Sinkholes of the Northern Territory

Sinkholes are depressions in the landscape related to collapse features in underlying limestone or dolostone rock formations. These rocks are prone to dissolution by slightly acidic rainwater over geological timescales. Cavities form in the rock ranging in scale from microscopic to cave systems. Sinkholes form when the cavities grow to the extent that the rock above collapses. The reason this dataset was compiled is that sinkholes are a good indicator of underlying limestone or dolostone, which often host important aquifers. The sinkholes provide one method for delineating karstic aquifers which in many cases either outcrop poorly or are covered by younger rocks.