 million year age for the primary ore, consistent with the observation that the mineralisation occupies the breccia zones generated by the post-Kombolgie reverse faulting. However, the secondary ore in the weathered zone appears to only have formed in the last 3 million years or less. The Koongarra deposit today is covered by sandstone debris talus and eluvial sand, broken and washed down from an escarpment of Kombolgie sandstone just behind the deposit. Beneath these surficial deposits is the weathered schist zone which is separated from the unweathered schists beneath by a transitional zone. The natural analogue that was the focus of ARAP is the formation of the dispersion fan from the weathered primary ore in the weathered schist. The Koongarra mine reference grid coupled with elevations referenced to Australian Height Datum was used to locate all samples collected and analysed during ARAP. Core and crushed core samples were selected from the inclined diamond drill holes that were drilled on cross-sections 30.5 metres apart through the No.1 orebody. At the south-western end of the orebody particularly and beyond, vertical percussion holes also provided drill chips for study. All company records on the holes, including assay and geological data, were made available to the research effort.
Recommended publications
  • YELLOW CHAT (Alligator Rivers Subspecies) Epthianura Crocea Tunneyi
    Threatened Species of the Northern Territory YELLOW CHAT (Alligator Rivers subspecies) Epthianura crocea tunneyi Conservation status Australia: Vulnerable Northern Territory: Endangered Yellow chat. (Photo: M. Armstrong) Description The yellow chat is a small bird that typically forages on the ground, in dense grass or in low shrubs. The male is a bright golden- yellow, with a prominent black chest band. The female is pale lemon yellow, and has no chest band. Distribution Yellow chats occur patchily across northern Australia, most typically in chenopod shrublands and grasslands around water sources in semi-arid areas. However, the subspecies Epthianura crocea tunneyi is Known locations of the yellow chat (Alligator Rivers restricted to a small geographic area subspecies). encompassing the floodplains from the = pre 1970; • = post 1970. Adelaide River to the East Alligator River (Schodde and Mason 1999), and within this Ecology area it is known from only a small number of sites (Armstrong 2004). There have been Yellow chats have been reported from tall recent (2005, 2006) records from Harrison grasslands and samphire shrublands (on Dam. coastal saltpans). Conservation reserves where reported: Most records of the Alligator Rivers subspecies are from floodplain depressions Harrison Dam reserve, Kakadu National Park, and channels, concentrating around wetter Mary River National Park. areas at the end of the dry season (Armstrong 2004). The diet is mostly invertebrates (Higgins et al. 2001). Yellow chats typically occur in small groups of 2-10 individuals. For more information visit www.denr.nt.gov.au Conservation assessment preference and response to the putative threatening processes. For this endemic Northern Territory subspecies, Garnett and Crowley (2000) Management priorities are to: estimated the extent of occurrence as 500 km2, area of occupancy at 100 km2, and the (i) maintain extensive areas of total number of breeding birds as 500.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Freshwater Catfish (Pisces: Ariidae) from Northern Australia
    Rec. West. Aust. Mus. 1988,14(1): 73-89 A new freshwater catfish (Pisces: Ariidae) from northern Australia PatriciaJ. Kailola* and Bryan E. Pierce* Abstract A new species of fork-tailed catfish is described on the basis of 31 specimens collected in northern Australia between the Fitzroy River (Western Australia) and the Mitchell River (Queensland). Arius midgleyi sp. novo grows to at least 1.3 m TL and is distinguished from other Australo-Papuan ariids by a combination of charac­ ters including snout shape, barbel length, eye size, tooth arrangement and gill raker number and position. Comparison is made with other ariid species occurring in northern Australian rivers, including the morphologically similar A. leptaspis (Bleeker). Introduction The Timor Sea and Gulf of Carpentaria drainage systems (Lake 1971) approx­ imately represent the Leichhardtian zoogeographic region of Whitley (1947). The rainfall pattern in this region is dominated by the wet monsoon (occurring within the period November to April). Most rivers here traverse a flat coastal plain about 15 km wide before reaching the sea (Lake 1971). These rivers commonly possess wide flood plains and low gradients, often contracting to a chain of waterholes during the dry season; some (Gregory River; Fitzroy to Daly Rivers) have reaches of rapids or very deep gorges. The average annual discharge from this region is 69000 billion litres (Lake 1971), most of it occurring during the wet season. Five of Australia's 18 species of fork-tailed catfishes (Ariidae) are common in this northern region, yet were overlooked by Whitley (1947) and Iredale and Whitley (1938). The members of this family, which is distributed circumglobally in the tropics and subtropics, may inhabit the sea, rivers within tidal influence, or fresh waters.
