Identification_Information:

    Citation:

      Citation_Information:

        Originator: Alberta Energy Regulator

        Originator: Alberta Geological Survey

        Publication_Date: 202511

        Title: Prospective Areas for Mineral Exploration in Alberta (GIS data, polygon features)

        Edition: v.2

        Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

        Series_Information:

          Series_Name: Digital Data

          Issue_Identification: DIG 2025-0008

        Publication_Information:

          Publication_Place: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

          Publisher: Alberta Geological Survey

        Online_Linkage: https://ags.aer.ca/publications/all-publications/dig-2025-0008

    Description:

      Abstract: This vector data file, in ESRI shapefile format, delineates prospective areas for mineral exploration in Alberta. It serves as an update to the previously published Prospective Areas for Mineral Exploration in Alberta dataset (AGS Digital Data 2019-0025) based on newly available data. Prospective areas were defined as regions with permissive geology for the presence of a mineral deposit and, therefore, favourable for the exploration of that mineral. The product includes prospective areas for minerals and other materials that naturally occur in rocks and sediments, as well as minerals and materials that can be recovered as by-products from industrial processes.

Commodities included are ammolite, bentonite, bromine, building stone, calcium, cobalt, copper, diamonds, dolomite, gold, gypsum, humalite, iodine, iron, lead, limestone, lithium, magnesium, magnetite, metallurgical coal, molybdenum, nickel, peat, phosphate, potash, REEs, salt, silica sand, silver, thorium, titanium, uranium, vanadium, zinc, and zircon.

Prospective areas represent a qualitative assessment of mineral prospectivity, informed by geological maps and models, government reports, mineral occurrence data, technical industry reports, and mineral assessment reports. These areas are the result of a preliminary mineral tract definition at a provincial scale. No attempt was made at this stage to assess, quantify or rank mineral prospectivity, probability or potential.

The data in this publication is represented in a simplified form in the Minerals of Alberta map (AGS Map 655). For more complete information on the methodology used to create this file, please see the information document included in the Minerals of Alberta map publication.

This work was completed under the Mineral Grant provided by the Government of Alberta June 22, 2021.

      Purpose: To provide the outlines of areas favourable for the exploration of mineral deposits in Alberta.

      Supplemental_Information:

    Time_Period_of_Content:

      Time Period Information:

        Single Date/Time:

          Calendar_Date: 2025

    Currentness_Reference: compilation date

  Status:

    Progress: Complete

    Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

  Spatial Domain:

    Bounding Coordinates:

      West_Bounding_Coordinate: -120

      East_Bounding_Coordinate: -110

      North_Bounding_Coordinate: 60

      South_Bounding_Coordinate: 49

  Keywords:

    Theme:

      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category

      Theme_Keyword: ammolite

      Theme_Keyword: bentonite

      Theme_Keyword: bromine

      Theme_Keyword: building stone

      Theme_Keyword: calcium

      Theme_Keyword: coal

      Theme_Keyword: cobalt

      Theme_Keyword: copper

      Theme_Keyword: diamonds

      Theme_Keyword: dolomite

      Theme_Keyword: exploration

      Theme_Keyword: geology

      Theme_Keyword: gold

      Theme_Keyword: gypsum

      Theme_Keyword: humalite

      Theme_Keyword: industrial minerals

      Theme_Keyword: iodine

      Theme_Keyword: iron

      Theme_Keyword: lead

      Theme_Keyword: limestone

      Theme_Keyword: lithium

      Theme_Keyword: magnesium

      Theme_Keyword: magnetite

      Theme_Keyword: metallic minerals

      Theme_Keyword: mineral exploration

      Theme_Keyword: minerals

      Theme_Keyword: mines

      Theme_Keyword: molybdenum

      Theme_Keyword: nickel

      Theme_Keyword: peat

      Theme_Keyword: phosphate

      Theme_Keyword: potash

      Theme_Keyword: rare earth elements

      Theme_Keyword: salt

      Theme_Keyword: silica sand

      Theme_Keyword: silver

      Theme_Keyword: thorium

      Theme_Keyword: titanium

      Theme_Keyword: uranium

      Theme_Keyword: zinc

      Theme_Keyword: zirconium

    Place:

      Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category

      Place_Keyword: alberta

      Place_Keyword: canada

  Access_Constraints: Public

  Use_Constraints: Acknowledgement of the Alberta Energy Regulator / Alberta Geological Survey as the originator/source of this information is required as described in the Open Government License - Alberta.

