Northern Alberta is host to recently discovered shallow gas reservoirs and kimberlite, the host rock for diamonds. Northeastern British Columbia desperately needs new sources of aggregates for infrastructure development in this area of active oil and gas exploration. However, these regions pose challenges to traditional exploration methods in that they are covered by thick drift cover, have limited road access, and there is poor understanding of their natural resource distribution.

In collaboration with the Alberta Geological Survey and the British Columbia Ministry of Energy & Mines, the Shallow gas and diamond opportunities in Northern Alberta and British Columbia project aims to help stimulate investment in energy, minerals, forestry and infrastructure as well as increased local employment. The region hosts the terminus of the Norman Wells-Zama oil pipeline, small gas pipelines, and the likely route of the Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline making it an economically viable area for energy-related exploration.

This project will deliver the following outputs: 1) mapping and GIS-enabled synthesis of Quaternary & Tertiary deposits to identify natural gas reservoirs, groundwater and aggregate; 2) mapping potential geological hazards to assist private & public sectors in cost avoidance along future pipeline corridors, settlements and roads; 3) surficial geochemical surveys & kimberlite studies to identify areas of high potential for diamond, precious and base metal exploration; and 4) outreach to transfer the information and its potential uses to local communities.

Project Priorities:

• Production of a 1:250,000 scale surficial geology map and a 3D model of shallow gas reservoirs, aggregates and stratigraphic setting of kimberlite dispersal trains.
• Stream sediment sampling and kimberlite dispersal studies in order to identify new areas of mineralization (diamonds, gold, base metals), and to better characterize known prospects.
• Detailed volcanology/sedimentology/stratigraphy studies of kimberlites and host Cretaceous sediments in the Buffalo Head Hills and Birch Mountains.
• Integration of new and compiled geoscience data in a GIS-format to generate Resource Potential Maps for kimberlite, aggregate, and shallow gas reservoir deposits.

Project Partners:

• Alberta Geological Survey
• British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines
• University of Alberta
• University of British Columbia
• Simon Fraser University
• Ashton Mining Canada Inc.
• Encana Corp.
• Foothills Pipe Lines Ltd.
• British Columbia Railway Co.

For More Information: Dr. Alain Plouffe