New Maps Increase Geological Understanding of Western Newfoundland

To help identify prospective areas of interest for future petroleum exploration, the Department of Natural Resources has released a series of high resolution aeromagnetic maps of the province’s west coast. The maps cover a portion of offshore western Newfoundland and portions of the adjacent onshore area.

“These maps will be an important tool to help increase our geological understanding of offshore and onshore western Newfoundland where the distribution of rock types and geological features are difficult to chart,” said the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Natural Resources. “This work will help generate industry interest with the results used to identify areas having potential for petroleum prospectivity and worthy of follow-up exploration.”

Work was completed under the Offshore Geoscience Data Program (OGDP) and fulfills a joint geoscience initiative between the Department of Natural Resources, Nalcor Energy and the Geological Survey of Canada. The program is a continuation of work conducted through the Petroleum Exploration Enhancement Program and by the provincial Geological Survey division of onshore western Newfoundland which collected a number of airborne surveys in 2009.

“Work of this nature enhances our geoscience knowledge of the province,” said Minister Marshall. “This will help to bridge the gap in our understanding of the onshore and offshore geology of this part of the province.”

The maps are available at www.gov.nl.ca/nr/mines/geoscience/publications/latest_pubs.html. 

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Media contact:
Heather Maclean
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 697-4137
heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca 

2013 02 28                           3:05 p.m.