Alberta Geological Survey Geology Podcasts

Alberta contains many incredibly varied geological wonders and in July 2009, we unveiled a prototype interpretive geological sign at Big Hill Springs Provincial Park.

Animation and 3-D visualization assist our geologists with sand and gravel mapping, and determining the aggregate resource potential of the area from Wetaskiwin to Lacombe.

Almost one year ago, Alberta Geological Survey initiated a pilot for it regional Saline Aquifer Mapping project. This first study area is in the Alberta Industrial Heartland, centred near Edmonton.

We feature the career of Dr. Robert Farvolden.

This is part 2 of 3 in a continuing series of summaries of igneous activity in Alberta. This article reviews metal potential of the Early Cretaceous (ca. 100 Ma) intrusive and volcanic rocks in southwestern Alberta.

In this edition of Rock chips, we begin regular feature on geologists and engineers who have made or are continuing to make important contributions to our understanding of geology and geological engineering through their careers in Alberta. In this edition, we examine the career of Dr. Jozsef Toth.

In response to increasing rates of urbanization and industrialization in the ECC and the foreseeable pressures that this will have on existing groundwater supplies, Alberta Geological Survey (AGS), in partnership with AENV, has initiated a multiyear project to characterize nonsaline aquifer complexes in the ECC.

In 2006, Alberta Geological Survey (AGS) initiated a program to assess the regional uranium potential of southern Alberta. This program was started after more than 1 million hectares were staked by junior exploration companies to renew exploration efforts in this area after a 20-year-long hiatus, when uranium prices were depressed and the prospect of developing nuclear energy was very unpopular.

As part of the ongoing revision of the provincial metallogenic inventory and development of an up-to-date systematics of the potential metallic deposits in Alberta, AGS conducted a reconnaissance field study and outcrop sampling of igneous and sedimentary hostrocks in southern and southwestern Alberta in summer 2008. This is part one of the study findings.

Declining reserves and the associated increasing cost of oil and gas have prompted industry to look at alternative sources of energy. Alberta contains a great amount of coal resources at shallow depths that facilitate economical power generation; however, there are huge coal resources at depth that are currently not economic to mine. This represents a large untapped potential energy source for the province.

By measuring the spring's changes in flow volume over time and the chemical constituents in the water, we can tell a great deal about groundwater flow and the rocks or soil hosting the water. Knowing the locations of the springs throughout Alberta provides the first step in understanding groundwater - all without drilling a well.

The goal of the Alberta Geological Survey's Saline Aquifer Mapping project, or SAM for short, will be to provide public-domain, digital maps of the major saline aquifers from the crystalline basement to the lowermost aquifer of the Colorado Group.

August 29, 2008 marked the grand re-opening of the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre in the Crowsnest Pass in southwestern Alberta. After a nine-month closure and a $1.5 million renovation, visitors can relive the Frank Slide story in a more personal, interactive and creative setting, involving first-hand accounts by the people who lived through the destruction.

Alberta Geological Survey and Alberta Environment are collaborating to map and understand the province's groundwater resources. A team of geologists and technologists will map the extent of the major aquifers; characterize the physical properties of the aquifers; quantify the chemical properties of the water within these aquifers; assess current groundwater use associated with these aquifers; and predict the long-term effects on groundwater and surface-water resources when using groundwater from these aquifers. The team plans to complete this work within the next 15 years.

As project staff members complete new geological studies, they frequently incorporate historical data into their work, including digitizing existing maps. Whenever possible, we publish these digital data for others to use. We recently published the two GIS datasets described in this podcast.