Natural Resources Canada

The geologic time scale divides the 4.6 billion years of earths history into hierarchy of time periods. Every layer of rock corresponds to a specific time in the history of the formation of the Earth. The Precambrian era began with the formation of the Earth; it was followed by the Paleozoic,...

The geologic time scale divides the 4.6 billion years of earths history into hierarchy of time periods. Every layer of rock corresponds to a specific time in the history of the formation of the Earth. The Precambrian era began with the formation of the Earth; it was followed by the Paleozoic,...

Rocks are divided into three main categories according to how they were formed: igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic processes. Rocks differ in their texture, mineral and chemical composition, and bedding characteristics depending on which of these three processes that formed them. Igneous rocks,...

Surficial hydrogeological materials show the distribution of sediment deposited in glacially influenced environments. Most drinkable groundwater resources in Canada occur in shallow surficial-sediment aquifers. Surface sediments, such as gravel, sand, silt and clay, or mixed sediments, are an...

A geological province is an extensive region characterized by rocks and structures of varying types and ages. Canada has seventeen geological provinces consisting of a shield, platforms, orogens and continental shelves. Nunavut includes four of the geological provinces: Innuitian Orogen, Arctic...

Surficial Materials are unconsolidated earth deposits of various origins. This map shows the distribution of surficial materials in Nunavut, on land and in extensive offshore areas.