Soil, Till Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan 1991

Ultra –low density till and soil sampling survey, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, 1991.  


Geological Survey of Canada, Terrain Sciences Division

Survey Description

Two ultra-low density orientation survey soil and till traverses were completed across the southern Canadian Prairies in 1991. Eighty-eight soil samples were taken from the A20 and C horizons and 50 till samples were collected from road cuts, spoil pits etc. Three vertical soil profiles and a horizontal A20 soil traverse were also collected. The data are published in GSC Open File 2685.

Data Description: Report and data on diskette.

Quantities Analysed: A20 and C-horizon soils (<2 mm fraction): by INAA for 35 elements; by ICP-AES after near total HF-HCl-HNO3-HClO4 digestion for 34 elements and by ICP-AES hydride generation for 6 elements; till and C-horizon soil (<0.063 mm fraction) by INAA for 35 elements; by ICP-AES after partial HCl-HNO3-HClO4 attack for 29 elements; till (<0.063 mm fraction) also by ICP-AES after near total extraction for 34 elements; till (<2 mm and <0.002 mm fractions) by INAA for 35 elements; and by ICP-AES after partial extraction for 29 elements; till (<2 mm fraction) also by gamma ray spectrometry for K, Th and U.

Other Analyses: Carbonate (Chittick) on till & C-horizon soil (<0.063 mm); heavy mineral concentrates for kimberlite indicator minerals.



Publication History

Garrett, R.G., Thorleifson, L.H. (1991). Prairie kimberlite study - soil and till geochemistry and mineralogy, low density orientation survey traverses, Winnipeg-Calgary-Edmonton-Winnipeg. Geological Survey of Canada Open File 2685.

Thorleifson, L.H., Garrett, R.G., Matile, G. (1994). Prairie kimberlite study - indicator mineral geochemistry. Geological Survey of Canada Open File 2875.

Garrett, R.G., Thorleifson, L.H. (1995). Kimberlite indicator mineral and till geochemical reconnaissance, southern Saskatchewan. In Investigations completed by the Saskatchewan Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Canada under the Geoscience program of the Canada-Saskatchewan Partnership Agreement on Mineral Development (1990-1995), (Ed.) D.G. Richardson. Geological Survey of Canada Open File 3119, p. 227-253.

Garrett, R.G., Thorleifson, L.H. (1996). The provenance of prairie tills and its importance in mineral exploration. In K.E. Ashton and C.R. Harper (Editors), MinExpo’96 symposium; Advances in Saskatchewan geology and mineral exploration, Saskatchewan Geological Society Special Publication 14, p. 155-162.

Garrett, R.G., Thorleifson, L.H. (1996). Kimberlite indicator mineral and soil geochemical reconnaissance of the Canadian Prairie region. In A.N. LeCheminant, D.G. Richardson, R.N.W. DiLabio and K.A. Richardson (Eds.), Searching for diamonds in Canada. Geological Survey of Canada Open File 3228, p. 205-211.

Thorleifson, L.H., Garrett, R.G. (1997). Kimberlite indicator mineral and geochemical reconnaissance of southern Alberta. In R.W. MacQueen (Editor), Exploring for minerals in Alberta: Geological Survey of Canada geoscience contributions, Canada-Alberta Agreement on Mineral Development (1992-1995), Geological Survey of Canada Bulletin 500, p. 209-233.


Project History

1991-1995 Canadian Prairie soil and till ultra-low density survey, 1991 and 1992.
  The objective of this project is to provide geochemical and mineralogical data on the regional variability of soils and glacial drift to assist in the exploration for kimberlites, lamproites and gold paleo-placers in the southern Prairies. The project was carried out over two years. The first year involved 2 orientation traverses to collect soil and till samples to determine what procedures (field and analytical) should be used in the full 1992 grid survey covering the same area. In 1992, a drill core was taken over a kimberlite to study till in the third dimension. The 1991 data are published in GSC Open File 2685 and the 1992 till data are published in GSC Open File 2745. The drill core study is published in GSC Bulletin 551.



Minimum Latitude Maximum Latitude Minimum Longitude Maximum Longitude

49º

53.75º -116º -96º