  Point_of_Contact:

    Contact_Information:

      Contact_Organization_Primary:

        Contact_Organization: Alberta Geological Survey

        Contact_Person: AGS Information Manager

      Contact_Position: AGS Information Manager

      Contact_Address:

        Address_Type: mailing and physical

        Address: Alberta Energy Regulator

        Address: 2nd Floor, Twin Atria Building

        Address: 4999-98 Avenue NW

        City: Edmonton

        State_or_Province: Alberta

        Postal_Code: T6B 2X3

        Country: Canada

      Contact_Voice_Telephone: (780) 638-4491

      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (780) 422-1459

      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: AGS-Info@aer.ca

      Hours_of_Service: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  Cross_Reference:

    Citation_Information:

      Originator: Alberta Energy Regulator

      Originator: Alberta Geological Survey

      Publication_Date: 202511

      Title: Minerals of Alberta Map

      Edition: v.2

      Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map

      Series_Information:

        Series_Name: Map

        Issue_Identification: MAP 655

      Publication_Information:

        Publication_Place: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

        Publisher: Alberta Geological Survey

      Other_Citation_Details: 1:1250000 ISBN: 978-1-4601-5732-9

Data_Quality_Information:

  Attribute_Accuracy:

    Attribute_Accuracy_Report: The Prospective Areas for Mineral Exploration in Alberta vector data file covers the entire province at a relatively small scale, approximately 1:1 250 000. The data may have been generalized, and as a result, attributes (e.g., geological unit) associated with a specific location may display local inaccuracies when viewed at larger scales. Data for this publication were compiled from multiple sources and verification to ensure attribute accuracy was generally not undertaken.

The majority of the attributes for the vector data file were collected from AGS geological maps, publicly available industry maps, AGS 3D provincial geological framework models, and mineral occurrence datasets. These attributes (e.g., commodity, mineral association, economic use, exposure, depth) were not verified and some information could be incorrect or incomplete. Due to the little evidence and knowledge about the genesis of most metallic occurrences in the province, the deposit type classification used was mostly based on metal association and host rock of the occurrence.

  Logical_Consistency_Report: The Prospective Areas Mineral Exploration of Alberta vector data file may not represent contiguous topologically correct polygons nor are they edge matched. Gaps or overlaps may exist between polygons of different commodity or deposit type. Therefore, some polygons may be partially or wholly covered by other polygons.

Numerical fields with no data are assigned the value -9999.

  Completeness_Report: This dataset covers all of Alberta. Not all rocks or minerals that have historically been documented as having minerals of economic interest were included in the vector data file. The data were compiled from various maps and reports. No effort was made to verify that the methods for testing and observations were correct or consistent among them. The vector data file is at the provincial scale and local adjustments to resource estimates or other property-scale data have not been made because there is insufficient data density to do so. Polygons were not generated for every commodity type documented as having minerals of economic interest. As some geological units of interest were undifferentiated or undivided in regional maps and 3D provincial models, the prospective areas may be larger than expected as the unit of interest is contained within those undifferentiated or undivided units.

  Positional_Accuracy:

    Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

   Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: The polygons were generally delineated from AGS geological maps, publicly available industry maps, AGS 3D provincial geological framework models, and mineral occurrence datasets. The estimated accuracy of the primary input map datasets for polygon shapes is +/-1500 metres. Generalization of map polygons by using a 500-metre buffer applied to the data further reduced positional accuracy by 500 metres. No effort was made to systematically verify the accuracy of historical mineral datasets. Some mineral occurrence locations for geological units do not plot within their corresponding bedrock geology polygons. This may mean some occurrences are inaccurately located, or the bedrock geology is inaccurately mapped, or the geological unit assigned to the occurrence is incorrect. The estimated positional accuracy is +/-3000 metres. Therefore, the polygons are intended for use at 1:1 250 000 scale or smaller.

    Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

   Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: The polygons are not z-enabled, however, some features include depth attributes. These depths were produced from both well data and geological models and represent rough vertical maximum and minimum extents of the prospective areas. The depths are generalized over large spatial areas and may not be accurate in all locations. Therefore, the estimated vertical accuracy of these attributes is +/- 250 metres.

  Lineage:

    Source_Information:

      Source_Citation:

        Citation_Information:

          Originator: Alberta Energy Regulator

          Originator: Alberta Geological Survey

          Originator: Lopez, G.P.

          Originator: Budney, H.D.

          Originator: Weiss, J.A.

          Originator: Pawlowicz, J.G.

          Publication_Date: 2020

          Title: Prospective Areas for Mineral Exploration in Alberta (GIS data, polygon features)

          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

          Series_Information:

            Series_Name: Digital Data

            Issue_Identification: DIG 2019-0025

          Publication_Information:

            Publication_Place: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

            Publisher: Alberta Geological Survey

          Online_Linkage: https://ags.aer.ca/publications/all-publications/dig-2019-0025

   Source_Scale_Denominator:

   Type_of_Source_Media: online

        Source Time Period of Content:

          Time Period Information:

            Single Date/Time:

       Calendar_Date: 2020

     Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

     Source_Citation_Abbreviation: AGS DIG 2019-0025

     Source_Contribution: AGS DIG 2019-0025 was used as a foundational input for creating this updated Prospective Areas for Mineral Exploration in Alberta dataset.

    Source_Information:

      Source_Citation:

        Citation_Information:

          Originator: Alberta Energy Regulator

          Originator: Alberta Geological Survey

          Originator: Morley, E.C.

          Originator: Birnie, C.

          Originator: Meek, D.M.

          Publication_Date: 202511

          Title: Mineral Occurrences of Alberta (tabular data, tab-delimited format)

          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data

          Series_Information:

            Series_Name: Digital Data

            Issue_Identification: DIG 2025-0009

          Publication_Information:

            Publication_Place: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

            Publisher: Alberta Geological Survey

          Online_Linkage: https://ags.aer.ca/publications/all-publications/dig-2025-0009

   Source_Scale_Denominator:

   Type_of_Source_Media: online

        Source Time Period of Content:

          Time Period Information:

            Single Date/Time:

       Calendar_Date: 202511

     Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

     Source_Citation_Abbreviation: AGS DIG 2025-0009

     Source_Contribution: AGS DIG 2025-0009 was used as a foundational input for creating this updated Prospective Areas for Mineral Exploration in Alberta dataset.

    Process_Step:

   Process_Description: A prospective area for mineral exploration is defined as a region with a permissive geology for the presence of a mineral deposit and, therefore, favourable for the exploration of that mineral. These areas represent mineral tracts with a higher likelihood of containing undiscovered deposits. This version of the Prospective Areas for Mineral Exploration in Alberta dataset required an update of the previously published prospective areas for mineral exploration (AGS DIG 2019-0025). Prospective areas were delineated by identifying areas around known mineral occurrences that share ore mineralogy and other physical and genetic characteristics. This process involved compiling extensive publicly available data and reviewing numerous publications to understand the nature and main characteristics of the different occurrences so they could be assigned to deposit types that are or may be present in the province. The delineation also required integrating regional and local geology information.

For each deposit type considered, a list of prospective geological units was identified as the primary criteria for delineating prospective areas. Geological units included stratigraphic units, intrusions, and structures (faults, shear zones, tectonic zones, etc.). The selection of the geological units to be considered as prospective areas was based on one or more of the following criteria:

- presence of mineral occurrences,

- identification by previous authors as having resource potential,

- key geological characteristics conducive to the formation of mineral deposits.

