Geoscience CanadaPub Date : 2018-04-20DOI: 10.12789/GEOCANJ.2018.45.130
D. Wilton
{"title":"Albert Peter Low in Labrador— A Tale of Iron and Irony","authors":"D. Wilton","doi":"10.12789/GEOCANJ.2018.45.130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12789/GEOCANJ.2018.45.130","url":null,"abstract":"In 1893–1894, Albert Peter Low of the Geological Survey of Canada, along with D.I.V. Eaton and four indigenous assistants explored the Labrador Peninsula, then perceived as one of the last great unexplored wilderness areas of North America. The expedition left Lake St. John (now Lac St. Jean) on June 17, 1893, canoeing across the northeastern edge of the North American continent, arriving at Fort Chimo (now Kuujjuaq) on August 27, 1893. They departed Fort Chimo by steamer for Rigolet on the Labrador coast and the Hudson Bay Company post at North West River in the fall of 1893. On March 6, 1894 the party started up the Grand (now Churchill) River continuing through large central lakes into the Ashuanipi river system in western Labrador, then out via the Attikonak River to the Romaine River and finally the Saint Jean river system to arrive at Mingan on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River on August 23, 1894. Low described their fifteen-month journey as having covered over 8700 km including 1600 km on foot, over 4700 km in canoe, 800 km by dog team and 1600 km by steamer. The report from the expedition provides a compendium on the natural history of the region as well as the first geological maps. In terms of economic and scientific results, the greatest was documentation of the vast iron ore deposits of western Labrador; a world-class mining district that has been producing for sixty-three years since 1954. Low’s account also provides details on the essence of such an epic journey, which stands as a classic in the annals of Canadian geological surveying.RESUMEEn 1893–1894, Albert Peter Low de la Commission geologique du Canada, accompagne du D.I.V. Eaton et quatre assistants autochtones ont explore la peninsule du Labrador, alors percue comme l'une des dernieres grandes etendues sauvages inexplorees d’Amerique du Nord. L’equipe a quitte le Lake St. John (aujourd'hui le lac Saint-Jean) le 17 juin 1893, a traverse la bordure nord-est du continent nord-americain en canoe, et est arrive a Fort Chimo (aujourd'hui Kuujjuaq) le 27 aout 1893. A l'automne de 1893, ils ont quitte Fort Chimo a bord d'un vapeur pour Rigolet, sur la cote du Labrador, et le poste de la Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson sur la riviere North West. Le 6 mars 1894, les membres de l'equipe ont remonte la riviere Grand (aujourd'hui Churchill), puis a travers les grands lacs centraux jusqu'au bassin de la riviere Ashuanipi, dans l'ouest du Labrador, puis, par la riviere Attikonak jusqu' a la riviere Romaine et, enfin, le reseau de la riviere Saint-Jean jusqu’a Mingan, sur la rive nord du fleuve Saint-Laurent, le 23 aout 1894. L’excursion decrite par Low a dure quinze mois et parcouru plus de 8700 km dont 1600 km a pied, plus de 4700 km en canoe, 800 km en attelage de chiens et 1600 km en bateau a vapeur. Le rapport de l'expedition constitue un recueil sur l'histoire naturelle de la region ainsi que des premieres cartes geologiques. En ce qui concerne les repercussions economiques et s","PeriodicalId":55106,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience Canada","volume":"45 1","pages":"43-58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43666893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Geoscience CanadaPub Date : 2018-04-20DOI: 10.12789/GEOCANJ.2018.45.129
A. Kerr
{"title":"Classic Rock Tours 1. Hutton’s Unconformity at Siccar Point, Scotland: A Guide for Visiting the Shrine on the Abyss of Time","authors":"A. Kerr","doi":"10.12789/GEOCANJ.2018.45.129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12789/GEOCANJ.2018.45.129","url":null,"abstract":"The angular unconformity at Siccar Point in Scotland is one of the most famous localities in the history of geology. At this spot, steeply dipping, folded turbiditic sandstone of early Silurian age is clearly overlain by subhorizontal red conglomerate, breccia and sandstone of late Devonian age. Siccar Point was not the first unconformity ever to be described or illustrated, but it is unquestionably one of the most spectacular and informative that geologists are likely to see. In June of 1788, a famous excursion by James Hutton, John Playfair and Sir James Hall first discovered this striking evidence for the cyclic nature of geological processes and the probable antiquity of the Earth. Contrary to myth, it was likely not the inspiration for Hutton’s famous phrase no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end, but Playfair’s metaphor of looking so far into the abyss of time is forever associated with this place. Siccar Point influenced many other geologists, including the young Charles Lyell, who would eventually bring the ideas of James Hutton together with those of William Smith, to build the uniformitarian paradigm that founded modern geology. Lyell’s writings would in turn influence the young Charles Darwin in his search for the reality and causes of evolution. Siccar Point is easy to visit from the historic and vibrant city of Edinburgh, and such a pilgrimage is easily combined with other sights of geological or cultural interest. Visiting the shrine involves a short coastal hike in one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland. This article combines practical advice for would-be pilgrims to