| Title | Report of activities for the GEM-2 Western Arctic Margins project, Banks Island, Northwest Territories |
| Download | Downloads |
| |
| Licence | Please note the adoption of the Open Government Licence - Canada
supersedes any previous licences. |
| Author | Smith, I R ;
Dewing, K; Galloway, J; Piepjohn, K |
| Source | Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8150, 2016, 18 pages, https://doi.org/10.4095/299294  Open Access |
| Year | 2016 |
| Publisher | Natural Resources Canada |
| Document | open file |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Northwest Territories |
| NTS | 97G/09; 97G/15; 97G/16; 97H; 88C; 88F/02; 88F/03; 88F/04 |
| Area | Banks Island; Nelson Head; Polar Bear Cabin |
| Lat/Long WENS | -126.0000 -120.0000 72.0000 71.0000 |
| Lat/Long WENS | -120.0000 -115.0000 74.2500 73.0000 |
| Subjects | surficial geology/geomorphology; economic geology; structural geology; stratigraphy; bedrock geology; structural features; drift prospecting; indicator elements; glacial deposits; kimberlites; diamond;
mineral potential; drift geochemistry; drift deposits; Isachsen Formation; Nelson Head Graben; Eureka Sound Formation; Kanguk Formation; Christopher Formation; Hassel Formation; Cenozoic; Quaternary |
| Illustrations | location maps; photographs; tables |
| Program | GEM2: Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals Western Arctic Sverdrup Basin |
| Released | 2016 11 02 |
| Abstract | (Summary)
This report outlines the scope and objectives of the Banks Island bedrock, structural geology and kimberlite (diamond) indicator minerals research activities, and summarizes field
work, sample collection, and data compilation carried out between September 2015 and August 2016.
Field activities on Banks Island in 2016 expands upon the previous year's field-based kimberlite indicator mineral activities (Smith, 2015), and
provides a means for updating and expanding the bedrock geology compilation of Miall (1979) by employing new techniques, radiometric dating controls, and seismic records that were unavailable in the 1970s when mapping was conducted. Principal
field-based objectives of this research were to: 1) obtain new sample suites for paleontological analysis for the purpose of refining biostratigraphic age control and paleoenvironment; 2) reconcile seismic images, which show abundant faulting, with
surface mapping which shows relatively few faults; 3) obtain kinematic indicators from areas of surface faulting or folding; 4) obtain sample suites for other geochemical and geochronological studies; and 5) reconcile bedrock unit ages that are in
apparent conflict with the age of the same units elsewhere in the region.
Kimberlite indicator mineral (KIM) studies were logistically limited to areas of principal bedrock geology operations, and thus were designed to continue investigating the
potential of bedrock-inherited (Canadian Shield-origin) KIMs within the fluvial Upper Tertiary Beaufort and Lower Cretaceous Isachsen formations. Additional samples were also collected, where possible, to further resolve aspects of late Wisconsinan
and older glacial dispersal of KIMs on Banks Island.
Fieldwork in July 2016 led to an improved understanding of the nature and structural history of Devonian to Tertiary strata on Banks Island. Scientists were able to retrace many previously
documented associations, while making important new stratigraphic interpretations and sample collections that will refine the understanding of timing, depositional environment, and tectonic alterations, ultimately providimg new insight into the age
and evolution of the offshore Canada Basin. Kimberlite indicator mineral sample collections will be used to continue investigating the potential for secondary bedrock-inherited KIMs on Banks Island and to follow up on two geographical areas where
samples collected in 2015 yielded results that challenged previous reconstructions.
This past summer's fieldwork was the last of the GEM-2 Program planned for Banks Island. Research this fall/winter will focus on the preparation and submission of
collected samples for various analyses and dating. Results will be compiled, interpreted, and released in forthcoming publications. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
This report outlines the scope and objectives of the Banks Island bedrock, structural geology and kimberlite (diamond) indicator minerals research
activities, and summarizes field work and sample collection carried out in July 2016. Field activities updated and expanded the previous bedrock geology compilation of Miall (1979) by employing new techniques, radiometric dating controls, and
seismic records. Principal field-based objectives of this research were to: 1) obtain new sample suites for paleontological analysis for the purpose of refining biostratigraphic age control and paleoenvironment; 2) reconcile seismic images, which
show abundant faulting, with surface mapping which shows relatively few faults; 3) obtain kinematic indicators from areas of surface faulting or folding; 4) obtain sample suites for other geochemical and geochronological studies; and 5) reconcile
bedrock unit ages that are in apparent conflict with the age of the same units elsewhere in the region. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 299294 |
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