News and Events

We have a new strategic plan for 2017-2022!

The Northwest Territories Geological Survey (NTGS) has released the strategic plan that will guide its operations through 2022. Building on a vision first set out in 2011, the five-year plan includes changes to reflect the Government of the Northwest Territories’ post-Devolution jurisdiction over NWT lands and resources. The new plan defines the NTGS mission, vision, and values and presents its scientific program under six goals that align with the mandate priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly. As this five-year plan comes into effect, the availability of modern, comprehensive...

New Reports on Slave Geological Province Mineral Potential to be Released

Two airborne geophysical surveys will provide additional insight for prospectors and mineral development companies interested in exploration in the Slave Geological Province of the Northwest Territories (NWT). The studies, developed by the Northwest Territories Geological Survey (NTGS), provide detailed airborne magnetic and electromagnetic survey data from the promising region. The reports will be released on June 22, 2017 at 8:30am. The new reports are entitled: NWT Open Report 2017-014. Aeromagnetic Survey of the Central Slave Craton Area, NWT, Parts of NTS 75M and 75N. NWT Open...

Research Paper Published in Geology Examines Permafrost Thaw

Across the vast landscape of the Northwest Territories (NWT), cold climates and permafrost have preserved large amounts of ancient ground ice for thousands of years. However, recent climate warming is beginning to dramatically alter some of these landscapes. The Northwest Territories Geological Survey (NTGS) is taking a proactive approach to learning more. A recently-published study in the high-profile journal Geology, titled Climate-driven thaw of permafrost preserved glacial landscapes, northwestern Canada, describes some of the research efforts and findings. Steve Kokelj, a Permafrost...

Video of Lake Drainage due to Permafrost Thaw

Updated 10 December 2015

Permafrost Thaw Causes Lake Drainage and Flow of Debris, Peel Plateau, Northwest Territories, Canada

Permafrost thaw in the northwestern Northwest Territories has caused development of very large thaw slumps. Individual thaw slump disturbances can impact over 30 ha of terrain, displace millions of cubic metres of sediments to reconfigure slopes and impact downstream environments. One particular thaw slump about 20 km northwest of Fort McPherson has been growing for about a decade. It has caused gradual hillside collapse, resulting in the rapid, partial...

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