NTGO Information Update - NWT Diamond Database

Friday, November 13, 2009

The Northwest Territories Geoscience Office (NTGO) is pleased to announce the immediate availability of the NWT Diamond Database within NT GoMap, NTGO's web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) application for viewing, querying, and downloading our vast database of geoscience data for the NWT.

The Diamond Database is a collection of two relational sources of diamond exploration information: the KIDD (Kimberlite Indicator and Diamond Database) and KIMC (Kimberlite Indicator Mineral Chemistry) databases. KIDD information is gathered from assessment reports containing kimberlite indicator mineral data including sample location and the count of each variety of mineral grain found in the sample. KIMC is an extension of the KIDD database, consisting of mineral chemistry information of picked kimberlite indicator minerals. The KIDD and KIMC databases are updated as new information is published or released.

Prior to 2005, KIDD and KIMC data were managed as a series of published Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (NWT Open Report 2004-004 and NWT-NU Open Report 2004-002, respectively). Information from released mineral exploration reports was scanned, the data captured using optical character recognition software and formatted into spreadsheets. Over the last few years, NTGO developed a diamond relational database model, uploaded all available KIDD and KIMC spreadsheet data into the database, and created a query interface that provides public access through NTGO's NT GoMap web application. This allows users to discover, query, and download KIDD and KIMC Shapefiles and associated NORMIN Reference data.

To access the Diamond Database, simply click on the NT GoMap button at the NTGO website here. If you're new to NT GoMap, comprehensive help is available by clicking on Help for first time NT GoMap Users. Users can access the Diamond Database using a query screen, view the results of their query on a interactive map, drill down into the details of each sample location, and download the data for use offline in a GIS application of their choice.

About NTGO: The Northwest Territories Geoscience Office is a federal-territorial partnership between Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. It advances geological knowledge of the Northwest Territories for the benefit of Northerners and all Canadians.

For a listing of our recently released publications, click here.