Integrating Open Source Data via Time and Space in the Yukon Tanana Terrane: A Frank Arnott Submission

Pls join us for a graduate student seminar this Friday September 29 at 3:30 pm in rm 155 Geology presented by Ty Magee, MSc candidate:

Integrating Open Source Data via Time and Space in the Yukon Tanana Terrane: A Frank Arnott Submission

Ty Magee*, Todd LeBlanc, Matthew Nadeau, Colton Vessey

The Yukon-Tanana terrane is characterized by a mature landscape with extensive development

of residual soil, poor outcrop exposure, discontinuous permafrost, and locally thick vegetation

cover. With a complex geodynamic evolution, the Yukon-Tanana terrane is host to various types

of mineralization, including porphyry, VMS, epithermal, SEDEX and MVT. Due to the nature of

the Yukon-Tanana terrane landscape, new approaches for analysing the available geological,

geochemical, and geophysical data in the region are required to facilitate exploration. The

principal aim for this project was to derive new methods involving the use of structured

geological databases and associated data visualization of regional geologic trends linked to

igneous activity and porphyry mineralization, in combination with the integration of multidisciplinary

techniques. An additional objective was to maximize the value of pre-existing opensource

data and to prioritise opportunities for mineral exploration. The techniques used in this

project include: 1) a dynamic plate reconstruction model of the Cordillera: 2) construction of a

new, simplified lithological map of the Yukon-Tanana terrane in relation to known metallogenic

events; 3) processing regional and grid-spaced magnetics and radiometric data to display

tectonic extensions from outside the project area; and 4) and generation of stream sediment

geochemistry interpolation maps. Combining these techniques, multiple regional targets/trends

have been delineated, showing promising attributes that have potential for further exploration

in the search of new resources.

This work was submitted to the Frank Arnott Award, which is a collaborative competition,

focusing on innovation, data integration, and visualization with a strong emphasis on

incorporating multiple disciplines such as geophysics, geochemistry, geology and data mining.

Student groups and industry professionals from around the globe entered this competition, and

our team from the University of Saskatchewan are one of two finalists for this prestigious

award in the Apprentice category. The authors will present their submission to a panel of

judges and an audience at the Exploration ’17 conference in Toronto on Oct. 24th.