  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
