The aeromagnetic survey program of the Geological Survey of Canada: contribution to regional geological mapping and mineral exploration

1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Teskey ◽  
P. J. Hood ◽  
L. W. Morley ◽  
R. A. Gibb ◽  
P. Sawatzky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Geological Mapping ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Navigation Systems ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Private Industry ◽  
Aeromagnetic Survey

The aeromagnetic survey operations of the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) began in 1946, utilizing a magnetometer in a bird system towed by a Royal Canadian Air Force Anson. Subsequent early operations were carried out by the GSC-operated Canso and Aero Commander aircraft. In 1961, the GSC in-house survey team formed the nucleus of a contract surveys group set up to monitor a new program established to complete the aeromagnetic mapping of the Canadian Shield in 12 years on a cost-sharing basis with the provinces. Today, surveys are carried out under contract by light twin-engine aircraft such as the Cessna 404 and even, in some cases, single-engine aircraft that utilize compact computer-controlled data acquisition and navigation systems and inboard magnetometer installations. Early systems were capable of resolution of only a few nanoteslas (nT) compared to the current standard of 0.1 nT or less, and flight path positioning with 35 mm film and photomosaics or topographical maps was extremely challenging. Despite these limitations, the careful selection of survey parameters and attention given to quality control have resulted in a world-class aeromagnetic data base that has contributed significantly to regional geological mapping and to mineral and oil exploration in Canada. Concurrently, the GSC carried out research programs into the development of instrumentation and into processing, interpretation, and enhancement techniques. In 1968, the GSC acquired its own platform, a Beechcraft B80 Queenair, which was used to develop high-sensitivity techniques, and an inboard gradiometer system, which was transferred to private industry in 1983. The GSC, in cooperation with the Flight Research Laboratory of the National Research Council of Canada, has also conducted a program of research into magnetometry and navigation combined with aeromagnetic studies of the Arctic since 1962.

Exploration history and place names of northern East Greenland

1969 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 1-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony K. Higgins
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
19Th Century ◽  
Geological Mapping ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Place Names ◽  
East Greenland ◽  
New Name ◽  
Systematic Compilation

The first recorded landing by Europeans on the coast of northern East Greenland (north of 69°N) was that of William Scoresby Jr., a British whaler, in 1822. This volume includes a chronological summary of the pioneer 19th century exploration voyages made by British, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, French and German expeditions – all of whom reported that the region had previously been occupied by the Inuit or Eskimo; also included are brief outlines of the increasing number of government and privately sponsored expeditions throughout the 20th century, whose objectives included cartography, geology, zoology, botany, trapping and the ascent of the highest mountain summits. In 1934 the Place Name Committee for Greenland was established, the tasks of which included a review of all place names hitherto recorded on published maps of Greenland, their formal adoption in danicised form, and the approval or rejection of new name proposals. In northern East Greenland, by far the largest numbers of new place names were those proposed by scientists associated with Lauge Koch's geological expeditions that lasted from 1926 until 1958. This volume records the location and origin of more than 3000 officially approved place names as well as about 2650 unapproved names. The author's interest in the exploration history and place names of northern East Greenland started in 1968, when the Geological Survey of Greenland initiated a major five-year geological mapping programme in the Scoresby Sund region. Systematic compilation of names began about 1970, initially with the names given by William Scoresby Jr., and subsequently broadened in scope to include the names proposed by all expeditions to northern East Greenland. The author has participated in 16 summer mapping expeditions with the Survey to northern East Greenland. Publication of this volume represents the culmination of a lifetime working in the Arctic.

Airborne geophysical surveys in Greenland – 1996 update

1997 ◽  
pp. 75-79
Author(s):  
Robert W. Stemp
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Geological Mapping ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Magnetic Survey ◽  
Aeromagnetic Survey ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
South West ◽  
Geophysical Surveys ◽  
The Government ◽  
Airborne Geophysical Data

