A Perspective on a Three Dimensional Framework for Canadian Geology H.A.J. Russell, B. Brodaric, G. Keller, K.E. McCormack, D.B. Snyder, and M.R. St-Onge GSA Vancouver, 2014
Author Affiliations H.A.J. Russell, B. Brodaric, D.B. Snyder, and M.R. St-Onge Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth St. Ottawa, ON., K1A 0E8, Canada G. Keller, Manitoba Geological Survey, Winnipeg, MB., Canada K.E. McCormack Alberta Geological Survey, Alberta Energy Regulator, AB, Canada
Outline The Challenge Drivers Parsing Geological Domains Canadian Examples Practicality Conclusion
The Challenge Map of geology of canada Area: 9 million km2 Marine 5.3 million km 2 Geological terrains o metamorphic o volcanic o orogenic belts o sed. basins o glacial sed. complex geology diverse data sparse data Wheeler et al., 1996
Societal Drivers Topical: Keystone Northern Gateway Interests from Industry for continental aquifer maps Societal Issues Science Issues Data Management
National Groundwater Model Geology permafrost unconsolidated sedimentary basement Chen (2015)
Science Geology of North America 9 volume set for Canada Over 25 years ago Only 25 years after plate tectonics Lithoprobe (1984-2003)
Communication
Canadian Context Canada Federal Provincial Natural Resources Environment Agriculture Provincial Agencies Earth Science Geological Survey Canadian Centre Remote Sensing Geomatics Canada Regional Municipalities Conservation Authorities Federal Provincial model 10 provinces Responsibility for natural resources is with provinces Systematic mapping -thematic studies 9
Framing the Task Collaborative Multiple methods Distributed data management Nested model scales Decadal Undertaking Evergreen Data management Approach Emphasis of this talk is on a review of existing modelling initiatives
Parsing the Geology Map of geology of canada Area: 9 million km 2 Marine 5.3 million km 2 Geological terrains complex geology diverse data sparse data Wheeler et al., 1996
Parsing the Geology Area: 9 million km2 Geological terrains o metamorphic o volcanic o orogenic belts o sed. basins o glacial sed. complex geology diverse data sparse data Map of geology of canada Wheeler et al., 1996
Parsing the Geology P 4 1 2 A 3 1. Cordillera 2. WCSB 3. S-Ontario St Lawrence 4. Shield Wheeler et al., 1996
Orogenic : Cordillera Lowland Coastal Intermontane valley fill 1,400,000 km 2 Bedrock dominated mountain ranges Surficial dominated valleys Faulted and folded sedimentary volcanic Sharpe et al., 2014; Benoit et al., 2014; Paradis et al., 2009; de Kemp et al 2015,
Prairie Provinces 1,800,000 km 2 (494,000) Legacy WCSB model Alberta Framework model Williston basin model SW Manitoba model Surficial 2 layer model Local AEM derived model(s) (661,848) Local borehole derived models ~1,200,000 km 2 Sharpe et al., 2014; Benoit et al., 2014; Paradis et al., 2009; de Kemp et al 2015,
Southern Ontario 72,000 km 2 Sharpe et al., 2014; Bajc et al., 2014; Itasca and AECOM, 2011
Southern Ontario 6 4 2 1 3 ORM Russell unpublished; Logan et al., 2006;
Southern Ontario Russell unpublished; Logan et al., 2006;
St Lawrence Surficial PACES:47,000 km 2 GSC: 7000 km 2 50,000 km 2 Sharpe et al., 2014; Ross et al., 2005; Hudon-Gagnon et al., 2015
St Lawrence Surficial Models 9 Models Two layer to 11 layer Predominantly surficial 100 to 250 m grid Based on waterwell records ArcGIS, gocad, GMS 50,000 km 2 Sharpe et al., 2014; Ross et al., 2005; Hudon-Gagnon et al., 2015
PreCambrian Sharpe et al., 2014; De Kemp, 2006; 2,100,000 km 2 (southern) Surficial Clay basins remainder Supra crustal Greenstone Crystalline
PreCambrian (Surficial) ~30000 km 2 Clay Basins 300,000 km 2 Timmins area 4000 km 2 5 layers 10,000 km 2 5 layers 100 m grid Knight and Kerr, 2004; Cloutier et al., 2015; Paulen et al., 2006
PreCambrian Complex Geology Multiple Domains Sedimentary Basins Green Stone Belts Deformed Sediments Plutons Card et al., 2010; Schetselaar et al. 2010.
Deep Crust and MOHO Seismic Tomopgraphy Regional Gravity Regional Magnetics
Off-Shore Canada Internal waters: 2,500,000 km 2 Territorial Sea: 200,000 km 2 Exclusive Economic Zone: 2,900,000 km 2 5,600,00 km 2 Scotian Shelf 50,000 km 2 Public and industry seismic Geophysical interpretations vs geological
Practicality Excellent Glacial Sedimentary Basins Shallow, low quality, abundant data, strong connection to surface geology Strong Sedimentary Basins In progress, good data coverage, good knowledge Shield Areas Extensively buried, complex geology, sparse data, knowledge driven Orogenic Belts complex geology, sparse data, knowledge driven
Conclusion Requires workflow that addresses Scale in hierarchal fashion Parses geological complexity Incremental implementation Data complexity and diversity Data driven vs expert knowledge driven Provincial Federal collaboration Open geoscience data access Evergreen data storage updating