    [Show full text]
  • The Nature of Northern Australia
    THE NATURE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Natural values, ecological processes and future prospects 1 (Inside cover) Lotus Flowers, Blue Lagoon, Lakefield National Park, Cape York Peninsula. Photo by Kerry Trapnell 2 Northern Quoll. Photo by Lochman Transparencies 3 Sammy Walker, elder of Tirralintji, Kimberley. Photo by Sarah Legge 2 3 4 Recreational fisherman with 4 barramundi, Gulf Country. Photo by Larissa Cordner 5 Tourists in Zebidee Springs, Kimberley. Photo by Barry Traill 5 6 Dr Tommy George, Laura, 6 7 Cape York Peninsula. Photo by Kerry Trapnell 7 Cattle mustering, Mornington Station, Kimberley. Photo by Alex Dudley ii THE NATURE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Natural values, ecological processes and future prospects AUTHORS John Woinarski, Brendan Mackey, Henry Nix & Barry Traill PROJECT COORDINATED BY Larelle McMillan & Barry Traill iii Published by ANU E Press Design by Oblong + Sons Pty Ltd The Australian National University 07 3254 2586 Canberra ACT 0200, Australia www.oblong.net.au Email: [email protected] Web: http://epress.anu.edu.au Printed by Printpoint using an environmentally Online version available at: http://epress. friendly waterless printing process, anu.edu.au/nature_na_citation.html eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and saving precious water supplies. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry This book has been printed on ecoStar 300gsm and 9Lives 80 Silk 115gsm The nature of Northern Australia: paper using soy-based inks. it’s natural values, ecological processes and future prospects. EcoStar is an environmentally responsible 100% recycled paper made from 100% ISBN 9781921313301 (pbk.) post-consumer waste that is FSC (Forest ISBN 9781921313318 (online) Stewardship Council) CoC (Chain of Custody) certified and bleached chlorine free (PCF).
    [Show full text]
  • AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD ______2007 (No 2) ISSN 1325-2992 March, 2007 ______
    AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD ______________________________________________________________ 2007 (No 2) ISSN 1325-2992 March, 2007 ______________________________________________________________ Some Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Considerations on the Class Reptilia in Australia. Some Comments on the Elseya dentata (Gray, 1863) complex with Redescriptions of the Johnstone River Snapping Turtle, Elseya stirlingi Wells and Wellington, 1985 and the Alligator Rivers Snapping Turtle, Elseya jukesi Wells 2002. by Richard W. Wells P.O. Box 826, Lismore, New South Wales Australia, 2480 Introduction As a prelude to further work on the Chelidae of Australia, the following considerations relate to the Elseya dentata species complex. See also Wells and Wellington (1984, 1985) and Wells (2002 a, b; 2007 a, b.). Elseya Gray, 1867 1867 Elseya Gray, Ann. Mag. Natur. Hist., (3) 20: 44. – Subsequently designated type species (Lindholm 1929): Elseya dentata (Gray, 1863). Note: The genus Elseya is herein considered to comprise only those species with a very wide mandibular symphysis and a distinct median alveolar ridge on the upper jaw. All members of the latisternum complex lack a distinct median alveolar ridge on the upper jaw and so are removed from the genus Elseya (see Wells, 2007b). This now restricts the genus to the following Australian species: Elseya albagula Thomson, Georges and Limpus, 2006 2006 Elseya albagula Thomson, Georges and Limpus, Chelon. Conserv. Biol., 5: 75; figs 1-2, 4 (top), 5a,6a, 7. – Type locality: Ned Churchwood Weir (25°03'S 152°05'E), Burnett River, Queensland, Australia. Elseya dentata (Gray, 1863) 1863 Chelymys dentata Gray, Ann. Mag. Natur. Hist., (3) 12: 98. – Type locality: Beagle’s Valley, upper Victoria River, Northern Territory.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to Threatened Species of Kakadu National Park Including Other Plants and Animals of Interest
