Granular Aggregate Resource Assessment Project - Iqaluit Lisa Sankeralli and John Taylor (CNGO)

A supply of high-quality granular aggregate is vital to meet the infrastructure requirements of any community or construction project. In 2005, an assessment of potential granular aggregate resources was carried out in the area around the City of Iqaluit .

The survey was necessitated because of resource depletion and environmental concerns at the existing source of granular aggregate for Iqaluit. The 2005 survey also developed a protocol that can be applied towards future aggregate assessment projects in Nunavut .

In the 2005 field season, potential source areas for granular aggregate occurring within 10 km of Iqaluit were provisionally identified by interpretation of detailed air photographs. This preliminary data, combined with a review of previous assessment reports and regional surficial geology data, provided a focus for follow-up field work. Target areas with the best potential to yield economic aggregate resources were visited in the field, and information was collected on the nature, extent, volume, physiography of the deposits, and access. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) was employed to image the subsurface character of deposits and depth to the bedrock contact.

The results of the assessment identified two areas having high potential for resource development. The Northwest Area, located approximately 5 km northwest of the existing aggregate quarry, contains good quality aggregate, including high quality gravel. The Northwest Area has an estimated minimum volume of 1,000,000 m3 of gravel and more than 4,000,000 m3 combined sand and gravel.

Total potential aggregate may be in excess of 14,000,000 m3 for the Northwest Area. The second potential resource, near Tarr Inlet, contains undifferentiated sand and gravel deposits. The estimated minimum volume of deposits in the Tarr Inlet area is almost 300,000 m3 (combined sand and gravel). Preliminary results of the survey suggest the Northwest Area is the best long-term option for aggregate supply for Iqaluit.

Contact
D.T. James