The area of mountain pine beetle infestation in central British Columbia has areas of highly prospective bedrock geology, but exploration has been limited due to thick cover of surficial deposits. Knowledge of the glacial history, specifically the ice flow history and dominant transport direction is vital to interpret geochemical surveys. Significant knowledge gaps exist in the glacial history of the QUEST area and thus pose a significant hindrance on exploration. This project is designed to address these knowledge gaps by providing a Quaternary framework and both regional and detailed till based geochemical surveys. This ambitious project will occur over three years and provide:

1. the regional glacial geologic framework for NTS 93 G, H (west half), and J from the central portion of the Quest area.
   
2. a map of approximate drift cover for areas within NTS 93 G, H (west half), and J based on existing terrain, soils, and surficial geology mapping as well as forestry-related terrain mapping.
   
3. To carry out terrain mapping of six 1:50,000 scale sheets
   
4. Till geochemical (trace, minor and major elements by aqua regia-ICP and INAA) and gold grain counts and heavy mineral separates of these new sheets,
   
5. detailed geochemical surveys down ice of two geophysical anomalies from the recently completed geophysical surveys.
   

This will stimulate exploration in beetle kill affected areas by the release of new surficial geology and geochemical survey data and provide a framework for companies to interpret their own datasets. This project will also provide invaluable training for at least two M.Sc. students and numerous undergraduates.

Posters and Presentations

2011: Drift Prospecting within the QUEST Project Area, Central British Columbia (NTS 093J): Potential for Porphyry Copper-Gold, Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide Mineralization and Gold-Copper Veins
- Mineral Exploration Roundup Poster (pdf, 15.5 MB)

2011: Quaternary geology and ice flow history in the northwest part of the McLeod Lake Map Area (NTS 093J), central British Columbia: Implications for mineral exploration
- Mineral Exploration Roundup Poster (pdf, 6.6 MB)

2010: Till Geochemistry of the Western Portion of 93J, QUEST Area
- Mineral Exploration Roundup Poster (pdf, 4.45MB)

2010: Glacial History and Terrain Mapping in a Portion of the QUEST Project Area (NTS 093G, H [west half], J), Central British Columbia
- Mineral Exploration Roundup Poster (pdf, 4.59MB)

2009: Detailed Geochemical Till Sampling of Two Geophysical Anomalies of the QUEST Area
- Mineral Exploration Roundup Poster (pdf, 5.12MB)

2009: Ice-Flow History, Drift Thickness and Drift Prospecting for a Portion of the QUEST Project Area (NTS 093G, H [west half], J), British Columbia
- Mineral Exploration Roundup Poster (pdf, 17.0MB)

Technical Articles

2012: "Heavy mineral analysis of till samples within the QUEST Project area, central British Columbia"
- Summary of Activities 2011, Report 2012-1 p. 69-68 (pdf, 7.5 MB)

2011: "Drift prospecting within the QUEST Project area, central British Columbia: potential for porphyry copper-gold, volcanogenic massive sulphide mineralization and gold-copper veins"
- Summary of Activities 2010, Report 2011-1 p.73-96 (pdf, 31.8 MB)

2010: "Terrain Mapping, Glacial History and Drift Prospecting in the Northwest Corner of McLeod Lake Map Area (Part of NTS 093J), Central British Columbia"
- Summary of Activities 2009, Report 2010-1 p.33-42 (pdf, 10.3 MB)

2009: "Ice-flow history, drift thickness and drift prospecting for a portion of the QUEST Project area, central British Columbia"
- Summary of Activities 2008, Report 2009-1 p.25-32 (pdf, 11.2MB)

Final Deliverables

Geoscience BC Map 2010-14-1

Relative Drift Thickness Map, North-Central BC (93G, 93H/w & 93J/s)

Geoscience BC Map 2010-14-1 shows relative drift thickness in north-central BC, covering NTS mapsheets 93G, 93H/w and 93J/s. Constructed from previous mapping and recent field-checking, the map is intended as an aid to mineral exploration, providing information on the distribution and relative thickness of surficial sediments and generalized ice flow history. This will help to determine areas that are more suited for drift prospecting and bedrock prospecting, as well as provide guidance as to the dominant transport direction when interpreting the results of geochemical surveys. The map in PDF format, the ESRI ArcGIS map document and data used to produce the map are included in this release. The datasets include ice flow indicators, drift thickness and outcrop locations, along with base map features providing background context. The report is by D.M. Maynard, B.C. Ward, M. Geertsema, N. Roberts and D. Sacco.