Introduction

In 1995, Alberta produced about 48.0% ($20.8 billion) of total Canadian mineral production - almost entirely oil, natural gas and coal. What of the non-fuel mineral potential? Canada-Alberta Agreement on Mineral Development (MDA) studies provide or enhance the geological framework, technology development, and economic aspects necessary to encourage exploration for base/precious metals, diamonds, industrial minerals and other non-fuel mineral commodities. Because they underlie an efficient and dynamic exploration community, geoscience studies expended about 65% of federal/provincial MDA funds available. This volume reports on federal MDA-supported Geoscience conducted mainly by Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) personnel. Regional studies of the exposed Canadian Shield of northeastern Alberta (~58% of MDA geoscience funding) include bedrock/Quaternary geological mapping at 1:50000 scale, gamma ray spectrometry-magnetics-VLF geophysics, and geochemistry of lake sediments/waters. Many new data from these studies are available digitally. The potential of Athabasca Basin in Alberta for uranium-polymetallic mineralization is evaluated. A digitally based integration project contributes to assessment of the undiscovered mineral potential of northeastern Alberta. Diamond-related studies (~30% of MDA geoscience funds) include examination of minettes/kimberlites, regional indicator mineral/geochemical till/soil studies in southern Alberta, and a Cypress Hills aeromagnetic survey. Other studies reported on herein involve gold, including Fort McKay area microdisseminated Au-Ag-Cu minerals; gold/platinum group elements in Tertiary/Holocene gravels of central Alberta; and gold occurrences in lithified Cretaceous and Tertiary gravels/conglomerates of southwestern Alberta. Good potential exists for many commodities.