Some 1.8 billion years ago, limey mud was deposited in a shallow sea. It subsequently hardened to form a rock known as dolomite, a type of limestone. The beds were then folded into a basin like shape, forming a natural reservoir for underground water. The water which seeps into the ground in the Top End is natural acidic and is corrosive to dolomite. Over thousands of years, the dolomite has gradually dissolved leaving a sponge like rock capable of holding large amounts of water.
Water seeps into the ground and flows under the influence of gravity towards the north.
The springs are located on geological fault lines which brings dolomite into contact with shale. When the groundwater reaches the fault, the shale, a impervious rock, acts as a barrier and water flows to the surface at Berry Springs, the lowest point along the edge of the basin. Berry Springs actually consists of numerous individual springs that spread along both the main fault and smaller ones, all of which are interconnected. In the Berry Springs Nature Reserve, the main spring is located at the boardwalk in the rainforest walk. Numerous other major springs are located in the Territory Wildlife Park.