NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: North Slave Region

Tags: physical sciences, geological mapping, bedrock, glacial history

Objective(s): To provide a complete surficial geology map of 85K (1:50 000 scale), mineralogical and geochemical assessment of surficial sediments; and to evaluate for industrial mineral potential including important raw materials such as silica sand, aggregate, gypsum, and shale/slate for construction and cement production.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.4992. Surficial geology mapping and glacial history reconstruction play a crucial role in the understanding of Northern Canada. Not only are they essential to drift prospecting, a vital component of the northern mineral exploration, but they also support infrastructure development, help characterize terrain sensitivity and are a key aspect of geochemical natural baseline data assessments. Surprisingly, little surficial geological mapping has been perform along Highway 3 in NTS map sheet 85K, perhaps the most easily accessible area of the Northwest Territories. This project aims to fill this important knowledge gap by providing a complete surficial geology map of 85K (1:50 000 scale), mineralogical and geochemical assessment of surficial sediments. Along with the surficial geology work, the area will also be evaluated for industrial mineral potential including important raw materials such as silica sand, aggregate, gypsum, and shale/slate for construction and cement production. The methodology will include remote data interpretation, systematic mapping from the ground as well as sediment and bedrock sampling for indicator mineral, geochemistry and granulometric analysis. Field work will be performed in large part from the highway through foot traverses during the summer. Four days of helicopter supported fieldwork will be necessary to complete the mapping by ground truthing remote observations in areas inaccessible by road. Most of the field work by car and foot will be performed from Yellowknife though some overnight stays on the field will be necessary. The air supported portion of the field work will be performed from Yellowknife, ideally as the last step of the 2021 field season. Results will be communicated through the Northwest Territories Geological Survey publication process as well as through the Yellowknife Geoscience Forum and possibly through other geoscience related conferences. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from August 11, 2021 to October 1, 2021.