Siccar Point with some historical context about its pivotal role in the development of geological ideas in the enlightenment of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.RESUMELa discordance angulaire de Siccar Point en Ecosse est l'une des localites les plus celebres de l'histoire de la geologie. A cet endroit, un gres turbiditique plisse a fort pendage du debut du Silurien est recouvert de conglomerats rouges subhorizontaux, de breches et d’un gres de la fin du Devonien. Siccar Point n'est pas la premiere discordance qui ait ete decrite ou illustree, mais c'est sans conteste l'une des plus spectaculaires et revelatrices que les geologues puissent voir. En juin 1788, avec leur celebre excursion, James Hutton, John Playfair et Sir James Hall ont decouvert cette preuve frappante de la nature cyclique des processus geologiques et de l`anciennete probable de la Terre. Contrairement a ce qu'on croit, ce n'est probablement pas la fameuse phrase de Hutton « aucun vestige d'un debut, aucune perspective de fin », mais la metaphore de Playfair « voir si loin dans l'abime du temps » qui est a jamais associee a ce lieu. Siccar Point a influence de nombreux autres geologues, y compris le jeune Charles Lyell, qui a fini par reunir les idees de James Hutton et celles de William Smith qui ont defini le paradigme uniformitariste, devenu le fondement de la geologie moderne.","PeriodicalId":55106,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience Canada","volume":"45 1","pages":"27-42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42518780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Geoscience CanadaPub Date : 2018-04-20DOI: 10.12789/GEOCANJ.2018.45.132
A. Kerr
{"title":"ROCKS, RIDGES, AND RIVERS: Geological Wonders of Banff, Yoho, and Jasper National Parks. A Roadside Tour Guide","authors":"A. Kerr","doi":"10.12789/GEOCANJ.2018.45.132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12789/GEOCANJ.2018.45.132","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55106,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience Canada","volume":"45 1","pages":"63-65"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44704296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Geoscience CanadaPub Date : 2018-04-20DOI: 10.12789/geocanj.2018.45.133
A. Kerr
{"title":"Classic Rock Tours – An Introduction","authors":"A. Kerr","doi":"10.12789/geocanj.2018.45.133","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12789/geocanj.2018.45.133","url":null,"abstract":"Like most who opted for geoscience as a vocation rather than a mere job, I am often asked exactly why I chose this particular career path, and continue to be involved in my retirement. There are also times when I ask myself the very same question, but it usually boils down to this – being a geologist provides opportunities to visit inspiring, unique and often remote locations through field work and other field trips. In Scotland a couple of years ago, on a conference trip that led to the following article, I read Stephen Baxter’s excellent book Revolutions in the Earth. I thoroughly recommend it – as a biography of James Hutton it gives some insight into his personality – and it illustrates the love-hate relationship that geologists have with field work. In a letter written to a friend, Hutton complained “Lord pity the arse that’s clagged to a head that will hunt stones”. I could amplify this with a detailed footnote explaining the meaning of the archaic dialect verb to clag, but I don’t need to because all geologists will understand Hutton’s sentiment. We don’t really have a choice in this – our interest in exploring the natural world is just part of who we are. Such a conclusion may not be fully scientific, but there’s no denying its truth. Even in a technological age where some geoscience careers are built around black boxes and vast computer models, geology remains at its core an observational science, and the theories that we build are ultimately subject to the ground truth of field observations. It was the lure of field work, the outdoors and travel that brought me into geology, and I know that the same is true for many of my colleagues. Modern geoscience may be sophisticated, multidisclipinary and quantitative, but it always links back to careful field observations and their thoughtful interpretation. Even if technology gives us details and constraints, the essential plotline of the story of Earth comes from reading the rocks. Geoscientists are generally keen and adaptable travellers, who like to get off the beaten tourist paths, sometimes at their own peril. One of the great things about being a student of the Earth is that it surrounds us, and there will always be something interesting to find out, wherever we roam. We enjoy a special relationship with the Earth because we understand its dynamic nature and can visualize it in four dimensions. Travelling geologists are always glancing surreptitiously at roadside outcrops as they flash by, or asking exactly why that range of hills is where it is and shaped just so. This can at times be a source of great frustration to our families or our travelling companions, but it is a natural expression of our curiosity about all things that connect to earthly processes. The one thing that I fear most in aging is to lose such curiosity, as happened to my father. Our idea for a new series in Geoscience Canada that can provide helpful travel information and thoughtful geological context for influential o","PeriodicalId":55106,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience Canada","volume":"45 1","pages":"25-26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46723644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Geoscience CanadaPub Date : 2018-04-20DOI: 10.12789/GEOCANJ.2018.45.128
