The delays in the progress of the LD project are frustrating but...

The delays in the progress of the LD project are frustrating but they do not impact on the quality of the resource.

In evaluating the trench flow data it is noted that there is a clay interval below the surface. However, the report then goes on:

"..that narrow layers of coarse gypsum crystals frequently occurred within dense clay zones below and heavy brine flows occurred from these layers."

In agriculture gypsum is used as a clay breaker to improve water flows and thus clays local to the gypsum would have improved permeability as well as the gypsum itself.

My sense is that these trenches will supply significant water flows to the ponds rather than pumping all from the sub surface with all the attendant energy costs.