the committee bay drift prospecting survey, central...

The Committee Bay Drift Prospecting Survey,central mainland Nunavut

November 22, 2001

QUATERNARY COMPONENTof the

COMMITTEE BAY PROJECT

E. Little (C-NGO), I. McMartin (GSC), C. Ozyer (UWO), D. Utting (SFU), and T. Ferbey (UVIC)

Study Area

MultidisciplinaryGeoscienceApproach

Geophysics


Geophysics

Bedrock Geology


Geophysics

Bedrock Geology

Quaternary Geology


Field Objectives

Field Objectives

•Terrain Inventory

Field Objectives

– Surficial mapping•Terrain Inventory

Field Objectives

– Surficial mapping– Geomorphology/landscape evolution


Field Objectives

– Surficial mapping– Geomorphology/landscape evolution– Ice-movement indicators


Field Objectives



•Drift Sampling

Field Objectives



•Drift Sampling– Base metals & Au-Ni-PGE’s

Field Objectives



•Drift Sampling– Base metals & Au-Ni-PGE’s– Kimberlite indicator minerals

Developing a strategy...Till-Geochemistry Survey

Developing a strategy...Looking NW at a fluted till blanket deposit (56 K/1).

Till-Geochemistry Survey

Developing a strategy...Till-Geochemistry Survey

Developing a strategy...

Multiple ice-movement directionsrecorded at site in 56J

Till-Geochemistry Survey

Piecing together a history...

Ice-movement data...

Little, 2001

Ice-movement variation over TIME

The

Plot

Thickens…

Little et al., 2002

Ice-movement variation overSPACE

Strategic Till SamplingProtocol


•Identification of areas with highest potential for base-metals and Au-Ni-PGE’s.



•Prioritize these areas from highest to lowest.



•Prioritize these areas from highest to lowest.

•Systematic sampling outside these areas for unknown point sources (including kimberlites).

Till Blanket

Roches Moutonées

Till Blanket

Roches MoutonéesS N

Quaternary history

Till Blanket

Roches MoutonéesS N

Quaternary history +

mapping(bedrock & surficial)

Qualitative Till SampleType


Type I


Type I

Type II


Type I

Type II

Type III

3 kg Samples (n=309)



•Pebble lithology (4-8mm)•Carbonate content•Textural analysis•Trace/major elements (clay)


•Heavy Mineral Concentrate (NMF)•VG•Indicator Minerals•Trace/major elements (silt/clay)•Pt, Pd from FA-ICP-AES (pulverized sand fractions)•Au from FA-AA and INAA (pulverized sand fractions)

Developing a strategy...Kimberlite Indicator Mineral Survey

20 kg Samples(n=165)

20 kg Samples(n=165)

•Textural analysis•Heavy:Light mineral ratios•Heavy Mineral Concentrate (NMF)•VG•Indicator Minerals

COMMITTEE BAY

QUATERNARY COMPONENT

• Committee Bay offers some of the most interesting surficial geology and geomorphology in Canada.

COMMITTEE BAY



• Systematic mapping of these deposits is needed to reconstruct detailed Quaternary History.

COMMITTEE BAY




• An integrated multidisciplinary geoscience approach allows strategic drift sampling:

COMMITTEE BAY




• An integrated multidisciplinary geoscience approach allows strategic drift sampling: – maximize efficient sample coverage

COMMITTEE BAY




• An integrated multidisciplinary geoscience approach allows strategic drift sampling: – maximize efficient sample coverage– decrease exploration risk

COMMITTEE BAY


Till survey 56K, J(north), O(south)…

Kimberlite Indicator Mineral survey...

Results...

GSC Open FileSpring 2002

Spring 2003

Till survey 56K, J(north), O(south)…

Kimberlite Indicator Mineral survey...

Results...

Acknowledgements

November 22, 2001

QUATERNARY COMPONENTof the

COMMITTEE BAY PROJECT

I. McMartin (Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa)

C. Ozyer (University of Western Ontario, London, ON)

D. Utting (Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC)

T. Ferbey (University of Victoria, Victoria, BC)

the committee bay drift prospecting survey, central...

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