The Need

Airborne magnetic surveys are a commonly used tool to map geology at a regional scale, and to directly or indirectly identify potential mineral deposits. Organizations such as the Geological Survey of Canada and Geoscience BC have over the years supported the collection of regional aeromagnetic data, and mineral exploration companies frequently fly more localized surveys, some of which have been made publicly available over the years. 

This project, led by the Geological Survey of Canada and supported by the BC Geological Survey and Geoscience BC, has merged these individual surveys into a single compilation for the Province of BC.

What Was Found

Data used in this compilation were acquired from regional aeromagnetic surveys and high-resolution aeromagnetic surveys. The Geological Survey of Canada high-resolution survey data and regional 200 m Magnetic Grid of Canada were obtained from Natural Resources Canada’s Geoscience Data Repository for Aeromagnetic Data at https://geophysical-data.canada.ca/. Geoscience BC high-resolution survey data were obtained at https://www.geosciencebc.com. The regional 200 m grid was re-gridded by Geological Survey of Canada scientists to 100 m, and the survey data from the high-resolution aeromagnetic surveys were gridded to 100 m and statically levelled into the regional grid. Apparent mismatches between survey blocks are a result of differing line spacing, flight altitudes and equipment platforms; helicopter surveys were flown at a constant elevation and fixed wing aircraft surveys were flown at a nominal terrain clearance.  

A more detailed table that includes the geographical survey areas, the contractors that flew the surveys, and clients the surveys were flown for is available for download from Natural Resources Canada’s Geoscience Data Repository for Aeromagnetic Data at https://geophysical-data.canada.ca. 

The final aeromagnetic compilation maps are available for free download through:

• Geoscience BC Report 2024-09 (Zip 547.7 MiB)
• Geological Survey of Canada Open File 9222 (Natural Resources Canada’s Open Science and Technology Repository)
• BC Geological Survey Open File 2024-08

Digital gridded data for this compilation, and corresponding digital profile and gridded data for GSC surveys, can be downloaded at no charge from Natural Resources Canada’s Geoscience Data Repository for Aeromagnetic Data website above. 

Links to Geoscience BC digital data used in this compilation: