Geoscience

Geological Survey Activity Tracker

Thompson Nickel Belt and Superior Boundary Zone

 

Surficial geology, till composition and ice-flow history in the Gillam area

Project Information

Principal investigators:
Michelle Gauthier

Partnered with:
Manitoba Hydro; University of Waterloo (MSc. Student; Post-doc Fellowship)

Location:
Gillam; NTS 54D6, 7, 8

 

Project Description

Main objectives:

A 3-week reconnaissance MGS field survey, along the road network in 2013, has radically changed our understanding of the surficial geology of the region. The current surficial geology mapping of the Gillam area is inadequate, inaccurate, and will be re-mapped. The glacial history and composition of regional till is also examined.

Methodology:

  • Helicopter, truck and boat-supported fieldwork.
  • Sampling of organic matter for radiocarbon dating.
  • Sampling of till for characterization (surface and in section).
  • MSc (till composition) and PhD (deglacial history) projects.

 

Benefits:

A strong public geoscience knowledge base is recognized internationally as a key competitive advantage in profiling a jurisdiction’s geological potential and attracting investment in mineral exploration and development. The products from this project will provide direct input to ongoing mineral exploration initiatives in north-central Manitoba.

 

Plans for fiscal year 2024–2025:

  • Open File on the Sundance section, visited in 2023
  • Preparation of 1:50 000 scale surficial geology maps
  • Preparation of derivative 1:50 000 scale aggregate potential maps
  • Preparation of a Geoscientific Paper to release stratigraphic till composition data, and update the regional understanding of this complex area

 

Completed outputs:

2023–2024

Gauthier, M.S. and Hodder, T.J. 2023: Till-matrix geochemistry data from the Gillam area, northeastern Manitoba: additional 2022 data (NTS 54D5–8, 64A2); Manitoba Economic Development, Investment and Trade, Manitoba Geological Survey, Data Repository Item DRI2023004, Microsoft® Excel® file.

Gauthier, M.S., Hodder, T.J., Dalton, A.S., Lian, O.B., Finkelstein, S.A., Väliranta, M., Ross, M. and Schaarschmidt, M. 2023: Postglacial to interglacial MIS 7 sediments near Gillam, Manitoba, Canada; Geological Association of Canada–Mineralogical Association of Canada, Joint Annual Meeting, May 24–29, 2023, Sudbury, Ontario, oral presentation.

2022–2023

Gauthier, M.S. and Hodder, T.J. 2022: Field-based ice-flow indicator data from the Split Lake and Fox River belt areas, northeastern Manitoba (parts of NTS 53M15, 54D2, 54D4, 64A2); Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development, Manitoba Geological Survey, Data Repository Item DRI2022009, Microsoft® Excel® file.

Gauthier, M.S. and Hodder, T.J. 2022: Till-matrix geochemistry data from the Gillam area, northeastern Manitoba: additional 2021 data (NTS 54D7, 9, 11); Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development, Manitoba Geological Survey, Data Repository Item DRI2022004, Microsoft® Excel® file.

Gauthier, M.S., Hodder, T.J. and Ross, M. 2022: Quaternary stratigraphy and ice-flow indicator data for the Gillam region, Manitoba (parts of NTS 54C, D; 64A); Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development, Manitoba Geological Survey, Geological Paper GP2022-2, 37 p. plus 7 appendices.

2021–2022

Gauthier, M.S., Breckenridge, A. and Hodder, T.J. 2022: Patterns of ice recession and ice stream activity for the MIS 2 Laurentide Ice Sheet in Manitoba, Canada; Boreas, v. 51, no. 2, p. 274–298, URL <https://doi.org/10.1111/bor.12571>.

Hodder, T.J. and Gauthier, M.S. 2021: Quaternary stratigraphic and depth to bedrock data compilation for northeastern Manitoba; in Report of Activities 2021, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 66–70.

Gauthier, M.S., Hodder, T.J., Lian, O.B., Finkelstein, S.A., Dalton, A.S. and Paulen, R.C. 2021: Stratigraphic, paleoenvironmental and geochronological investigations of intertill nonglacial deposits in northeastern Manitoba (parts of NTS 54B-F, K, L, 64A, H, I); in Report of Activities 2021, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 71–76.

2020–2021

Gauthier, M.S. and Hodder, T.J. 2020: Till-matrix geochemistry data from the Gillam area, northeast Manitoba; Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development, Manitoba Geological Survey, Data Repository Item DRI2020005, Microsoft® Excel® file.

Gauthier, M.S., Kelley, S.E. and Hodder, T.J. 2020: Lake Agassiz drainage bracketed Holocene Hudson Bay Ice Saddle collapse; Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 544, 116372, URL <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116372>.

2019–2020

Gauthier, M.S., Hodder, T.J., Ross, M., Kelley, S.E., Rochester, A. and McCausland, P. 2019: The subglacial mosaic of the Laurentide Ice Sheet; a study of the interior region of southwestern Hudson Bay; Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 214, p. 1–27, URL <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.04.015>.

2017–2018

Wang, Y. 2018: Statistical analysis of till geochemistry in the Nelson River area, northeastern Manitoba: implications for Quaternary glacial stratigraphy; M.Sc. thesis, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, 175 p.

2016–2017

Gauthier, M.S., Hodder, T.J., Kelley, S.E., Wang, Y. and Ross, M. 2016: Drift Exploration Techniques in the Gillam Area – Year 4 (NTS 54D, 54C); Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade, Manitoba Geological Survey, Manitoba Mining and Minerals Convention 2016, Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 16–18, 2016, poster presentation.

2015–2016

Kelley, S.E., Hodder, T.J., Wang, Y., Trommelen, M.S. and Ross, M. 2015: Preliminary Quaternary geology in the Gillam area, northeastern Manitoba – year 3 (parts of NTS 54D5–9, 11, 54C12); in Report of Activities 2015, Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 131–139.

2014–2015

Trommelen, M. S., Wang, Y. and Ross, M. 2014: Preliminary Quaternary geology in the Gillam area, northeastern Manitoba (parts of NTS 54D5–11, 54C12) – Year Two; in Report of Activities 2014, Manitoba Mineral Resources Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 187-195.

Trommelen, M.S. 2014: Field-based ice-flow indicator data, Gillam to Gull Lake, north-central Manitoba (NTS 54D5, 6, 7); Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, Data Repository Item DRI2014003, Microsoft® Excel® file.

2013–2014

Trommelen, M.S. 2013: Preliminary Quaternary geology in the Gillam area, northeastern Manitoba (parts of NTS 54D5–9, 11, 54C12); in Report of Activities 2013, Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 169–182.

Trommelen, M.S. 2013: Radiocarbon data, Gillam and Knee Lake areas, north-central Manitoba (NTS 54C, D, 53M1); Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, Data Repository Item DRI2013004, Microsoft® Excel® file.

Trommelen, M.S. 2013: Field-based ice-flow indicator data, Gillam to Split Lake, north-central Manitoba (NTS 54D, 64A); Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, Data Repository Item DRI2013005, Microsoft® Excel® file.

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