D. Corrigan, N. Wodicka, C. McFarlane, I. Lafrance, D. V. Rooyen, D. Bandyayera, C. Bilodeau
{"title":"Lithotectonic Framework of the Core Zone, Southeastern Churchill Province, Canada","authors":"D. Corrigan, N. Wodicka, C. McFarlane, I. Lafrance, D. V. Rooyen, D. Bandyayera, C. Bilodeau","doi":"10.12789/GEOCANJ.2018.45.128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12789/GEOCANJ.2018.45.128","url":null,"abstract":"The Core Zone, a broad region located between the Superior and North Atlantic cratons and predominantly underlain by Archean gneiss and granitoid rocks, remained until recently one of the less well known parts of the Canadian Shield. Previously thought to form part of the Archean Rae Craton, and later referred to as the Southeastern Churchill Province, it has been regarded as an ancient continental block trapped between the Paleoproterozoic Torngat and New Quebec orogens, with its relationships to the adjacent Superior and North Atlantic cratons remaining unresolved. The geochronological data presented herein suggest that the Archean evolution of the Core Zone was distinct from that in both the Superior and North Atlantic (Nain) cratons. Moreover, the Core Zone itself consists of at least three distinct lithotectonic entities with different evolutions, referred to herein as the George River, Mistinibi-Raude and Falcoz River blocks, that are separated by steeply-dipping, crustal-scale shear zones interpreted as paleosutures. Specifically, the George River Block consists of ca. 2.70 Ga supracrustal rocks and associated ca. 2.70–2.57 Ga intrusions. The Mistinibi-Raude Block consists of remnants of a ca. 2.37 Ga volcanic arc intruded by a ca. 2.32 Ga arc plutonic suite (Pallatin) and penecontemporaneous alkali plutons (Pelland and Nekuashu suites). It also hosts a coarse clastic cover sequence (the Hutte Sauvage Group) which contains detrital zircons provided from locally-derived, ca. 2.57–2.50 Ga, 2.37–2.32 Ga, and 2.10–2.08 Ga sources, with the youngest concordant grain dated at 1987 ± 7 Ma. The Falcoz River Block consists of ca. 2.89–2.80 Ga orthogneiss intruded by ca. 2.74–2.70 granite, tonalite, and granodiorite. At the western margin of the Core Zone, the George River Block and Kuujjuaq Domain may have been proximal by ca. 1.84 Ga as both appear to have been sutured by the 1.84–1.82 Ga De Pas Batholith, whereas at its eastern margin, the determination of metamorphic ages of ca. 1.85 to 1.80 Ga in the Falcoz River Block suggests protracted interaction with the adjacent Lac Lomier Complex during their amalgamation and suturing, but with a younger, ‘New Quebec’ overprint as well. The three crustal blocks forming the Core Zone add to a growing list of ‘exotic’ Archean to earliest Paleoproterozoic microcontinents and crustal slices that extend around the Superior Craton from the Grenville Front through Hudson Strait, across Hudson Bay and into Manitoba and Saskatchewan, in what was the Manikewan Ocean realm, which closed between ca. 1.83–1.80 Ga during the formation of supercontinent Nuna. RESUME La Zone noyau, une vaste region situee entre les cratons du Superieur et de l’Atlantique Nord et reposant principalement sur des gneiss archeens et des roches granitiques, est demeuree jusqu’a recemment l’une des parties les moins bien connues du Bouclier canadien. Consideree auparavant comme faisant partie du craton archeen de Rae, puis comme la portion su","PeriodicalId":55106,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience Canada","volume":"45 1","pages":"1-24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49634679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Geoscience CanadaPub Date : 2017-12-19DOI: 10.12789/geocanj.2017.44.127
Lindsay Steele
{"title":"Innovation in Establishing the Standard of Care in a Self-Regulated Profession","authors":"Lindsay Steele","doi":"10.12789/geocanj.2017.44.127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12789/geocanj.2017.44.127","url":null,"abstract":"Under Law, professional geoscientists have a duty of care that they must adhere to when they carry out their activities. The question is, when a duty of care exists, what is the standard of care that is owed? Geoscience regulators in Canada and around the world are working with geoscientists to develop innovative solutions in establishing the standard of care that must be met. By clearly establishing what our expectations are concerning standard of care, we are setting common ideals and goals as a professional community. Both society, geoscientists and employers of geoscientists look to regulatory associations for guidance on professional practice, therefore regulators need to strive to support and educate their members by developing tools and resources that allow members to meet the standard of care expected of them. The paper describes innovative approaches being offered to assist members of Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia and is based on an oral presentation given by the author at the International Geology Congress in Cape Town South Africa in August 2016. RESUME En vertu de la loi, les geoscientifiques professionnels ont un devoir de diligence auquel ils doivent se conformer dans l'exercice de leurs activites. La question qui se pose est la suivante : lorsqu'il existe un devoir de diligence, quelle est la norme de diligence a respecter? Les