PRESENTING QUEBEC’S GEOMING DATABASE: A CASE STUDY IN THE UNGAVA OROGEN

Quebec’s Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles (MERN) has implemented in the last decade a complete spatial reference geomining information system (SIGEOM) freely accessible on the web. It includes, among other things, a geological interactive map, geophysical data, web publications, printable reports, and stratigraphic and structural lexicons. In this poster, we present a case study in the Ungava Orogen area illustrating how the SIGEOM is an essential tool to anyone working in mineral exploration in Quebec.

The Ungava Orogen has significant potential in many critical minerals, such as nickel, copper, PGE and cobalt, in addition to gold. Historically, mineral exploration was focussed on the Orogen’s Southern Domain, which contains two operating nickel mines. Therefore, the Northern Domain is a lesser-known area, which is currently being mapped by the MERN, adding more data to the SIGEOM.

The interactive map allows the user to rapidly visualize and query all available data in an area. It displays geological and geophysical surveys at various scales, known mineral deposits, geochemical analysis, structural measurements, etc. An overview of the Northern Domain shows Au-Cu mineralization associated with regional structures and mafic volcanic rocks in addition to Cr-Ni-V mineralization associated with various mafic to ultramafic rocks. Such areas are defined as prospective. They are linked to online Geological Bulletins that present the main geological features of recently mapped areas. Two bulletins were published for the Northern Domain in the last years. They contain information about stratigraphy, lithogeohemistry, structural geology, metamorphism and economic geology. From these bulletins, it is possible to access more detailed description of stratigraphic units or structural domains via the stratigraphic or structural lexicon.

Overall, the SIGEOM integrates a complete set of geomining data and information that is constantly evolving. In addition to highlighting the economic potential of the Quebec’s basement, it provides critical geological data to the mineral industry and academic institutions, even in the most remote areas of Quebec, and thus can serve as a guide for exploration and research programs.