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Stemp, R. W. (1997). Airborne geophysical surveys in Greenland – 1996 update. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 176, 75-79. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v176.5069 _______________ Two major airborne geophysical surveys were carried out in 1996, the third year of a planned five-year electromagnetic and magnetic survey programme (project AEM Greenland 1994–1998) financed by the Government of Greenland, and the second year of an aeromagnetic survey programme (project Aeromag) jointly financed by the governments of Denmark and Greenland; both projects are managed by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS). The two 1996 surveys were: 1) Project Aeromag 1996 in South-West and southern West Greenland;2) Project AEM Greenland 1996 in South-West Greenland. All areas surveyed and planned for future surveys as of March 1997 are shown in Figure 1. Results of both the 1996 surveys were released in March 1997, as a continuation of a major effort to make high quality airborne geophysical data available for both mineral exploration and geological mapping purposes. The data acquired are included in geoscientific databases at GEUS for public use; digital data and maps may be purchased from the Survey. The main results from the 1996 surveys are described in Thorning & Stemp (1997) and Stemp (1997). Two further new airborne surveys have already been approved for data acquisition during the 1997 field season, with subsequent data release in March 1998. A summary of all surveys completed, in progress or planned since the formal inception of project AEM Greenland 1994–1998 is given in Table 1. The programme was expanded to include a separate regional aeromagnetic survey in 1995, provisionally for 1995–1996, with extension subject to annual confirmation and funding.

scholarly journals Hyperspectral analysis of lithologies in the Arctic in areas with abundant lichen cover

2018 ◽  
pp. 51-55
Author(s):  
Sara Salehi
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Spectral Characteristics ◽  
Image Data ◽  
Geological Mapping ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Electromagnetic Spectrum ◽  
Rock Types ◽  
The Impact

Lithological mapping using remote sensing depends, in part, on the identification of rock types by their spectral characteristics. Chemical and physical properties of minerals and rocks determine their diagnostic spectral features throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. Shifts in the position and changes in the shape and depth of these features can be explained by variations in chemical composition of minerals. Detection of such variations is vital for discriminating minerals with similar chemical composition. Compared with multispectral image data, airborne or spaceborne hyperspectral imagery offers higher spectral resolution, which makes it possible to estimate the mineral composition of the rocks under study without direct contact. Arctic environments provide challenging ground for geological mapping and mineral exploration. Inaccessibility commonly complicates ground surveys, and the presence of ice, vegetation and rock-encrusting lichens hinders remote sensing surveys. This study addresses the following objectives: 1. Modelling the impact of lichen on the spectra of the rock substrate; 2. Identification of a robust lichen index for the deconvolution of lichen and rock mixtures and 3. Multiscale hyperspectral analysis of lithologies in areas with abundant lichens.

scholarly journals General review of the Survey's activities in 1966

1966 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 3-7
Author(s):  
K Ellitsgaard-Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Geological Mapping ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Mineral Deposits ◽  
Economic Interest ◽  
General Review

The Geological Survey of Greenland continued in 1966 to carry out its three main tasks - the geological mapping of Greenland, the investigation of 'mineral deposits of economic interest and the publication of results. In addition the Survey has acted as geological adviser to the Ministry of Greenland in matters concerning the granting of mineral exploration concessions.

Aeromagnetic gradiometer program of the Geological Survey of Canada

Geophysics ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 1012-1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Hood ◽  
Dennis J. Teskey
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Geologic Mapping ◽  
Aeromagnetic Survey ◽  
R And D ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mapping Tool ◽  
The World ◽  
Computer Scientists ◽  
Color Pixel

During the past two decades, the Geological Survey of Canada Aeromagnetic Survey Group, consisting of geophysicists, electronic engineers, technicians, and computer scientists, developed the aeromagnetic gradiometer technique for mineral exploration. The same group ran the aeromagnetic survey program in Canada, perhaps the largest such continuing aeromagnetic survey program in the world. In 1973, fabrication commenced on an inboard vertical gradiometer system on the GSC Queenair aeromagnetic survey aircraft. During the period 1978–1981, a number of experimental gradiometer surveys were carried out by the Geological Survey of Canada to demonstrate the efficacy of the aeromagnetic gradiometry technique as a geologic mapping tool in mineral exploration programs. Because of a need for aeromagnetic gradiometer surveys in the topographically rugged Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec, the GSC began in 1983 to foster the development of helicopter‐borne gradiometer systems through R and D contracts. Four companies responded and built towed‐boom helicopter gradiometer systems which have now been used in surveys in four eastern provinces. It is clear that the aeromagnetic gradiometer technique combined with VLF EM is an excellent geophysical tool to improve the accuracy of detailed geologic mapping for mineral exploration programs. VLF EM is an inexpensive add‐on that materially improves the geologic mapping capability of the airborne system. The product in color pixel form is in essence a pseudogeologic map and it is presently being employed as such.

