| Title | Glacial dynamics in the west-central Keewatin Sector of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (Northwest Territories and Nunavut) - preliminary surficial field database |
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| Author | Brouard, E B ;
Campbell, J E; McMartin, I M; Godbout, P M G |
| Source | Geological Association of Canada-Mineralogical Association of Canada, Joint Annual Meeting, Abstracts Volume vol. 45, 2022 p. 63 |
| Links | Online - En ligne
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| Image |  |
| Year | 2022 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20210667 |
| Publisher | The Geological Association of Canada |
| Meeting | GAC-MAC Halifax 2022; Halifax; CA; May 15-18, 2022 |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Northwest Territories; Nunavut |
| NTS | 55; 65; 56; 66 |
| Lat/Long WENS | -104.0000 -88.0000 68.0000 60.0000 |
| Subjects | mineralogy; glacial landforms; sediment transport; Laurentide; Laurentide Ice Sheet; Keewatin |
| Program | GEM-GeoNorth: Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals GEM Program Coordination |
| Released | 2022 05 14 |
| Abstract | West-central Keewatin, in northern Canada (eastern Northwest Territories and central mainland Nunavut) is one of the least studied deglaciated regions in North America in terms of paleo-ice dynamics and
ice-sheet retreat chronology. Yet, during the last glacial episode (29-8 ka), this region was host to one of the major domes of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) - the Keewatin Dome. Limited work suggests complex glacial landsystems resulting from
multiple glacial events, migration of ice centres, ice streaming and old landscape preservation. Overall, the sequence of ice flows shifting and overprinting, and the duration of glacial and deglacial events have not been systematically identified
and/or correlated. This is mainly due to the paucity of surficial mapping coupled with limited field and chronological data, which restricts the interpretation of ice sheet dynamics and glacial history. Much of this region is also heavily covered
with glacial sediments that impede both bedrock mapping and mineral exploration. This lack of a surficial geological framework therefore hinders our comprehension of the physical environment of the region, which is vital to land-based ventures and
decision-making (e.g. infrastructure, mineral exploration, permafrost, ice-sheet modelling for past changes in sea level and climate). Therefore, a surficial geological framework consisting of a new compilation of glacigenic features and landsystems
supported by targeted field investigations is needed. The initial step to address this lack of regional geoscience context in relation to LIS glacial history, was to compile existing and accessible field data that relates to glacial history into a
digital database for a region covering ~348,000 km2. The compilation builds on recent mapping efforts (Canada's Geomapping for Energy and Minerals Programs; 2008-2020) as well as legacy fieldwork data, which go back to the end of the 19th century.
This database comprising data from 2475 field stations forms the foundation for forthcoming mapping, targeted field investigations and interpretative Quaternary research in the west-central Keewatin region under the GEM Geo-North program (2020-2024).
Furthermore, the recently compiled datasets provide a template for preliminary interpretations of the ice-flow chronology and paleo-ice dynamics, which will help, decipher glacial transport, and dispersal patterns - a crucial component for the
application of drift prospecting techniques in mineral exploration. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
The northern center of Canada (eastern Northwest Territories and central mainland Nunavut) was, during the last glaciation, covered by a huge ice cap
called the Keewatin Dome. However, this region remains today one of the least known region in terms of glacial history and dynamics. The limited work carried out in the region seem to point to a complex glacial system comprising several events
associated with strongly diverging flow directions. Unfortunately, these events remain poorly understood, in part due to an undeveloped geological framework, which therefore hampers our understanding of the physical environment of the region, which
is vital for land-based ventures and decision-making ( for example, infrastructure, mineral exploration, permafrost, ice sheet modeling, past changes in sea level and climate). We therefore set out to build a geological framework, based on existing
field data collected on surficial geology for the region. The compilation of this data allowed us to collect information on 2,475 sites and allows us to obtain a first vision of the glacial history of the region. This work forms the basis of a
mapping project for the region which will be accompanied by targeted fieldwork and analysis and interpretation of Quaternary history in the west-central Keewatin region as part of the GEM GeoNorth program. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 329639 |
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