    Guide to Threatened species of Kakadu National Park including other plants and animals of interest By Anne O’Dea This guide is for Kakadu National Park staff and bininj (local Traditional Owners and other Indigenous people of Kakadu). The guide highlights listed threatened species and some of the other significant plants and animals of Kakadu National Park at the time of printing. There are many more species that contribute to the rich biodiversity of the park, but these represent many of the species that are least often seen, or are significant to bininj. Please report sightings of species that are not often seen to Kakadu National Park staff. Phone: (08) 8938 1100 Email: [email protected] Cover photo by Anne O’Dea © 2014 Anne O’Dea The use of all photos has been generously donated for use in this book. Please respect the photographers’ rights and contact them or Kakadu National Park if you would like to seek permission to use any of the photos. Contents Habitats of Kakadu KEY ���������������������������������������������������������5 Some threats to wildlife and plants in Kakadu KEY ��������������6 Threatened species KEY ��������������������������������������������������������8 Traditional owner concern KEY ���������������������������������������������9 Tips to pronounce Gundjeihmi names �������������������������������10 Tips to pronounce Kunwinjku names ���������������������������������11 Tips to pronounce Jawoyn names ��������������������������������������12 Kakadu seasons ������������������������������������������������������������������13
    [Show full text]
  • Alligator Power
    ALLIGATOR POWER Yellow Waters region in Kakadu National Park during the wet season. Photo Michael Lawrence-Taylor. NEW RESEARCH BY DAVID WILLIAMS IS SHEDDING LIGHT ON HOW TIDES AND WET SEASON FLOWS TRANSFORM THE ESTUARIES AND COASTS OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. Coastal oceanographer David Williams from the Australian Institute Secrets revealed of Marine Science has been working in the tropical macro tidal The project, funded under the Australian environments of northern Australia for over 30 years. The researcher’s Government’s National Environmental recent work has seen him frequent the Alligator Rivers region of the Research Program, focuses on the South Northern Territory, where crocodiles, sharks and almost 340 fi sh species and East Alligator River estuaries, from inhabit wide turbid rivers with massive mud banks, and tides which can their mouth to their tidal limits within rise six metres in a few hours. Kakadu National Park, a distance of over The pulse of these large tides drives huge volumes of water in 100 kilometres. The estuaries occupy a wide, and out of the estuaries twice each day. The rushing water also carries fl at fl oodplain within the Park. The iconic high concentrations of sediment. The dynamic movement of water and region supports outstanding cultural, natural sediment has a signifi cant impact on the aquatic biodiversity of the region and economic values — values that Indigenous by creating different types of habitat. It also strongly infl uences water and non-Indigenous people are working hard quality and light penetration, which in turn affects the growth of plants to preserve.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Impact of the Ranger Uranium Mine, Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory, Australia
    XA0201925 IAEA-SM-362/16 Environmental impact of the Ranger uranium mine, Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory, Australia A. Johnston Environment Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia S. Needham Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland, Australia Abstract. Stringent environmental controls have been applied to the Ranger mine, in the Northern Territory of Australia, because of its location in an area of outstanding natural and cultural values. The adjacent Kakadu National Park contains a wild and extensive biodiversity, striking landscapes, ancient Aboriginal rock art and a living Aboriginal culture. A special regime of biological, radiological and chemical monitoring has been applied to protect the environment and detect even very low intensity impacts. The results from this regime demonstrate to the government and general public that the high conservation values of the national park around the mine are being properly protected. This paper describes the techniques used to measure environmental impact at Ranger, and summarizes the results of over 20 years of monitoring. The overwhelming conclusion is that a very high standard of environmental protection has been achieved. 1. INTRODUCTION For twenty years, uranium has been mined and milled at the Ranger mine within an area that is surrounded by Kakadu National Park (Fig. 1), around 12°S in the wet/dry tropics. The region includes deeply dissected sandstone plateau and escarpments, falling to gently undulating sandy lowlands, drained by rivers which are tidal for over 60 km inland and which have extensive floodplains inundated by several metres of brackish water during the wet season. Ranger mine, about 70 km from the coast, is about 20-25 m above sea level.
