Soil, Till Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan 1992

Ultra –low density till and soil sampling survey, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, 1992.  


Geological Survey of Canada, Terrain Sciences Division

Survey Description

An ultra-low density till and soil survey was carried out in 1992 over the southern Canadian Prairies. Samples were taken from randomly selected 1x1 km target cells. Only the till data are reported in GSC Open File 2745.

Data Description: Diskette only (compressed ASCII files).

Quantities Analysed: <0.063 mm and <2 mm fractions by INAA for 24 elements, including gold and by AAS after a HF-HNO3-HClO4 digestion for 11 elements.

Geochem Plots Available: Proportional symbol maps show dispersal of selected elements and heavy mineral components.

Other Analyses: Heavy mineral concentrate for kimberlite indicator minerals and electron microprobe analysis of selected heavy mineral grains; matrix carbonate (Chittick).



Publication History

Thorleifson, L.H., Matile, G. (1993). Till geochemistry and indicator mineral reconnaissance of southeastern Manitoba. Geological Survey of Canada Open File 2750.

Thorleifson, L.H., Garrett. R.G. (1993). Prairie kimberlite study - till matrix geochemistry, and preliminary indicator mineral data. Geological Survey of Canada Open File 2745.

Garrett, R.G. (1994). The distribution of cadmium in A horizon soils of the prairies of Canada and the adjoining United States. In Current Research 1994-B. Geological Survey of Canada paper 1994-1B, pp. 73-82.

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

55º -115.5º -95º