A branch within Lands and Minerals Sector (LMS) of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) with 390 scientists and technical staff located across 6 regional facilities.
The Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) provides public geoscience knowledge to inform the stewardship of Canada's onshore and offshore lands, to sustain responsible resource development for future generations and to keep Canada safe from hazards and risks.
Areas of expertise
- Geological mapping
- Metallogeny
- Seismology
- Geochemistry
- Geochronology
- Geophysics
- Environmental geoscience
- Climate change geoscience
- Groundwater
Specialized services
- Geoscience research (e.g., ore systems, bedrock mapping)
Unique equipment
Science Research Laboratory Network to support GSC science programs e.g., Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP), ICP-MS, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), geological collections
Key Research Priorities
Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI) Active
The Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI) is a collaborative federal geoscience program that provides industry with the next generation of geoscience knowledge and innovative techniques, which will result in more effective targeting of buried mineral deposits.
Key Topic(s)
Ore genesis, buried mineral deposits
Partners & Collaborators
Academia, provincial/territorial geological surveys, industry associations (e.g., PDAC, CMIC, CIM)
Benefits
- Resolving geological processes that liberate ore metals from their source rocks, transport through the mantle to form ore deposits
- Reducing industry exploration risk through targeted exploration
- Training of highly qualified personnel (graduate students)
Long Term:
- New models, knowledge and methodologies enhance the exploration industry’s ability to detect buried ore deposits
Ultimate Outcome:
- Economic prosperity and job opportunities improve in mineral producing regions of Canada through increased discovery and development of mineral resources
Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM) Program Active
- GSC has been conducting research to address the insufficient geological understanding of vast tracts of Canada’s Northern territory – a landmass roughly equivalent to the combined landmass of Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba.
- In August 2013 the Government of Canada renewed support of $100 million over seven years (2013-2020) for the Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM) program, which advances geological knowledge in the North, accessible to industry, land-use planners, governments and community agencies, to support increased exploration of natural resources and inform decisions on land use that balance conservation and responsible resource development. Phase 2 further develops modern geological maps and data, increasing geological knowledge of Canada’s North by 2020.
- The program collaborates with provinces and territories. It benefits from an Advisory Group of Northerners, with representation from territorial governments, the private sector and Aboriginal socio-economic development organizations. GEM is a multi-faceted program that, through its Geoscience, helps decision makers in Industry and Northern Communities.
- Note: The North is being defined as the landmass North of 60o (the three Territories, Nunavik and Northern Labrador) – GEM activities are also located on the northern parts of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
Key Topic(s)
Geosciences in the North, geoscientific knowledge products (data, maps, publications), for informed decision-making process on land use and resource development
Partners & Collaborators
Academia, provincial/territorial geological surveys, industry associations (e.g. PDAC), northern and Indigenous communities and associations
Benefits
- Value-added geoscience knowledge products
- Knowledge transfer activities that proactively disseminate GEM data and value-added knowledge
- New open data products delivered through web accessible databases and open files
- Collaboration agreements with Provincial and Territorial geological surveys, academia and northern institutions focusing on geoscience research and knowledge transfer and developing approaches to incorporate GEM results in value-added products
- On-going community-level engagement sessions at inception, during and at project closure
Immediate Outcome:
- Industry and Northerners are aware of and have access to new regional geoscience data and knowledge generated by GEM
- Northerners and their institutions have access to tools that facilitate use of new regional geoscience data and knowledge generated by GEM
Intermediate Outcome:
- Northerners, their institutions and exploration industry use modern regional geoscience knowledge to inform their decision-making
Ultimate Outcome:
- A strong northern economy through stable, long-term investment in responsible resource development.