    [Show full text]
  • Alligator Rivers Analogue Project
    -nf—14378 ALLIGATOR RIVERS ANALOGUE PROJECT ISBN 0-642-59929-7 DOE/HMIP/RR/92/073 SKI TR 92:20-3 FINAL REPORT VOLUME 3 GEOMORPHOLOGY AND PALEOCLIMATIC HISTORY 1992 AN OECD/NEA INTERNATIONAL PROJECT MANAGED BY: AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION ALLIGATORS RIVER ANALOGUE PROJECT FINAL REPORT VOLUME 3 GEOMORPHOLOGY AND PALAEOCLIMATIC HISTORY K.-H. Wyrwoll Department of Geography The University of Western Australia Nedlands WA 6009, Australia PREFACE The Koongarra uranium ore deposit is located in the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory of Australia. Many of the processes that have controlled the development of this natural system are relevant to the performance assessment of radioactive waste repositories. An Agreement was reached in 1987 by a number of agencies concerned with radioactive waste disposal, to set up the International Alligator Rivers Analogue Project (ARAP) to study relevant aspects of the hydrological and geochemical evolution of the site. The Project ran for five years. The work was undertaken by ARAP through an Agreement sponsored by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). The Agreement was signed by the following organisations: the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO); the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI); the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation of Japan (PNC); the Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI); the UK Department of the Environment (UKDoE); and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC). ANSTO was the managing participant.
    [Show full text]
  • A Compendium of Ecological Information on Australia's Northern
    A Compendium of Ecological Information on Australia’s Northern Tropical Rivers REPORT 7 Freshwater Fish Damien BurrowsA AAustralian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research, James Cook University, Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia Authors This report should be cited as follows: Burrows, D. 2008. In G.P. Lukacs and C.M. Finlayson (eds) 2008. A Compendium of Ecological Information on Australia’s Northern Tropical Rivers. Sub-project 1 of Australia’s Tropical Rivers – an integrated data assessment and analysis (DET18). A report to Land & Water Australia. National Centre for Tropical Wetland Research, Townsville, Queensland. Contact information NCTWR C/ Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research James Cook University Townsville 4811 Queensland Australia Funding statement This project was funded by the Natural Heritage Trust Phase 2 (NHT2) and Land & Water Australia (LWA) as part of the Tropical Rivers Inventory and Assessment Project (TRIAP). Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect those of the National Centre for Tropical Wetlands Research and its partners. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this report are factually correct, some essential data rely on the references cited and the NCTWR do not accept responsibility for the accuracy, currency or completeness of the contents of this report, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the report. Readers should exercise
    [Show full text]
  • Uranium Mining and Indigenous Social Impact Issues Kakadu Region, Australia
    XA0201920 IAEA-SM-362/11 Uranium mining and indigenous social impact issues Kakadu Region, Australia P. Wellings Parks Australia North, Environment Australia, Australia Abstract. This paper reports on indigenous social impact issues in the Kakadu/Alligators Rivers region of Australia. It briefly outlines the social history of the region, reflects on local, national and international attention being given to the impact of regional development on local indigenous (bininj) people, notes how social impact issues are being addressed and suggests some lessons learnt. 1. INTRODUCTION The Kakadu/Alligator Rivers region is an area of approximately 28 000 km located in the Top End of the Northern Territory of Australia. Most of the region (nearly 20 000 km2) is incorporated within the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park. Kakadu is one of Australia's premier national parks and one of only 22 sites listed (worldwide) as World Heritage for both its natural and cultural World Heritage values. The Australian government's nomination of Kakadu for World Heritage listing identified local indigenous peoples' spiritual attachment to the landscape, and the living cultural traditions that maintain linkages between people and country, as important elements of the World Heritage values of the park. An important feature of the region is that it continues as the homeland for indigenous people — who refer to themselves (in their own language) as bininj. They are people who can claim to be part of the world's longest continuing culture, a tradition of 50 000 years of hunting, foraging and stewardship of the landscape. This long period of continuing occupation is recorded in important archaeological sites and an enormously rich (and internationally significant) heritage of rock art.
