Manitoba Geological Survey: Sedimentary Geoscience Projects Michelle P.B. Nicolas, P.Geo. A/Chief Geologist, Sedimentary Geoscience May 1, 2014

Sedimentary Geoscience Section Michelle Nicolas Phanerozoic stratigraphy and petroleum geology James Bamburak Industrial and specialty minerals Michelle Trommelen Quaternary geology

Stratigraphic and Petroleum projects Michelle P.B. Nicolas, P. Geo. A/Chief Geologist, Sedimentary Geoscience Petroleum and Phanerozoic Geologist

Hudson Bay Lowland Project Project location: Hudson Bay Lowland, northeastern Manitoba Staff involved: Michelle Nicolas, Michelle Trommelen, Greg Keller Partners: GSC (Lavoie et al.), OGS (Armstrong), Nunavut Gov. (Zhang), U of Manitoba (Chow, Elias), Manitoba Museum (Young) Rationale: Understand the hydrocarbon potential and basin architecture and evolution of the Hudson Bay Basin. Build upon GEM Energy (2008-2013). GEM 2: Hudson Bay and Ungava Project (2013-2020): Focus on understanding HBL stratigraphy, correlations, age of units, lithological variations and sedimentology

Hudson Bay Lowland Project Project location: Hudson Bay Lowland, northeastern Manitoba Staff involved: Michelle Nicolas, Michelle Trommelen, Greg Keller Objectives (2014-15): Churchill River field work; Core sampling for: Stable isotope (C-O); Biostratigraphy; Geochemistry (organic, inorganic); Basin exhumation history (AFT). Reconcile and compile stratigraphic information; Evaluate data available for construction of 3-D model. Products (2014) Report of Activities paper; Poster at the Manitoba Mining and Mineral Convention.

Shallow Cretaceous Shale Gas Project Project location: southwestern Manitoba, subsurface to outcrop Staff involved: Michelle Nicolas, James Bamburak Partners: University of Calgary (P. Pedersen; S. Hosseininejad; R. Spencer), GSC Special Funding: Manitoba Hydro (Gas Division), Mitacs, Questerre Energy Corp. Rationale: Improve our basic geological knowledge of the shallow gas-bearing Cretaceous formations out SW Manitoba. Assess the potential for shallow shale gas in these units as a future resource for Manitoba. Through Mitacs, this project is benefitting from funding, as well as giving the student (Somayeh) the opportunity to participate in the Mitacs Accelerate Internship program. Somayeh will do a total of 7 weeks of internship with the MGS in the next year. Total funding from Hydro is $150k, where $78k is for the MGS and $72k is for the U of Calgary.

Shallow Cretaceous Shale Gas Project Project location: southwestern Manitoba, subsurface to outcrop Staff involved: Michelle Nicolas, James Bamburak Objectives (2014-15): Acquire an compile geochemistry and mineralogy data of shale samples (including oil shale sampling). Investigate new outcrops of potential shale gas reservoirs. Begin subsurface correlations and building sequence stratigraphic model. Geochemical and mineralogical fingerprinting of mudrocks (U of Calgary). Oil Shale: Cretaceous oil shale, capable of yielding oil upon heating, was also noted along the Manitoba Escarpment over 100 years ago. Scoriaceous clinker present in Swan River valley gravel pits; and Valley River burnt shale outcrops, northwest of Dauphin. Burning shale bank has been observed, south of Minitonas, along the west side of the East Favel River. Shale sampled along the Manitoba Escarpment by Kovac (1984): Average TOC of shale = 6%. Average petroleum potential = 30 kg/tonne = 30.2 litres/tonne. Favel Formation slightly richer than Boyne Member of the Carlile Formation. Richness increases slightly northwestward along the Escarpment. However, conclusions based on: Limited number of samples Combining several formations Including float samples And, including relatively thin carbonate units (having low TOC and low petroleum potential). Products (2014) Report of Activities paper; Poster at the Manitoba Mining and Mineral Convention.

Favel Formation Oil Shale – Sclater River, 2004 Oil Shale Project Staff involved: Michelle Nicolas, James Bamburak Partners: GSC, University of Calgary (P. Pedersen), FG & Partners (Calgary), Israel Energy Initiatives Ltd (Jerusalem), more. Total Organic Carbon (TOC %)/ Petroleum Potential (kg/t) Rationale: Canada-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation of the Federal Government of Canada: international partnership between the GSC and Israel Energy Initiatives Ltd. to study possible in-situ extraction of hydrocarbons from oil shale. Manitoba has many outcrop sampling sites to provide samples for study. Porcupine Hills 7.19/35.18 – 3 samples Duck Mountain 6.81/30.93 – 11 samples Cretaceous oil shale, capable of yielding oil upon heating, was also noted along the Manitoba Escarpment over 100 years ago. Scoriaceous clinker present in Swan River valley gravel pits; and Valley River burnt shale outcrops, northwest of Dauphin. Burning shale bank has been observed, south of Minitonas, along the west side of the East Favel River. Shale sampled along the Manitoba Escarpment by Kovac (1984): Average TOC of shale = 6%. Average petroleum potential = 30 kg/tonne = 30.2 litres/tonne. Favel Formation slightly richer than Boyne Member of the Carlile Formation. Richness increases slightly northwestward along the Escarpment. However, conclusions based on: Limited number of samples Combining several formations Including float samples And, including relatively thin carbonate units (having low TOC and low petroleum potential). Riding Mountain 5.92/30.23 – 5 samples Pembina Mountain 5.18/16.65 – 3 samples Objectives (2014) : Sampling along Manitoba escarpment to collect oil shale samples, and submit for chemical and kinetic analyses. Kovac (1984)

