Chapter 1. Introduction to Canadian Geology
Exercises on Canadian Geology
You can print a copy of this lab using the pdf version here.
Prepared by Joyce M. McBeth & Lyndsay R. Hauber (2018) University of Saskatchewan. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last edited: 2019-12-26
Note: If you are a student, please answer the questions in these exercises based on maps for the province, territory, or region where you are attending university.
Name: _______________
NSID and student number: ____________
Date and lab section time: _____________
TAs’ names: _______________
Please add your name and email address to the sign-in sheet at the beginning of lab this week to ensure your TAs have contact details to email you about important lab news!
Your TAs will check that you have completed the questions at the end of the lab. Please hold on to your lab notes to help you prepare for your lab final exam.
1-E1 LAB EXERCISES – CANADIAN GEOLOGY & MINERAL AND ENERGY RESOURCES
- Before you go through the maps provided in this lab, we are curious what you already know about energy and mineral resources in Canada. It is ok if you don’t know much about it yet – you will probably know more by the end of this lab! List as many Canadian energy and mineral resources as you can think of and try to think of one for each province and territory.
- Here is a list of some of the mineral and energy resources in Canada. Each of these resources can be found on the Atlas of Canada Minerals and Mining Interactive Map, and by searching the web. List 1 or 2 provinces or territories where each resource is found. Challenge: try to find a resource from each province and territory in Canada.
3. Now refer to the Geological Map of Canada alongside the map of the geological provinces of Canada (found in the overview section of this lab). What pattern do you see in the locations of the different resources you identified in question 2 above and the geological provinces of Canada? Give an example of a resource you find in several geological provinces. Give an example of a resource you find mostly in one geological province.
4. What human factors do you think have (or may have) affected energy and mineral resource development patterns across the country?
1-E2 LAB EXERCISES – REGIONAL GEOLOGY & MINERAL AND ENERGY RESOURCES
- Refer to your provincial or territorial mineral resource map. What kinds of energy resources (if any) are in your province or territory? Where (roughly) are they located (e.g., near which city)? What kinds of metal or resource mining (if any) occur in your province or territory? Where are they located (roughly)?
- Looking across your province or territory’s resources map. Do you notice any broad patterns in how the resources are distributed across the map? Are there more of one kind of resource (e.g., metal mines) in one area than another than another?
- Refer to the geological map for your province or territory. Geologic time can be divided into two major parts, the Precambrian (4.6 billion years ago to 541 million years ago) and the Phanerozoic Eon (541 million years to present). Your TA will give you an overview of the ages of rocks (at the Eon scale) throughout your province or territory. Note down the ages of the rocks (Precambrian or Phanerozoic) are in your province or territory. Are there patterns in the colours assigned to the rock units across the map area (e.g., are there lots of green-coloured units in one area, and lots of pink-coloured units in another area)? Is there a relationship between the age of the rock units and the colours assigned to the units?
- Now refer to both your province or territory’s geology map and mineral and resources map. Do you see any broad patterns in the distribution of mineral and energy resources in relation to the patterns in the geology? Describe any patterns you can see.
- Now refer to the maps of Canadian mineral resources and Canadian geology. What are 2 or 3 differences between your province or territory’s energy and mineral resources and the energy and mineral resources in other areas of Canada?
- How has this lab changed your awareness of your province or territory’s energy and mineral resources and/or energy and mineral resources across Canada?