Geoscience builds bridges through NATMAP

A project focused on studying Nunavut’s gold potential was among the highlights of Canada’s National Geoscience Mapping Program (NATMAP) in 2000. The program, now in its 10th year, was developed by the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC).

The project focused on an area encompassing Rankin Inlet, Arviat and Baker Lake and resulted in an improved understanding of areas prospective for gold mineralization. Results from this work triggered the staking of 30,000 ha near the Meadowbank gold deposit, one of several projects in the region.

Scientists from the GSC, the government of the Northwest Territories and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development all contributed to the project, as did scientists from several universities. Such collaboration is typical of all NATMAP projects.

“I think it’s the way we’ll be doing all mapping in the future,” says Richard Grieve, former co-ordinator of the project, who commends NATMAP for its co-operative approach.

Other highlights of NATMAP’s 2000 program include the following:

– Central Foreland project — In its second year, this project was expanded to include nine universities and four government agencies. It focused on the foothills of northeastern British Columbia and the southern territories, resulting in progress in bedrock mapping and associated thematic studies. Results are being released as maps, papers and presentations at conferences and workshops. The first field season of surficial mapping (completed in 1999) has already produced significant results, paving the way for exploration using three-dimensional Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

– Nechako project — Results from exploration of the Nechako Plateau in central British Columbia were released in January at the Cordilleran Roundup in Vancouver. As a result, exploration companies, environmentalists and land-use planners now have a comprehensive geoscience map base for their ongoing work. The region had been underexplored because its bedrock geology is largely obscured by glacial sediments. However, the recent results provide breakthroughs in understanding molybdenum-, copper-, mercury- and gold-mineralized environments.

– Ancient Pacific Margin project — The NATMAP team tested a new working model in the field to learn more about the tectonic evolution of key portions of the western edge of North America. This mineral-rich belt of rocks stretches from Washington state to Alaska.

– Western Superior project — This project has contributed to an improved understanding of the regional stratigraphy and history of magmatism, deformation and mineralization of the Red Lake area of northern Ontario. The goal is to provide a framework for the exposed and subsurface geology, earth structure, and mineral potential (base and precious metals, diamonds) across an underexplored part of the richly endowed Superior Geological Province. The project is also concerned with exploring the formation of oceanic volcanic rocks, which have high mineral potential, and older continental blocks with diamond potential.

– The Appalachian Foreland and St. Lawrence Platform project — The objective is to provide new models to support hydrocarbon and mineral exploration on the ancient continental margin of North America. Initial fieldwork was carried out near Montreal and Quebec City, Gasp, northern New Brunswick, and Western Newfoundland.

For more information, visit the NATMAP web-site at ntserv.gis. nrcan.gc.ca/natmap