Paleozoic investigations: Duperow Formation Project Project location: southwestern Manitoba (subsurface) Staff involved: Michelle Nicolas Partners: University of Manitoba (N. Chow, K. Bates, L. Eggie) Special Funding: Arc Resources Rationale: Investigate deep Paleozoic formations for new deep oil prospects, as conventional and unconventional targets. Gain a better stratigraphic, sedimentological and economic understanding of this formation in SW Manitoba. Equivalent units in Saskatchewan and North Dakota are oil producers. This is equivalent to the proliferous Leduc reef plays in Alberta. This project will address: (1) a need by the petroleum industry for new potential oil-bearing horizons located at moderate depths; (2) a need identified during TGI 2 to provide a stratigraphic framework in Manitoba and correlations to Saskatchewan and North Dakota, where oil production exists, and (3) provide information to the regulators to assist in their fiscal regime structure.

Paleozoic investigations: Duperow Formation Project Project location: southwestern Manitoba (subsurface) Staff involved: Michelle Nicolas Partners: University of Manitoba (N. Chow, K. Bates, L. Eggie) Objectives (2014-15): Report of Activities and M. Sc. thesis writing (Bates, U of M); Presentation at international conference (Chow, U of M) Equivalent units in Saskatchewan and North Dakota are oil producers. This is equivalent to the proliferous Leduc reef plays in Alberta. This project will address: (1) a need by the petroleum industry for new potential oil-bearing horizons located at moderate depths; (2) a need identified during TGI 2 to provide a stratigraphic framework in Manitoba and correlations to Saskatchewan and North Dakota, where oil production exists, and (3) provide information to the regulators to assist in their fiscal regime structure. Products (2014) Report of Activities paper.

Geological Highway Map of Manitoba Project location: all of Manitoba Staff involved: Michelle Nicolas, Paul Lenton, Len Chackowsky, James Bamburak, Sharon Lee, Paul Kremer, Michelle Trommelen, Mark Pacey Rationale: Update the geology map and geological highway map of Manitoba to a scale of 1:1M. Objectives (2014-15): Geological map base at 1:1M and 1:250k scales completed. Compile photographic database and take inventory of “points of interest”. Work on text and graphics.

Industrial & Specialty minerals projects James D. Bamburak, P. Geo. Industrial Minerals Geologist

Industrial/Specialty Minerals Investigations - Bentonite Project location: Southwestern Manitoba – Manitoba escarpment (outcrops) Staff involved: James Bamburak, Michelle Nicolas Partners: Bird River Resources Inc. Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre Rationale: Attract industrial development of mineral resources to provide local employment; Fundamental geological problems. Expand inventory of potential sources of industrial/specialty minerals in Manitoba. Linked to Cretaceous Shale Gas Project. Objectives (2014-15): Outcrop and quarry investigations; Collect and submit two bentonite samples for geochronology (U-Pb zircon). Non-swelling calcium bentonite quarry lease is held by Bird River Resources Inc., west of Miami. Products for 2014: Report of Activities contribution; Geoscientific report on bentonite; Technical talk and/or poster (MB Mines and Minerals Convention). Manitoba escarpment

Industrial/Specialty Minerals Investigations – REE Project location: Outcrops along the Manitoba escarpment, southwestern Manitoba Staff involved: James Bamburak, Michelle Nicolas, Tania Martens, Eric Yang 30 m Rationale: Evaluate potential areas for future REE discovery. Vermilion River o/c 02-22-23-20W1 Objectives (2014-15): Channel sampling of entire Gammon Ferruginous Member in the Vermilion River area, 2014. The highest REE values, in inorganic geochemical analyses, were found at the Spencer’s Ditch locality near the Manitoba escarpment edge; and accordingly, this location was selected for additional investigation during 2013. As a result of this work at SRC, it was revealed that the sample contains 0.225% light rare elements (LREE) and 0.124% heavy rare earth elements (HREE). The latter makes up 35.5% of the total rare earth elements (TREE). Further, it was shown that the sample has 3178 ppm TREE; and the HREE content is >1000 ppm, which accounts for >30% of TREE. These values are higher than those contained in some currently active rare earth exploration areas. Mineralogical study of the sample indicated that apatite, which accounts for ~35% of the sample in volume in the -300/+100 size fraction may be the mineral hosting most of the REE. The HREE may be contained in the accompanying zircon grains that make up ~0.02% of the mineral mass. 2 m of Gammon Ferrruginous sampled, near base of section, 2013 Products for 2014: Report of Activities contribution; Technical talk and/or poster (MB Mines and Minerals Convention).

