GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF INDIAN RESERVE 26

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1 ) 41HI3NW94I4 I R NO 26 1*A1 MANITOULIN ISLAND 010 -f?;. GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF INDIAN RESERVE 26 September 16, 1975 D. G. Innes, Resident Geologist Sudbury District Ministry of Natural Resources V - " )V ' 'M "

2 GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF INDIAN RESERVE 26 Location lue Manitoulin Island Indian Reserve is located east of Manitownning Bay and South Bay on the east end of Manitoulin Island. The Reserve is bounded on the east by Georgian Bay of Lake Huron. General Geology The general geology is illustrated on Maps 2247 and 2249 published by the Ontario Division of Mines and on Map published by the Geological Survey of Canada. Bedrock underlying the Manitoulin Island Indian Reserve is of Paleozoic, Ordovician and Silurian age. Rock formations trend east-west and are generally flat-lying to shallow (10O to 20O ) southwest dipping. Rocks of Ordovician age include those belonging to the Lindsay, Whitby and Georgian Bay Formations. Grey limestone and minor dolostones of the Lindsay Formation underlying the northern tip of the Reserve are overlain by grey and brown shales and by black calcareous and petroliferous shales of the Whitby Formation. Shnles and limestones of the Georgian Bay Formation overlie re, J* s of the Whitby Formation in the north and central parts of the Reserve. Rocks of Silurian age include those belonging to the Manitoulin, Cabot Head, Mindemoya, Fossil Hill, Amabel and Guelph Formations. Brown and grey fossiliferous dolostones

3 of the Manitoulin Formation underlie parts of the north central part of the Reserve and an area at the base of the southeast trending escarpment in the southern part of the Reserve. Dolostones and shales of the Cabot Head Formation form the St. Edmund escarpment and overlie the Manitoulin Formation dolestones in the northern part of the south half of the Reserve. In the southern part of the Reserve, the Cabot Head Formation lithologic* are overlain in turn by: grey and light brown dolostones of the Mindemoya Formation; medium brown fossiliferous dolostones of the Fossil Hill Formation; grey and blue fossiliferous dolostones of the Amabel Formation; and by tan dolostones of the Guelph Formation. The surficial geology of the Manitoulin Island Indian Reserve has not been mapped. However, some data from oil drilling records exists. Immediately south of the village of Wikwemikong, drill records suggest deposits of sand and gravel and some clay in depths of up to 50 feet. 15 to 32 feet of drift is recorded on the flats at Cape Smith. Sand and gravel to unknown depths are found at James Bay on the east central shore of the Island and near Kaboni and Wikwemikongsing. One oil well record shows drift cover to a depth of 300 feet near Stephens Cove. Topographic features suggest the presence of raised beaches at the end of Smith Bay and James Bay.

4 Mineral Resources In Jesuit Missionaries discovered an oil spring approximately 4 miles south of the village of Wikwemikong on Smith Bay. Early drilling (1863) near the discovery site failed to produce oil. In 1905, several more wells were put down 2 miles south of Wikwemikong and about 500 barrels of petroleum were produced. Since that time and prior to 1961 over 100 holes have been drilled on Manitoulin Island. Available records suggest that between 1863 and 1958 some 35 wells, including 4 past producers and 4 possible past producers, were drilled on the Manitoulin Island Indian Reserve (see appended log records). Total production is not known but is in excess of 3,000 barrels. The potential for discovery of large oil and gas reserves on the Island is considered to be low. Areas underlain by dolostones of the Silurian, Cabot Head Formation (St. Edmund Member), and Amabel Formation have low to moderate potential as a source of building aggregate. The extent of sand and gravel deposits on the Reserve is not known. At least one small gravel pit has been opened approximately 3^ miles south of Wikwemikong. Deposits of sand and gravel suggested by oil well logs at Smith Bay, James Bay, Stephens Cove and at Cape Smith should be investigated. Numerous sand and gravel beaches, especially at Smith Bay and James Bay are potential tourist and recreation attractions. September 16, 1975 D. G. Innes, Resident Geologist Sudbury District Ministry of Natural Resources.

5 References Liberty, B. A, 1957: Manitoulin Island, District of Manitoulin; Geol. Surv. Canada, Map , scale l inch to 4 miles. Geology : Little Current Area, District of Manitoulin; Ontario Div. Mines, Map 2247, scale l inch to l mile. Geol. Corap ; Manitowaning Are*, District of Manitoulin; Ontario Div. Minos, Map 2249, scale l inch to l mile. Geol. Corap ; ODM-GSC 1965: Manitoulin Island, Ontario; Ontario Dept. Mines-Geol. Surv. Canada, Aeromagnetic Series Map 7060G, scale l inch to 4 miles. Robertson, J. A., and Card, K. D. 1972: Geology and Scenery, North Shore of Lake Huron Region; Ontario Div. Mines, Geol. Guidebook No.4, 224 p. Williams, M. Y. 1921: Oil Possibilities of Manitoulin Island, Canada Dept. Mines, Geological Surv.; Summ. Rept., 3920, pt. D., p : Manitoulin Island, Manitoulin District, Ontario; Canada Dept. Mines, Geological Surv., Map 351 A, scale l inch to 4 miles. \^-.' v*f; : - -'; : ^':-?^'ffi~