scholarly journals Kimberlitic indicator minerals in the Geological Survey of Canada's archived till samples: results of analysis of samples from Victoria Island and the Hay River area, Northwest Territories

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
R N W Dilabio ◽  
R D Knight
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Victoria Island ◽  
Indicator Minerals

Overview of surficial geochemistry and indicator mineral surveys and case studies from the Geological Survey of Canada's GEM Program

2021 ◽  
pp. geochem2021-070
Author(s):  
M.B. McClenaghan ◽  
W.A. Spirito ◽  
S.J.A. Day ◽  
M.W. McCurdy ◽  
R.J. McNeil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Stream Sediment ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Northern Canada ◽  
Indicator Mineral ◽  
Indicator Minerals

The Geological Survey of Canada carried out reconnaissance-scale to deposit-scale geochemical and indicator-mineral surveys and case studies across northern Canada between 2008 and 2020 as part of its Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM) program. In these studies, surficial geochemistry was used to determine the concentrations of up to 65 elements in various sample media including lake sediment, lake water, stream sediment, stream water, or till samples across approximately 1 000 000 km2 of northern Canada. As part of these surficial geochemistry surveys, indicator mineral methods were also used in regional-scale and deposit-scale stream sediment and till surveys. Through this program, areas with anomalous concentrations of elements and/or indicator minerals that are indicative of bedrock mineralization were identified, new mineral exploration models and protocols were developed, a new generation of geoscientists was trained, and geoscience knowledge was transferred to northern communities. Regional- and deposit-scale studies demonstrated how transport data (till geochemistry, indicator mineral abundance) and ice-flow indicator data can be used together to identify and understand complex ice flow and glacial transport. Detailed studies at the Izok Lake Zn-Cu-Pb-Ag VMS, Nunavut, the Pine Point carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn in the Northwest Territories, the Strange Lake REE deposit in Quebec and Labrador as well as U-Cu-Fe-F and Cu-Ag-Au-Au IOCG deposits in the Great Bear magmatic zone, Northwest Territories demonstrate new suites of indicator minerals that can now be used in future reconnaissance- and regional-scale stream sediment and till surveys across Canada.

scholarly journals Geology, Uqpilik, Victoria Island, Northwest Territories

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
J H Bédard ◽  
R H Rainbird ◽  
L D Currie ◽  
E C Turner
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Victoria Island

Characterization and dispersal of indicator minerals associated with the Pine Point Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) district, Northwest Territories, Canada

2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 776-794 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.M. Oviatt ◽  
S.A. Gleeson ◽  
R.C. Paulen ◽  
M.B. McClenaghan ◽  
S. Paradis
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Major Element ◽  
Bimodal Distribution ◽  
Mississippi Valley ◽  
Element Geochemistry ◽  
Element Concentrations ◽  
Pine Point ◽  
Indicator Minerals ◽  
Mississippi Valley Type ◽  
Valley Type

A glacial dispersal study was conducted around a subcropping Pb–Zn deposit (O28) in the Pine Point Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) district, Northwest Territories, Canada, with the intent of characterizing and documenting the indicator minerals and their dispersal from a known orebody. Mapping of striations adjacent to deposit O28, and throughout the Pine Point district, along with observed glacial stratigraphy, indicate that there are three phases of ice flow that have affected the Pine Point district. Sphalerite, galena, and pyrite were identified in mineralized bedrock samples at deposit O28, and sphalerite and galena were recovered from the sand fraction of till samples up to 500 m from the mineralized subcrop. The majority of sphalerite and galena grains recovered from till samples down-ice of deposit O28 were 0.25–0.5 mm in size. Size and morphology of sphalerite grains in till demonstrate relative proximity to their bedrock source, with the largest and more angular grains being closer to the ore zone (<50 m) whereas smaller and more rounded grains occur further down-ice (∼250 m). The paragenesis, textures, major-element concentrations, and S and Pb isotopic compositions of bedrock samples from deposit O28 and from newly drilled core from four other deposits were characterized. Concentrations of Zn in bedrock sphalerite grains range from 43.95 to 67.48 wt.%, concentrations of S range from 32.03 to 34.01 wt.%, and concentrations of Fe range from 0.02 to 16.94 wt.%. The Fe concentration in bedrock sphalerite decreases from east to west across the district. Concentrations of S in galena grains in bedrock range from 12.50 to 14.00 wt.% and have a bimodal distribution. Generally, the geochemistry of sphalerite grains recovered from till were statistically similar to bedrock grains recovered from deposits O28 and L65. Major-element concentrations were statistically the same between the sphalerite grains recovered from till and the honey-brown and cleiophane varieties in the bedrock samples. Galena grains recovered from till samples were similar to the cubic and fracture-fill varieties of grains recovered from bedrock in the R190 and M67 deposits. Sulphur isotopic values for sphalerite grains from bedrock range from 20.6‰ to 24.2‰, while those from till samples range from −5.3‰ to 24.4‰. Lead isotopic ratios for galena grains from bedrock and till samples had very little variation, which is a characteristic of the Pine Point district. The S and Pb isotopic studies as well as major-element geochemistry suggest that indicator minerals derived from Pine Point-type mineralization can be distinguished from those sourced from other types of carbonate-hosted mineralized systems (e.g., Cordilleran zinc–lead deposits) and that the methods here can be used as exploration tools for identifying MVT deposit provenance or potential. The results of this study present criteria and highlights additional methods for exploration of MVT deposits in glaciated terrain.

