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Seismic Exploration For Cretaceous Kaolin Deposits In Glaciated Terrains: Example From Nova Scotia, Canada
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, 10th EEGS Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems, Mar 1997, cp-204-00015
Abstract
The Geological Survey of Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources have<br>recently completed a joint project which has led to a major discovery of commercially viable<br>deposits of kaolin in the Shubenacadie and Musquodoboit Valleys in central Nova Scotia. The aim<br>of the project was to delineate the three-dimensional distribution of Cretaceous and Quatemary<br>unconsolidated sediments in the study area using shallow seismic reflection surveys, drilling, and<br>borehole geophysical logging. During the three year project a total of 65 shallow seismic test sites<br>and 10 line-km of CDP (12-fold) shallow seismic reflection profiles were acquired, and over 20 new<br>boreholes were drilled within the survey area. Initial seismic test results suggested that there were<br>areas in the Shubenacadie basin where bedrock was at depths greater than 100 m below surface.<br>This was subsequently confirmed by NSDNR drilling. The test sites were used to determine the<br>optimum locations for followup seismic profiling in the Shubenacadie valley (1994) and the<br>Musquodoboit valley (1995). The seismic sections and drilling results have clearly delineated<br>Cretaceous sediments in basins buried beneath glacial cover and have substantially increased the<br>known area1 extent of buried Cretaceous basins (from ~1 km2 to >57 km* in the Shubenacadie and<br>Musquodoboit valleys alone). Analyses of core samples have shown that these basins may harbour<br>economic quantities of kaolin suitable for use in the paper industry. Presentation of preliminary<br>results of the work in November 1995 resulted in the immediate staking of over 80,000 acres (2,000<br>claims) in the Shubenacadie, Musquodoboit and Antigonish valleys.