Glacial geomorphology and till geochemistry of central Melville Peninsula, Nunavut

In 2009, the Geological Survey of Canada and the Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office commenced Quaternary fieldwork on northern Melville Peninsula as part of the Geo-Mapping for Energy & Minerals (GEM) Multiple-metals - Melville Peninsula Geoscience Project. An important component of this project augments an already substantial amount of Quaternary data and knowledge for Melville Peninsula. This new research, focuses on: i) providing a better understanding of the glacial history in the region, and ii) conducting a till geochemistry and heavy mineral sampling survey to assist mineral exploration in regions underlain by prospective bedrock but mantled by deposits of varying thicknesses. The geochemistry and mineralogy of both heavy mineral concentrates from till and silt-sized till matrix were analyzed to obtain results regarding base metals, gold and diamond potential. Quaternary studies were focused on the northern half of Melville Peninsula in 2009.