Early Aphebian basaltic volcanism in the southern District of Keewatin, Northwest Territories

1976 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1003-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy V. Beavon
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Basaltic Volcanism ◽  
Dike Swarm ◽  
Southern District ◽  
Hurwitz Group ◽  
Textural Evidence ◽  
Archean Basement

A thin formation of folded mafic flows resting unconformably on Archean basement is informally named the Spi Lake basalt. Stratigraphic, structural, and textural evidence suggests that these lavas were probably fed from a diabase dike swarm dated at 2250+ m.y. by the Geological Survey of Canada. The Spi Lake basalt is overlain by conglomerate that may represent the base of the Hurwitz Group.

Developing a collaborative permafrost research program: The Dempster - Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway research corridor, Northwest Territories, Canada

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Rudy ◽  
Steve Kokelj ◽  
Alice Wilson ◽  
Tim Ensom ◽  
Peter Morse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Monitoring Network ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Research Organizations ◽  
The Government ◽  
Research Initiatives

&lt;p&gt;The Beaufort Delta region in Northwest Territories, Canada is one of the most rapidly warming areas on Earth. Permafrost thaw and climate change are major stressors on northern infrastructure, particularly in this region which hosts the highest density of Arctic communities and the longest road network constructed on ice-rich permafrost in Canada. The Dempster and Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highways (ITH) comprise a 400-km corridor connecting the region with southern Canada. The corridor delivers a unique opportunity to develop a societally-relevant, northern-driven permafrost research network to encourage collaboration, and support pure and applied studies that engage stakeholders, encourage community participation, and acknowledge northern interests. Successful implementation requires leadership and institutional support from the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and Inuvialuit and Gwich&amp;#8217;in Boards and landowners, and coordination between research organizations including NWT Geological Survey, Aurora Research Institute, Geological Survey of Canada, and universities to define key research priorities, human and financial resources to undertake studies, and protocols to manage data collection and reporting.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In 2017, a state of the art ground temperature monitoring network was established along the Dempster-ITH corridor by the GNWT in collaboration with Federal and Academic partners. This network in combination with the maintenance of the Dempster Highway and recent design and construction of the ITH, has created a national legacy of permafrost geotechnical, terrain and geohazard information in this region. The objectives of this program are to integrate old and new data to synthesize physiographic, hydrological, thermal, and geotechnical conditions along the corridor, and to develop applied permafrost research projects that support planning and maintenance of this critical northern infrastructure. In this presentation, we highlight: 1) a collaborative research framework that builds northern capacity and involves northerners in the generation of knowledge and its application to increase community based permafrost monitoring; 2) summaries of existing infrastructure datasets and their foundation for research; and 3) new projects that address emerging climate-driven infrastructure stressors. As the effects of climate change on permafrost environments, infrastructure and communities continue to increase, the need for northern scientific capacity and applied research to support informed decision-making, climate change adaptation and risk management will become increasingly critical. The development of resilient researcher-stakeholder-community relationships is also necessary for the scientific and research initiatives to reach their potential.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;

Late Glacial landforms of Wollaston Peninsula, Victoria Island, Northwest Territories: product of ice-marginal retreat, surge, and mass stagnation

1988 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 262-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Sharpe
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Late Glacial ◽  
Ground Moraine ◽  
Ice Conditions ◽  
Late Wisconsinan ◽  
Victoria Island ◽  
Glacial Landforms ◽  
Subglacial Meltwater

An analysis of glacial landforms on a regional scale leads to an interpretation of the dynamics of Late Wisconsinan glaciation on Wollaston Peninsula, Victoria Island, Northwest Territories. The glacial record is dominated by four adjacent belts of landforms: (I) ground moraine (till plains and ice-marginal drainage features), (II) hummocky moraine, (III) lateral and shear moraine, and (IV) streamlined landforms. The landform belts are considered as representing four distinct glacial ice conditions or regimes: (1) ice-margin retreat during extending flow of thin, active ice; (2) marginal ice stagnation following compressional flow; (3) a surging ice margin producing massive shear moraines; and (4) large-scale flooding and mass ice stagnation following a surge. These landform belts were arranged in zones by topographically controlled glacial dynamics, the latter two defining a former ice stream.Glaciological inferences can be extended by examining the sediments and processes that produced each landform set. Ground-moraine sediments were produced mainly subglacially from melt out or lodgment of glacial debris. Hummocky moraine resulted from debris flow and meltwater deposition controlled by ice, from resedimentation by sediment gravity flow, and from slump. Compressional shearing stacked thick deposits of drift prior to resedimentation. Simple lateral or end moraines may comprise interbedded sediment gravity flows deposited at static ice margins. Deformed lateral moraines resulted from intense marginal compressive flow that sheared and stacked thick, coarse sediment ridges or plates. This lateral shearing may be attributed to streaming or large ice surges. Drumlin exposures showed undeformed, interbedded, stratified sediments that appear to have accumulated in a subglacial cavity; there is no deformation related to high subglacial stress. Subglacial meltwater floods may have followed glacier surge. The greatly extended and thinner ice mass produced by the surge melted in place as clean (debris-free) ice.

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