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Surficial Mapping
Surficial geology deals with loosely consolidated rock materials found
at the earth’s surface. Surficial maps and reports include data about
the physical and chemical composition of soil, glacial till, sand and
gravel, and weathered bedrock. This information plays a significant role
in mineral exploration and has many other industrial applications.
Objective
The Geological Surveys Branch (GSB) of the Department of Natural
Resources conducts the Government’s Surficial Mapping Program. The
program’s key objective is to provide the surficial geology framework
for mineral exploration and land use management in the Province.
Activities
Under its Surficial Mapping Program, the GSB:
- produces 1:50 000-scale maps showing the distribution of surficial
materials and landforms in New Brunswick (see
Surficial Mapping Initiative 4 MB);
- conducts geochemical surveys of till, soil, stream sediment, water,
humus and vegetation;
- locates and investigates sand and gravel deposits; and
- provides government and the private sector with data and advice
applicable to hydrogeological studies, environmental assessment, land
use planning, and other aspects of landscape management.
Current Projects
Each year the Geological Surveys Branch initiates geoscientific field
projects to serve as a basis for mineral and petroleum exploration and
for land-use planning in New Brunswick. Field projects are conducted
under our Bedrock Mapping, Surficial Mapping, Metallic Mineral Deposits,
Industrial Minerals, Hydrocarbon Resources,
Geochemistry and Coastal Mapping programs.
Granular Aggregate Inventory
The New Brunswick Granular Aggregate Inventory was initiated in 1974
in order to outline alternative sources for concrete sand in the Moncton
area, which would be significantly impacted by the impending (April 1,
1975) closure of provincial beaches to aggregate extraction activities.
The inventory project was then extended to the Saint John area, the
Bathust-Campbellton area, the Saint John River valley (between
Edmundston and Fredericton), and subsequently to the remainder of the
province. The field mapping and sampling part of the inventory was
completed in 1986. During the course of the Granular Aggregate
Inventory,
maps and
reports were released annually. Mapping was based on the federal
1:50 000 scale National Topographic System (NTS) maps for the province.
Reports, which commonly dealt with two or more map areas, presented: (1)
a brief description of the bedrock and surficial geology of the study
area; (2) a description of the types and general characteristics of the
granular aggregate deposits present (3) appendices containing section
descriptions, the results of mechanical grain-size and lithological
analyses and; (4) estimated recoverable reserve volumes for specific
deposits.
The "Atlas of Granular Aggregate Resources, New Brunswick" was
published in 1987 following the completion of the Provincial Aggregate
Inventory. This atlas comprises plates of simplified aggregate maps at
1:100 000 scale. Each map plate corresponds to an individual NTS map, or
to parts of two or more maps, and is cross-referenced to its
corresponding aggregate report and accompanying map. The atlas includes
a reference list of all Granular Aggregate Inventory reports.
Recently (2005-present), the Department of Natural Resources has been
conducting ‘targeted granular aggregate resource evaluations’ on
deposits that are deemed to be of regional significance in New
Brunswick. These recent investigations aim to provide geotechnical test
data to aid in assessing the quality of important Crown-managed
aggregate deposits, while also examining the impact of various land
commitments and constraints on regional availability.
In an effort to make the extensive granular aggregate data more
accessible to the DNR’s clients, the digital
Granular Aggregate Database was created. It provides basic
geological information; field descriptions; qualitative engineering test
results; and links to map plates and reports for over 2500 samples of
granular aggregate material collected throughout New Brunswick.
Maps
Presentations
Related Publications
The following is a list of some surficial mapping publications.
Further information can be accessed from the
geoscience publications page:
-
Till Geochemistry Publications
- BARNETT, D.E. 1982. Aggregate resource management in New Brunswick.
Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Bulletin, 75: 103-109.
HARINGTON, C.R., GRANT, D.R., & MOTT, R.J. 1993. The Hillsborough, New
Brunswick, mastondon and comments on other Pleistocene mastodon fossils
from Nova Scotia. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 30: pp. 1242-1253.
Key / Clef: H/15
- LAMOTHE, M., 1992. Pleistocene stratigraphy and till geochemistry of
the Miramichi Zone, New Brunswick. Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin
433, 58 p.
- New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources. 1987. Atlas of
granular aggregate resources, New Brunswick. Mineral Resources Division,
Miscellaneous Report 6, 90 p.
- PARKHILL, M.A., and DOIRON, A. 2003. Quaternary geology of the
Bathurst Mining Camp and implications for base-metal exploration using
drift prospecting. Economic Geology, Monograph 11, pp. 631-660.
- PRONK, A.G., BOBROWSKY, P.T., and PARKHILL, M.A. 1989. An
interpretation of late Quaternary glacial flow indicators in the Baie
des Chaleurs region, northern New Brunswick. Géographie Physique et
Quaternaire, 43: 179-190.
- RAPPOL, M. 1989. Glacial history and stratigraphy of northwestern
New Brunswick. Géographie Physique et Quaternaire, 43: 191-206.
- RAMPTON, V.N., GAUTHIER, R.C., THIBAULT, J., and SEAMAN, A.A. 1984.
Quaternary geology of New Brunswick. Geological Survey of Canada, Memoir
416, 77 p.
- SEAMAN, A.A. 2004. Late Pleistocene history of New Brunswick,
Canada. In Quaternary Glaciations - Extent and Chronology, Part II:
North America. Edited by J. Ehlers and P.L. Gibbard. Developments in
Quaternary Science, Vol. 2b. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 151-167.
For additional information, please contact
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