its questions consent of map and answer them you can use outside resources but cite them
1 ERS401H5: Earth Resources Lab #1: Exploring the relationship between Earth Resources and Geology Wednesday September 30, 2020 Worth: Total: /52 marks (8% of your final grade) Due Date: Wednesday October 7th, 2020 (start of lab, 1pm) Introduction Earth resources are an important part of Canada’s economy, with gold being the most valuable commodity (valued at $9.6 billion). The top five commodities in Canada include gold, coal, potash (Canada is the world’s leading producer), iron ore, and copper (Figure 1). In 2018, non-metals were valued at $14.4 billion, metals at $26.2 billion, and coal at $6.4 billion (NRCAN, 2019). The production of Earth resources is an important contributor to Canada’s GDP (gross domestic product). In 2018, the minerals sector directly generated 3.5% ($72.4 billion) of Canada’s GDP. The mining industry also generates thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, commonly in remote northern communities. In 2018, the minerals sector employed (directly and indirectly) ~630, 000 people (NRCAN, 2019). Exploration for and production of Earth resources is essential to support the livelihoods of many Canadians; however, the production of Earth resources and type of Earth resources available in a particular area depends on where the resource was formed or deposited…the geology!! Figure 1: The top minerals commodities by value in Canada in 2018 (NRCAN, 2019). 2 Learning objectives In this learning activity, you will develop skills to: • Display and analyse geospatial data (digital form) • Evaluate the relationship between mining sites, type of commodity, and the geology • Apply inquiry skills to conduct research on geological formations Task: Part 1- Analysing resource data and the geology of Canada 1. Navigate to: https://atlas.gc.ca/mins/en/index.html 2. The link should bring you to an interactive map of Minerals and Mining in Canada (Figure 2). Figure 2. Screen capture of the Minerals and Mining interactive map. 3. In the ‘Feature details’ menu, scroll down to ‘Metallurgical Works’ and deselect all items (uncheck the boxes). This should remove the features from the map. 4. Scroll to the bottom of the ‘Feature details’ menu and make sure that ‘Geology- major rock categories’ is activated (if not, click on the box). 5. Analyse the map and answer the following questions. You may need to conduct research to help you answer the questions. References (in-text and reference list) must follow APA reference formatting. https://atlas.gc.ca/mins/en/index.html 3 Questions: (2 marks each; 14 marks total) A) Why are most of the oil and gas operations located in Alberta and southern Saskatchewan? B) Why do we find oil and gas resources in southern Ontario and offshore in the Atlantic Ocean (east coast of Canada)? C) Click on the ‘Nonmetal mines’ in southern Saskatchewan. What is being extracted here? Why is it located here? D) Click on the ‘Nonmetal mines’ in Alberta and Nova Scotia. What is being extracted here? Why? Why are these types of mines not located elsewhere in Canada? E) Click on the ‘Nonmetal mines’ in the Northwest Territories. What is being extracted here? Why? Why is this not found in the southern parts of Canada? F) Click on the ‘Metal mines’ in northern Ontario. What is being mined here? Why? Why is this not found in southern Ontario? G) Click on the ‘Nonmetal mines’ in southern Ontario. What is being extracted? Which rock types are targeted? Why is this not mined in northern Ontario? 4 Task: Part 2- Analysing resource data and the geology of Alberta We will analyse the relationship between resource type and geology in more detail by analysing a bedrock geology map of Alberta. To complete this part of the assignment, follow the steps below: 1. Navigate to the Alberta Interactive Minerals Map (Alberta Energy Regulator/ Alberta Geological Survey): Link here 2. When the map has loaded, look at the ‘Layer List’ pop-up window. In the top right-hand corner of this window, click on the checkmark symbol and select ‘Turn all layers off’. The map should now be empty. 3. Return to the Layers List menu. Click on the box beside ‘Silica Sand’ to activate this layer. Yellow squares should appear on your map. 4. In the Layers List, scroll down the list and activate the ‘Surficial Sand and Gravel’ item. 5. Your map should now show the location of Silica Sand resource sites overlying the surficial sand and gravel map. You may need to zoom in to the map to view the surficial sand and gravel dataset. 6. Analyse the location of silica sand occurrences on the map, together with the location of sand and gravel deposits at surface (surficial sand and gravel map), and answer the following questions: a. What is the spatial relationship between silica sand occurrences and surficial sand and gravel deposits? (1 mark) b. In the southern map area (near Medicine Hat), what is the source of the silica sand, in which depositional environment was it deposited, and what is the age of the source? Click on the silica sand data points to find out more information (e.g. ‘Nature of the deposit’ and ‘Geological age’). (3 marks) https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=cfb4ed4a8d7d43a9a5ff766fb8d0aee5 https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=cfb4ed4a8d7d43a9a5ff766fb8d0aee5 5 c. In the central part of the map area (near Red Deer), what is the source of the silica sand, in which depositional environment was it deposited, and what is the age of the source? (3 marks) d. In the northeastern part of the map area (near Fort McMurray), what is the source of the silica sand, in which depositional environment was it deposited, and what is the age of the source? Describe all sources. (3 marks) e. In the northwestern part of the map area (near Peace), what is the source of the silica sand, in which depositional environment was it deposited, and what is the age of the source? (3 marks) 7. In the Layers List, scroll down the list and activate the ‘Bedrock Geology (Pop-Up Attributes)’ item and ‘Bedrock Geology’ item (at the bottom of the list). 8. In the Layers List, deactivate the ‘Surficial sand and gravel’ and ‘Silica Sand’ layers. Activate the ‘Industrial Mineral Occurrence’ layer. 9. Beside the ‘Industrial Mineral Occurrence’ layer name in the Layer List, click on the grey arrow (triangle) to expand the legend. 10. Analyse the location of industrial mineral occurrences on the map, together with the bedrock geology, and answer the following questions: a. Phosphate: What is the spatial relationship between phosphate occurrences in the deformed zone of the Rocky Mountains (southwestern map area) and bedrock geology? Discuss the geological formations, rock types, environment of deposition, and age of deposits. (5 marks) • Tips: Click on the phosphate data points to open a pop-up window with more information. Name and describe the geological formations listed under ‘Strat. Unit’ and click on the bedrock geology polygons to determine the lithology, environment of deposition, and age. b. Limestone: What is the spatial relationship between limestone occurrences in the southwestern and northeastern parts of the map area and bedrock geology? Discuss the geological formations, rock types, environment of deposition, and age of deposits. (5 marks) 6 c. Granite: What is the spatial relationship between granite occurrences in the northeastern parts of the map area and bedrock geology? Discuss the geological formations, rock types, environment of deposition, and age of deposits. (5 marks) 11. In the Layers List, deactivate the ‘Industrial Mineral Occurrence’. Activate the ‘Metallic Mineral Occurrence’ layer. 12. Analyse the location of metallic mineral occurrences on the map, together with the bedrock geology, and answer the following questions: a. Uranium: Why are uranium occurrences mostly restricted to the northeastern part of the map area? (2 marks) b. Placer gold: Why do placer gold occurrences form a strong linear pattern around the Edmonton area? (2 marks) c. Based on the placer gold occurrences around the Edmonton area, interpret the likely location of the ‘motherlode’ (i.e. the source of the gold). Explain your reasoning. (3 marks) References: (3 marks) • Please provide in-text citations and a reference list. • Sources can be from peer-reviewed journals or grey literature such as government reports. • References (in-text and reference list) must follow APA reference formatting.