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.
Nov 17, 2009•8 min
We feature the career of Dr. Robert Farvolden.
Nov 17, 2009•7 min
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.
Nov 17, 2009•6 min
Alberta contains many incredibly varied geological wonders and in July 2009, we unveiled a prototype interpretive geological sign at Big Hill Springs Provincial Park.
Nov 17, 2009•4 min
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.
Sep 29, 2009•11 min
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.
Sep 29, 2009•5 min
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.
Sep 29, 2009•9 min
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.
Sep 29, 2009•7 min
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 host rocks in southern and southwestern Alberta in the summer 2008. This is part one of the study findings.
Jun 22, 2009•8 min
Declining reserves and the associated increasing cost of oil and gas has 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.
Jun 22, 2009•5 min
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 the province provides the first step in understanding groundwater - all without drilling a well.
Jun 22, 2009•5 min
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.
Mar 17, 2009•5 min
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...
Mar 17, 2009•6 min
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.
Mar 17, 2009•5 min
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.
Mar 17, 2009•4 min
Since 2005, Alberta Geological Survey has been responsible for a warning system and studies on the South Peak of Turtle Mountain, the site of the 1903 Frank Slide. Our activities include annual maintenance and repairs of instruments on the mountain and annual review of data trends. We also study how portions of the mountain are moving.
Mar 17, 2009•4 min
Modern attempts to use geothermal energy go back more than a 100 years, but its development has been uneven due to slow technological breakthroughs and historically low oil and gas prices. Recent high energy prices and concerns over global warming have stimulated renewed interest and support for what is potentially a very large and renewable energy resource.
Jan 20, 2009•8 min
Alberta Geological Survey's website has recently had a makeover. This podcast is on some of the changes you will find and also on how to stay up-to-date with what is happening at Alberta Geological Survey.
Dec 08, 2008•5 min
As part of a multi-year initiative, AGS undertook surficial mapping of the McLennan area in the northeast quadrant of the Winagami map area. This study was primarily to map the surfical geology and determine the Quaternary history.
Dec 08, 2008•10 min
Since 2005, the Geological Hazards Section at AGS has used new remote-sensing technologies to detect and map movements associated with ground hazards in Alberta. Once promising technology is Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). This article is some of the results of that testing.
Sep 30, 2008•7 min
Modern attempts to use geothermal energy go back more than a 100 years, but its development has been uneven due to slow technological breakthroughs and historically low oil and gas prices. Recent high energy prices and concerns over global warming have stimulated renewed interest and support for what is potentially a very large and renewable energy resource.
Sep 30, 2008•8 min
The Alberta Geological Survey has received funding from the Alberta energy Innovation Fund to perform organic geochemical and geological evaluations on Cretaceous Colorado Group and the Mississippian Banff Formation shale and mudstone.
Apr 07, 2008•5 min
Alberta Geological Survey is pleased to announce the release of shapefiles of selected Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin maps, produced from the digital files created and archived by AGS during production of the atlas which was published in 1994.
Apr 07, 2008•5 min
Alberta Geological Survey has initiated work on a digital atlas of the first 500 metres of Alberta geology.
Apr 07, 2008•6 min
Dr. Stefan Bachu of the Alberta Geological Survey was one of the scientists who received the prestigious designation of Nobel laureate this fall.
Dec 11, 2007•3 min
The publication Alberta Beneath Our Feet has won the Association of Earth Science Editors Award for Outstanding Publication.
Nov 23, 2007•3 min
This past summer, a group of politicians and government geologists from Russia, came to Alberta to visit the EUB and AGS in order to gain an understanding of the policies and regulations of drillcore collection and storage.
Nov 15, 2007•5 min
The thick Ardley Coal Zone in west-central Alberta is being reviewed for CBM production potential and possibly injecting CO2 into the coals to 'geologically capture CO2.
Oct 23, 2007•9 min
The Discovery Channel's Daily Planet team visited Alberta to film stories on two separate Alberta Geological Survey initiatives: The Turtle Mountain Monitoring Project and the Diamond Potential of Alberta.
Sep 20, 2007•4 min
A new groundwater mapping program has been launched at AGS. In partnership with Alberta Environment, this program will fill the need for modern mapping and groundwater inventory information in Alberta.
Sep 20, 2007•5 min