    [Show full text]
  • Saltwater Intrusion and Mangrove Encroachment of Coastal Wetlands
    The dGPS data logged in the field were down-loaded daily from both the base station and the rover receiver to the Reliance software package. The down-loaded field data were then processed using the Reliance software, which converted the corrected data to a graphical format. Logged information included recordings of latitude and longitude values, elevations, and measurements of accuracy. The processed data were exported and manipulated into Arc Info and Arc Edit to generate maps of each field site. 4 Distribution of tidal creeks and mangroves: 1950 to 1991 Since the late 1940s to early 1950s, the tidal influence of estuarine rivers in the Alligator Rivers Region has extended along creek lines and the resultant changes in the saltwater reaches have been coupled with expansion of the area colonised by mangroves. The trends of change identified from the aerial photography are separately described for each of the rivers. 4.1 Wildman and West Alligator River The Wildman and West Alligator Rivers lie within the western flank of Kakadu National Park (Fig 2). Since 1950, tidal creeks of both rivers have exhibited marked changes in the distribution of mangroves along their banks. Mangrove encroachment has occurred along the main tributaries of the West Alligator and Wildman Rivers and along smaller creek lines as they apparently became more tidally active (Figs 16 & 17). Mangroves densely flank the shoreline of both river systems, with colonisation becoming sparser in the upper reaches of the rivers. The upstream estuarine segments of both rivers had a limited distribution of mangroves, although from 1950 to 1991 mangroves had extended approximately four kilometres upstream on the West Alligator River (Fig 17).
    [Show full text]
  • Joe Cooper and the Tiwi (1895—1936)
    Memories of the buffalo shooters: Joe Cooper and the Tiwi (1895—1936) John Morris The Tiwi Islands, of which Melville is the largest, are located to the northwest of Dar­ win, Northern Territory. In the 1960s memories of the exploits of buffalo shooter Joe Cooper on Melville Island were still fresh in the minds of the Tiwi elders. These exploits made a serious impact on local society, bringing about changes that were, to some extent, to transform the future of the islanders. Cooper's presence in the islands brought about not only a level of cultural innovation but also lasting connections with a mainland tribe, who like the Tiwi, had experienced a British garrison in their tribal country in the 1820s.1 Furthermore, for the first time the Tiwi were to suffer violence at the hands of another Indigenous group.2 In the broader public a mythology developed about Cooper.3 He was credited with fighting a fictitious duel to become 'king' of the island, and with establishing a peaceful environment in which he could travel unarmed and a mission could be estab­ lished in the islands. In truth, Robert Joel (Joe) Cooper and his brother Harry had moved from their native South Australia to the Northern Territory, in about 1881, later becoming buffalo hunters on the Cobourg Peninsula and in the Alligator Rivers area. Joe then managed buffalo shooting operations on Melville Island for EO Robinson who successfully applied for two pastoral leases over Melville Island in 1892.4 Buffalo shoot­ ing operations there actually commenced in April 1895 when Robinson sailed for Cape Gambier on southern Melville Island with Joe Cooper and J (Barney) Flynn, together with a team of horses.3 Cape Gambier is located in the 'country' of the Mandiimbula, one of the Tiwi bands.
    [Show full text]