NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: South Slave Region

Tags: physical sciences, geology, bedrock, remote sensing, mapping

Objective(s): To acquire high-resolution aeromagnetic data. Aeromagnetic surveys measure magnetic properties of bedrock and are one of the tools used in geological mapping. The bedrock may contain mineral deposits, such as gold, copper, lead, zinc, and diamonds. Understanding the geology will help geologists map the area, assist mineral exploration activities , and provide useful information necessary for communities, aboriginal associations, and government to make land use decisions.

Project Description: The objective of this airborne survey is to acquire high-resolution aeromagnetic data. Aeromagnetic surveys measure magnetic properties of bedrock and are one of the tools used in geological mapping. The bedrock may contain mineral deposits, such as gold, copper, lead, zinc, and diamonds. Understanding the geology will help geologists map the area, assist mineral exploration activities , and provide useful information necessary for communities, aboriginal associations, and government to make land use decisions. This survey will be flown to improve our knowledge of the area. It will support potential future ground-based geological mapping and to provide basic information to support mineral exploration. The survey will consist of approximately 140,000 line km of surveying flown at a line spacing of 400 m (or 1312 feet) for traverse lines and 2400 m (or 7,874 feet) for orthogonal control lines The flying height will be determined by a smooth draped surface with a minimum terrain clearance for 150 m (or492 feet). The intensity of the total magnetic field will be measured from the aircraft. Please note that aircraft will not touch down except at municipal airports. There will be no ground-based survey. The South Rae aeromagnetic survey proposed in this application is the precursor to potential mineral deposit studies and bedrock geological mapping. These activities would be based on the results of this aeromagnetic survey and will be discussed through local community consultations before commencement. The Activities may present employment opportunities for community residents such as field assistants and camp wildlife and environmental monitors. Expediting services and translation services from the local community may be required. The results of this research will be resented at the Yellowknife Geoscience Forum in November, 2012. The data will be made available on-line for free download through the Geoscience Data Repository for Aeromagnetic Data (http://gdr.nrcan.gc.ca/aeromag). The data will be published as maps available digitally for free download through NRCan's MIRAGE application (http://gdr.nrcan.gc.ca/mirage). The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from 4-Jan-2012 to 30-Apr-2012 (117 Days)