Industrial/Specialty Minerals Investigations – Lake Winnipegosis Project location: Southwestern Manitoba – Lake Winnipegosis Staff involved: James Bamburak Partners: Klyne Exploration White Cap Exploration Rationale: Expand inventory of potential sources of industrial/specialty minerals in Manitoba Attract industrial development of mineral resources to provide local employment; Fundamental geological problems. Support for this project is tied into funding to be received under the Cretaceous Shale Gas Project. Interaction with Klyne Exploration and White Cap Exploration concerns the evaluation of MVT potential in Silurian Interlake Group dolomite, and of other commodities, in the vicinity of Lake Winnipegosis. Objectives (2014-15): Possible trips to Pemmican Island with Klyne Exploration and McAulay Harbour with White Cap Exploration. Lake Winnipegosis Products for 2014: Geoscientific report on MVT and hydrothermal mineralization; Technical talk and/or poster (MB Mines and Minerals Convention).

Geolocalities/Roadside Geology Project location: Southern Manitoba Staff involved: James Bamburak, Mark Pacey Partners: Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre Manitoba Petroleum Branch Brandon University APEGM Heritage Committee Rationale: Preserve legacy of geological knowledge of senior staff for educational purposes. Dissemination of geoscientific and mining-related information to the general public is necessary for them to appreciate the importance of mineral resource extraction in the maintenance of Manitoba’s standard of living. Southwestern Manitoba 2011 Petroleum/Carberry/Roseisle 2012 Southeastern Manitoba 2013 Southern Interlake 2014

Geolocalities/Roadside Geology (cont’d) Project location: Southern Manitoba Staff involved: James Bamburak, Mark Pacey Lake St. Martin Objectives (2014-15): Video capturing of geolocalities over 3-4 days in the southern Interlake. Literature research. Input select Phanerozoic outcrop descriptions into Manitoba Government Provincial Data Network. Steeprock/Faulkner Hecla Seymourville The Narrows Stonewall/Stony Mountain Seymourville – Precambrian and Ordovician Winnipeg Formation Hecla – Ordovician Winnipeg and Red River formations Lake St. Martin – Silurian Interlake Group and Jurassic Amaranth Formation with uplifted Precambrian Steeprock/Faulkner – Devonian Elm Point Formation and Graymont lime plant The Narrows – Devonian Ashern, Elm Point and Winnipegosis formations Stonewall/Stony Mountain – Ordovician Stony Mountain and Stonewall formations and Stonewall Museum Winnipeg Products for 2014: Southeastern Roadside Geology added into Manitoba Virtual GeoTours on YouTube™. Southern Interlake 2014

Quaternary projects Michelle S. Trommelen, P. Geo. Quaternary Geologist

Quaternary - Gillam Project location: Gillam area Staff involved: Michelle Trommelen Partners: Manitoba Hydro University of Waterloo Objectives (2014-2016): Surficial geology mapping; Aggregate potential mapping; Till composition and drift exploration (MSc project); Glacial history (PhD or post-doc project). Rationale: Mapped in 1980’s (GSC reconnaissance-scale); 2013 preliminary field survey led to a number of surprises; Manitoba Hydro is currently beginning construction at Keeyask and Conawapa.

Quaternary - Gillam Methods: 1:50k scale regional mapping; Helicopter, boat, truck; Till sampling for characterization (surface and in section); Incorporation of drill core data; Radiocarbon dating of fossil material. Products for 2014: Report of Activities contributions; Technical talk and poster (MB Mines and Minerals Convention). Timeframe: Keeyask, Stevens Lake 2014 (detailed survey); Conawapa, Nelson River 2015 (regional survey).

Quaternary – Churchill River Project location: Churchill River Churchill Staff involved: Michelle Trommelen Partners: MGS Paleozoic North Knife River Objectives (2014-15): Till sampling; Stratigraphy; Regional surficial geology mapping. Churchill River Rationale: Unstudied area. Methods: Helicopter reconnaissance (7 days); Till sampling for characterization (surface and in section).

Quaternary – Compilation Upcoming Release: New surficial geology web pages Contains: Surficial geology map index; Links to current projects; Ongoing carbonate dispersal till analyses and interpretation; Surficial materials compilation index; Digital compilation of surficial point and line features: ice-flow indicators, field sites, outcrops, streamlined landforms, eskers, and more...