organismes de reglementation geoscientifiques au Canada, et ailleurs dans le monde, travaillent de concert avec les geoscientifiques a l'elaboration de solutions novatrices pour etablir la norme de diligence a respecter. En etablissant clairement nos attentes concernant les normes de diligence, nous etablissons des ideaux et des objectifs communs en tant que regroupement professionnel. La societe, les geoscientifiques et leurs employeurs attendent des associations de reglementation des conseils sur les usages professionnels. Les organismes de reglementation doivent donc s'efforcer de soutenir et former leurs membres en dotant des outils et des ressources qui leur permettent de respecter les normes d'usage en vigueur. L’article qui suit, et qui decrit les approches novatrices proposees aux membres de la Engineers and Geoscientist British Columbia est base sur une presentation orale donnee par l'auteur au Congres international de geologie a Cape Town, en Afrique du Sud, en aout 2016.","PeriodicalId":55106,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience Canada","volume":"44 1","pages":"191-194"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43018622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Geoscience CanadaPub Date : 2017-12-19DOI: 10.12789/GEOCANJ.2017.44.126
O. Bonham, D. Abbott, A. Waltho
{"title":"An International Review of Disciplinary Measures in Geoscience—Both Procedures and Actions","authors":"O. Bonham, D. Abbott, A. Waltho","doi":"10.12789/GEOCANJ.2017.44.126","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12789/GEOCANJ.2017.44.126","url":null,"abstract":"As professional communities around the world, geoscientists have in place disciplinary measures and, over time, instances have occurred which have required disciplinary actions to be taken against individuals. Geoscientists have specialized knowledge and provide expertise on which others rely for important decision- making. Geoscientists are best positioned to judge the scientific/technical and ethical merits of the work of other geoscientists. They are considered professionals and for that reason, society has placed the onus on the profession to govern itself. Consequently, it is important that appropriate disciplinary procedures are in place, that they are ever improving, and that the profession can and does act decisively when necessary. This two-part review paper examines systems and measures to uphold the ethical conduct of geoscientists (Part 1), and studies actions taken against geoscientists in the last three decades (Part 2). It uses available information collected from the member organizations of the International Union of Geological Sciences’ Task Group on Global Geoscience Professionalism as well as public sources. Models used for the governance and self-regulation of geoscience practice vary globally across the same spectrum that is typical in other professions, with the choice of model varying to suit local legal contexts and societal needs and norms. Broadly, similar processes for complaints, investigation, and disciplinary decision-making (and appeals of decisions) are used. The types of charges that can be made for offences or allegations are similar. The ranges of applicable penalties vary depending on the extent of statutory power in place, but beyond this constraint, there are many parallels. Ninety-two documented cases are identified where action has been taken against geoscientists globally since 1989. Of these, 40 relate to either non-payment of dues or fees (usually discontinuation of a membership or license) or to non-compliance with Continuing Professional Development requirements. The remaining 52 are actions for more serious offenses, resulting in penalties that are more substantial. These offences cluster into six categories: 1) falsifying data; 2) fraudulent billing and/or falsifying time sheets; 3) inappropriate behaviour towards others; 4) problematic geoscience work and/or technical deficiencies; 5) misrepresentation of findings, or the giving of unsupported opinions; and 6) mixed other offences. The most frequently used penalty in these cases is the reprimand. Next most frequent is revocation. Revocations include resignations with prejudice, where the geoscientist chose to resign their membership rather than allow the matter to proceed to discipline. Suspensions, requirements for remedial education and/or fines are also frequent penalties. Combinations of different penalties are common. It is evident that rigorous procedures are in place in a number of countries and that they are being used to address the unp","PeriodicalId":55106,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience Canada","volume":"44 1","pages":"181-190"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43457489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Geoscience CanadaPub Date : 2017-12-19DOI: 10.12789/GEOCANJ.2017.44.123
G. Young
{"title":"Sharing our Vital Science: Observations of a Public Geologist","authors":"G. Young","doi":"10.12789/GEOCANJ.2017.44.123","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12789/GEOCANJ.2017.44.123","url":null,"abstract":"*The following piece endeavours to capture the content of the Presidential Address presented at the Kingston GAC–MAC in May, 2017. The accompanying images are selected from the many slides with which the lecture was illustrated.","PeriodicalId":55106,"journal":{"name":"Geoscience Canada","volume":"44 1","pages":"125-132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48227101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}