The Western Churchill Metallogeny Project aims to compile and synthesize geoscience knowledge spanning northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and most of mainland Nunavut. This under-explored area is one of Canada's last mineral potential frontiers. Gold prospects are under development at Meadowbank and Meliadine, and the potential for significant diamond and nickel-platinum-group element deposits is very high.

Through the compilation and synthesis of geoscience knowledge, development of remote-predictive map products, new metallogenic models, and focussed exploration targets for a large range of deposit-types including precious metals, base metals and diamonds, mineral exploration by industry and local prospectors will be accelerated. The project will deliver a multi-layered GIS database that will be available in CD-ROM and Web-enabled formats.

This synthesis will strongly enhance industry's understanding of the tectonic, stratigraphic and regional metallogeny of the Western Churchill geologic province, leading to reduced exploration risks and improved exploration models. The Quaternary component is thematically-based, but broadly regional in scope and significance. With this area becoming an emerging diamond province, the new regional framework Quaternary mapping will fill in pressing knowledge gaps.

Outreach efforts will align with existing Territorial/Provincial outreach activities and include northern hiring, community-focussed presentations and reports to support local geoscience education, teacher training and a Kivalliq area Geoscape poster.

Project Priorities:

• Integrate regional metallogeny with newly synthesized geoscience knowledge
• Partner with Provincial and Territorial geoscience agencies to bridge understanding across jurisdictional boundaries
• Identify critical gaps to lay the foundation for future geoscience knowledge acquisition
• Release compiled knowledge in an accessible and timely GIS-based format

Products and Results:

• Quaternary geological work in the Western Churchill Province: recent and future compilations
• Workshop presentations
• Selected Fall 2004 Geoscience Forum Presentations
• Project Workshop 2005 Presentations

Major Project Partners:

• DIAND (Nunavut)
• CS Lord Northern Geoscience Centre
• Saskatchewan Industry and Resources
• Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office
• Manitoba Mines Branch
• Alberta Geological Survey
• BHP-Billiton
• Cameco Corp.
• Cogema Resources Inc.
• Cumberland Resources Ltd.
• Yale University

For More Information: Dr. Sally Pehrsson