scholarly journals Greenland ice cap aeromagnetic survey 1985: magnetic measurements over the southern end of the Greenland ice cap

1986 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 86-90
Author(s):  
L Thorning ◽  
M Bower ◽  
C.D Hardwick ◽  
P.J Hood
Keyword(s):  
Research Council ◽  
Magnetic Measurements ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Geological Structures ◽  
Aeromagnetic Survey ◽  
Ice Cap

In continuation of previous aeromagnetic survey work in 1983 and 1984 (Thorning et al., 1984, 1985) operations were carried out in April 1985 over a part of the Greenland ice cap south of the area surveyed in 1984. The reconnaissance lines flown in 1984 gave reason to expect that the geological structures in this part of Greenland would be reflected in the aeromagnetic fieid. This proved to be the case. The GICAS project is a cooperation between the Geological Survey of Greenland (GGU), the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), and the National AeronauticaI Establishment (NAE) of the National Research Council of Canada.

scholarly journals General review of the Survey's activities in 1968

1969 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 5-10
Author(s):  
K Ellitsgaard-Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Geological Mapping ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Mineral Deposits ◽  
Economic Interest ◽  
General Review

The Geological Survey of Greenland continued in 1968 to earry out its three main tasks - the geological mapping of Greenland, the investigation of mineral deposits of economic interest and the publieation of results. In addition the Survey has acted as geological adviser to the Ministry for Greenland in matters eoneerning the granting of mineral exploration concessions.

On: “Important design considerations for inboard airborne magnetic gradiometers” by C. D. Hardwick (GEOPHYSICS, 49, 2004–2018, November 1984).

Geophysics ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 192-193
Author(s):  
Peter Hood
Keyword(s):  
Measurement System ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Total Field ◽  
Aeromagnetic Survey ◽  
Design Considerations ◽  
Line Spacing ◽  
Important Design ◽  
Airborne Magnetic

In the above paper, the author states that military‐type magnetic compensators such as the nine‐term compensator produced by Canadian Aviation Electrons (CAE) of Montreal, Quebec may not be suitable for aeromagnetic survey work. In view of his doubts, I wish to assure him that 14 years of usage by the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) has demonstrated without question that the CAE compensator is efficient for high‐sensitivity aeromagnetic survey work. The GSC first installed a CAE compensator in 1969 on its light, twin‐engine Beechcraft Queenair aircraft, and since that time approximately 450 total field and vertical gradient maps have been produced. Because the device is used for surveys in which the line spacing is commonly 300 m and has been as low as 150 m, any substantial deficiencies in the measurement system would have been readily apparent in the resultant contoured data. These would show as one‐line isolated anomalies and otherwise abnormal contour patterns, etc. Indeed, such effects would be particularly noticeable in the vertical gradient data because the contour interval used in the published maps is only 0.025 γ/m.

scholarly journals General review of the Survey's activities in 1969

1970 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 5-9
Author(s):  
K Ellitsgaard-Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Geological Mapping ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Mineral Deposits ◽  
Economic Interest ◽  
General Review

The Geological Survey of Greenland continued in 1969 to carry out its three main tasks - the geological mapping of Greenland, the investigation of mineral deposits of economic interest and the publication of results. In addition the Survey has acted as geological adviser to the Ministry for Greenland in matters concerning the granting of mineral exploration concessions.

scholarly journals General review of the Survey's activities in 1970

1971 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 5-9
Author(s):  
K. Ellitsgaard-Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Geological Mapping ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Mineral Deposits ◽  
Economic Interest ◽  
General Review

The Geological Survey of Greenland continued in 1970 to carry out its three main tasks - the geological mapping of Greenland, the investigation of mineral deposits of economic interest and the publication of results. In addition the Survey has acted as geological adviser to the Ministry for Greenland in matters concerning the granting of mineral exploration concessions.

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