The geometry of prospective areas (i.e., polygon outlines) was taken from AGS geological maps, publicly available industry maps, or AGS 3D provincial geological framework models. The AGS maps and models were the primary data to define the maximum extent of prospective areas. More detailed geological maps or datasets, where available, were used to refine or subdivide the prospective areas.

A 500-metre buffer was sometimes used to simplify complex polygon shapes from maps and models and address cartographic uncertainty. Buffers around point occurrences were also a tool to define the geometry of a prospective area when map and model information was not available. When buffers were unknown, clustered mineral occurrences related to a deposit type were used to determine an average distance among occurrences or define a minimum bounding geometry polygon.

In some cases, the specific geological unit identified in reports was not differentiated in regional maps or the 3D provincial geological framework models and, therefore, that unit was made part of an undifferentiated greater unit. In that case, the greater unit was used as the identified prospective area.

For more complete information on the methodology used to create this file, please see the information document included in the Minerals of Alberta map (MAP 655) publication.

   Process_Date: 2025

  Data_Quality_Information:

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information: Point and Vector Object Information:

ESRI Terms Description:

ESRI Feature Type: Simple

ESRI Feature Geometry:

ESRI Topology: FALSE

ESRI Feature Count: 6875

Spatial Index: FALSE

Linear Referencing: FALSE

Spatial_Reference_Information: Data Properties:

coordRef:

type: Projected

Geographic Coordinate System Name: GCS_North_American_1983

csUnits: Linear Unit: Metre (1.000000)

Projected Coordinate System Name: NAD_1983_10TM_AEP_Forest

Entity_and_Attribute_Information: Detailed Description:

Entity Type:

Entity Type Label: Prospective Areas for Mineral Exploration in Alberta

Entity Type Type: Feature Class

Entity Type Count: 6875

Attribute:

Attribute Label: FID

Attribute Alias: FID

attrtype: OID

Attribute Width: 4

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute Definition: Internal feature number.

Attribute Definition Source: Esri

Attribute Domain Values:

Unrepresentable Domain: Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Shape

Attribute Alias: Shape

attrtype: Geometry

Attribute Width: 0

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute Definition: Feature geometry.

Attribute Definition Source: Esri

Attribute Domain Values:

Unrepresentable Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Geo_Region

Attribute Definition: Geological region: Mountains and Foothills, Plains, or Shield

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 50

Attribute Alias: Geo_Region

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Name

Attribute Definition: Name of exploration property, geographic area, project, or mine.

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 50

Attribute Alias: Name

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Alt_Name

Attribute Definition: Alternate name of exploration property, geographic area, project, or mine.

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 50

Attribute Alias: Alt_Name

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Dep_Type

Attribute Definition: Mineral deposit type.

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 50

Attribute Alias: Dep_Type

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Comm_Group

Attribute Definition: Commodity group (ammolite, industrial minerals, metallic minerals, mineral by-products of energy resources, sand and gravel, metallurgical coal, peat, and humalite).

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 50

Attribute Alias: Comm_Group

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Commodity

Attribute Definition: List of individual commodities.

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 50

Attribute Alias: Commodity

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Econ_Use

Attribute Definition: List of potential end uses mentioned by authors in Alberta for the particular commodity, or alternatively, a general use.

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 100

Attribute Alias: Econ_Use

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Poly_Def

Attribute Definition: Process step and criteria used to construct polygon.

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 254

Attribute Alias: Poly_Def

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Prime_Src

Attribute Definition: Primary map source used to construct polygon shape. For complete references, see the text file (Prospective_Areas_for_Mineral_Exploration_References.txt) included with this digital dataset.

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 254

Attribute Alias: Prime_Src

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Geo_Unit

Attribute Definition: Geological unit hosting deposits/occurrences or with the potential to host deposits/occurrences (for exploration).

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 254

Attribute Alias: Geo_Unit

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Exposure

Attribute Definition: Indicates if polygon is at subsurface, surface, surface/subsurface or unknown. Blanks indicate data was not captured.

