The Far North Mapping Initiative: update and future plans The Far North Mapping Initiative: The Far North Mapping Initiative: update and future plans update and future plans Scott Anderson and Christian Böhm Manitoba Geological Survey Scott Anderson and Christian Böhm Manitoba Geological Survey Manitoba Mining and Minerals Convention 2008 Researching Manitoba’s Exploration Frontier
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The Far North Mapping Initiative: update and future plans
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The Far North Mapping Initiative: update and future plans
The Far North Mapping Initiative: The Far North Mapping Initiative: update and future plansupdate and future plans
Scott Anderson and Christian BöhmManitoba Geological Survey
Scott Anderson and Christian BöhmManitoba Geological Survey
Manitoba Mining and Minerals Convention 2008Researching Manitoba’s Exploration Frontier
The Far North Mapping Initiative….
• Major new MGS geoscience initiativefocused on Manitoba’s Far North(north of 58o north latitude)
• Manitoba Government commitment:$1.5 million over three years
• Matching funds from the GSC underthe federal government’s Geomappingfor Energy and Minerals (GEM) program
Objectives:• mapping to update 30+ year old
geological database• up-to-date assessment of mineral potential
Program commenced in fiscal 2008/2009:• GSC airborne magnetic and radiometric survey• MGS reconnaissance mapping and sampling
Major mapping programs planned for 2009, 2010
Aboriginal Community OutreachAboriginal Community Outreach
CommunicationCommunicationEducationEducationTrainingTrainingField work employmentField work employment
Regional settingRegional settingManitobaManitoba’’s far north*s far north*
• SE margin of Hearne craton• six geological domains• distinguished by:
1935: GSC route survey of Seal River (Johnston, 1935)1953: Mines Branch recon.; Caribou and Wolverine rivers (Russell, 1953)1955: Mines Branch recon.; Seal River (Milligan, 1955)1953-1957: Earliest recorded exploration; Great Island1957-1962: GSC mapping; Kasmere, Munroe, Shethanei, Tadoule lakes1971-1972: MGS Kasmere project (Weber et al., 1975)1974-1978: MGS Cochrane and Seal rivers project (Schledewitz, 1986)1975-1976: Federal-provincial URP (airborne gamma-ray spectrometric and
lake-sediment surveys)1977-1980: GSC surficial geology and till sampling1970’s: Base metal exploration; Seal River-Great IslandLate 70’s: Uranium exploration; mainly Wollaston DomainLate 80’s: Gold and base metal exploration; Great Island Domain
Exploration Potential ofManitoba’s far north
Exploration Potential ofExploration Potential ofManitobaManitoba’’s far norths far north
• Indirect detection methods(e.g., till geochemistry, geophysics)
Recent MGS activities inManitoba’s far north: 2004-2006
2004200420062006
20052005
Rationale:• mitigate exploration risk by providing state-of-the-art geoscientific data• study poorly understood SE margin of the Hearne craton• further understanding of its nature, evolution and mineral potential
Paleoproterozoic cover sequence:• includes both basal and upper sections• amygdaloidal basalt flow(s)• basinal marine setting
PaleoproterozoicPaleoproterozoic cover sequence:cover sequence:•• includes both basal and upper sectionsincludes both basal and upper sections•• amygdaloidal basalt amygdaloidal basalt flow(sflow(s))•• basinalbasinal marine settingmarine setting
BaseBase--metalmetalpotential?potential?
Monroe LakeMassive arkoseMassive arkose
Trench on pegmatiticalaskiteTrench on pegmatiticalaskite
GSC-funded High Sensitivity AirborneGeophysical Survey
GSC-funded High Sensitivity AirborneGeophysical Survey
Survey specs: • Flown fall 2008• Magnetic total field• Gamma-ray spectrometric• ~17,000 line-kilometres• 125 m nominal terrain clearance• 400 m line spacing (current 5 km)
Processed variables:• Natural air absorbed dose rate• Potassium (%)• Uranium (ppm)• Thorium (ppm)• Uranium / Thorium• Uranium / Potassium• Thorium / Potassium• Residual total magnetic field data• First vertical derivative of the
magnetic field data• Digital elevation model data
The Far NorthMapping Initiative:
2008 program
ChurchillChurchillChurchill
Sosnowski LakeSosnowskiSosnowski LakeLake
• data collected in 2008 will providefoundation for 2009 mapping project
• planned to include:• Great Island• lower Seal River• lower North Knife River
• six to eight week field program• based out of Sosnowski Lake camp• helicopter supported
The Far North Mapping Initiative: Plans for 2009The Far North Mapping Initiative: Plans for 2009
Objective:• updated geological map of
Great Island area•Tectonostratigraphy of
supracrustal sequences• assessment of mineral potential