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 50

Attribute Alias: Exposure

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: References

Attribute Definition: Literature used to support polygon attribute information. For complete references, see the text file (Prospective_Areas_for_Mineral_Exploration_References.txt) included with this digital dataset.

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 254

Attribute Alias: References

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Certainty

Attribute Definition: Certainty level referring to development stage of an exploration area: (5) producer, (4) deposit, (3) showings, (2) anomalies, (1) no mineral data

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 50

Attribute Alias: Certainty

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Occ_Buff_m

Attribute Definition: Mineral occurrence (point) buffer, in metres

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Double

Attribute Precision: 18

Attribute Scale: 11

Attribute Alias: Occ_Buff_m

Attribute Width: 19

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Shp_Buff_m

Attribute Definition: Polygon buffer, in metres

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Double

Attribute Precision: 18

Attribute Scale: 11

Attribute Alias: Shp_Buff_m

Attribute Width: 19

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Depth_fr_m

Attribute Definition: Depth to the top of a prospective area in metres.

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Double

Attribute Precision: 18

Attribute Scale: 11

Attribute Alias: Depth_fr_m

Attribute Width: 19

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Depth_to_m

Attribute Definition: Depth to the base of a prospective area in metres.

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Double

Attribute Precision: 18

Attribute Scale: 11

Attribute Alias: Depth_to_m

Attribute Width: 19

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Min_Assoc

Attribute Definition: Mineral or metal association of occurrences within a prospective area.

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 254

Attribute Alias: Min_Assoc

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Remarks

Attribute Definition: Remarks

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 254

Attribute Alias: Remarks

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Map_Legend

Attribute Definition: Prospective area legend used to group polygons for Minerals of Alberta map PDF version

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 50

Attribute Alias: Map_Legend

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Last_Updat

Attribute Definition: Tracks when a record was last changed or modified

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Date

Attribute Alias: Last_Updat

Attribute Width: 8

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Publisher

Attribute Definition: Organization that published the dataset.

Attribute Definition Source: Alberta Geological Survey

attrtype: Text

Attribute Width: 50

Attribute Alias: Publisher

Attribute Precision: 0

Attribute Scale: 0

  Distribution_Information:

    Distributor:

      Contact_Information:

        Contact_Organization_Primary:

          Contact_Organization: Alberta Geological Survey

          Contact_Person: AGS Information Manager

        Contact_Position: AGS Information Manager

        Contact_Address:

          Address_Type: mailing and physical

          Address: Alberta Energy Regulator

          Address: 2nd Floor, Twin Atria Building

          Address: 4999-98 Avenue NW

          City: Edmonton

          State_or_Province: Alberta

          Postal_Code: T6B 2X3

          Country: Canada

        Contact_Voice_Telephone: (780) 638-4491

        Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (780) 422-1459

        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: AGS-Info@aer.ca

        Hours_of_Service: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Distribution_Liability: The Alberta Energy Regulator / Alberta Geological Survey (AER/AGS) licenses this information under the Open Government License - Alberta. Any references to proprietary software in our documentation, and/or any use of proprietary data formats in our releases, do not constitute endorsement by the AER/AGS of any manufacturer's product.

  Metadata_Reference_Information:

    Metadata_Date: 20251114

    Metadata_Contact:

      Contact_Information:

        Contact_Organization_Primary:

          Contact_Organization: Alberta Geological Survey

          Contact_Person: AGS Information Manager

        Contact_Position: AGS Information Manager

        Contact_Address:

          Address_Type: mailing and physical

          Address: Alberta Energy Regulator

          Address: 2nd Floor, Twin Atria Building

          Address: 4999-98 Avenue NW

          City: Edmonton

          State_or_Province: Alberta

          Postal_Code: T6B 2X3

          Country: Canada

        Contact_Voice_Telephone: (780) 638-4491

        Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (780) 422-1459

        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: AGS-Info@aer.ca

        Hours_of_Service: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

    Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

    Metadata_Time_Convention: local time

    Metadata_Access_Constraints: none

    Metadata_Use_Constraints: none