Helping Identify Alberta’s Potential
Companies and governments rely on many types of data and information when exploring for or evaluating minerals in any area. Past and present mineral exploration activities in Alberta, as illustrated in the Minerals of Alberta map (Map 655), indicate that our province is prospective for a wide array of metallic and industrial minerals, including minerals recovered from industrial waste products. Recent exploration activity has focused on lithium, uranium, base metals, and industrial minerals. We provide the public with geoscience information relevant for mineral exploration and development, including geological maps, models, and reports, as well as interactive tools for viewing and downloading available data, such as the Alberta Interactive Minerals Map (AIMM).
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More Information About Mineral Exploration
The Alberta Geological Survey creates and publishes geological information that supports understanding of Alberta’s geology. This information is essential for investigating and exploring mineral systems and deposits. Our published products include maps, reports, digital datasets, and 3D models of geology and specific rock properties. These products provide insights into surface and subsurface geology, geochemistry, and geophysics, among other topics. Below is a list of some of our most popular products relevant to mineral exploration in Alberta:
- Surficial Geology of Alberta
- Bedrock Geology of Alberta
- Geology of the Alberta Rocky Mountains and Foothills
- Precambrian Geology of Northeastern Alberta
- Glacial Flowlines of Alberta
- Alberta Table of Formations
- GIS Compilation of Structural Elements
- Geological Framework of Alberta
- Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin
The Minerals of Alberta map (Map 655) presents a view of various non-energy mineral resources in the province and the extents of prospective areas for the exploration of undiscovered resources. Resources included are minerals, subsurface brines and other materials naturally occurring in rocks and sediments.
The map highlights select locations with current and past production, as well as the locations of selected exploration projects that are deemed by the authors to have the potential to become mineable in the future, if conditions are favourable. The details about these selected producers, past producers, and projects were compiled from publicly available information including mineral assessment reports, industry technical reports, academic papers, and government publications and datasets.
The map also highlights areas deemed prospective for the exploration of minerals from a geological perspective. Prospective areas were outlined using geological maps, three-dimensional geological models, mineral occurrence datasets, geochemical and geophysical data, mineralogical data, mineral agreements and dispositions, mineral resource estimates, and satellite imagery. Information was derived from government, academia, and industry publications. These areas constitute regions for the exploration of undiscovered resources outlined at a provincial scale. No attempt was made to quantify or rank overall mineral prospectivity, probability of extraction, or potential.
Accompanying the Minerals of Alberta map are several compilation datasets that include more detailed information from government and industry sources. Explore the map and its digital datasets below.
Explore the Map and its Digital Datasets:
For over a century, the Alberta Geological Survey has evaluated and researched numerous mineral resources across the province, publishing both regional evaluation reports and detailed commodity-specific studies. Our first report on Alberta’s mineral resources was authored by John Allan in 1920. More recent publications focus on describing and evaluating the potential of mineral resources of particular interest, such as:
- Lithium
- Vanadium
- Rare Earth Elements
- Helium
- Diamonds
- Gold
- Base Metals
Explore Our Popular Mineral Reports:
- Origin of Lithium and Other Alkali Metals in Devonian Brines of Alberta
- Uranium Potential in Alberta
- Rare Earth Element Potential in Alberta Oil Sands and Bedrock REE
- Gold Grain Counts from Surficial Sediment Samples from Alberta
- Brine Geochemical Data
- Vanadium Potential in Alberta
- Vanadium and Nickel Potential in Alberta Bitumen and Bedrock
- Regional Till Geochemistry and a Catchment Basin Analysis of Stream Sediment Geochemistry
- Helium Data Relationships from Gas Analyses in Alberta
- Lithium and Helium in Alberta
- Kimberlite-Indicator Minerals Outside Known Kimberlite Fields
We provide data resources to support the evaluation of mineral occurrences and exploration properties. Our compiled datasets are designed for regional mineral assessment and exploration to help streamline exploration workflows, reduce uncertainty, and enhance decision-making in mineral resource development. Compiled mineral-related datasets include indicator mineralogy (identifying transported minerals that indicate the presence of a specific type of mineralization, alteration or lithology), formation water chemistry (i.e., naturally occurring saline water in geological formations), and mineral occurrences.
Explore Our Popular Compiled Mineral Datasets:
- Mineral Occurrences of Alberta
- Kimberlite-Indicator Minerals Outside Known Kimberlite Fields
- Brine Geochemical Data, Mineral Mapping Program, 2021–2024
- Lithium, Boron, and Strontium Isotopes in Fine-Grained Rocks from the Alberta Basin
- Lithium and Helium in Alberta: Data Compilation and Preliminary Observations
- Geochemistry Data of Lithium-Bearing Groundwater in the Alberta Basin Compiled from Multiple Sources
- Kimberlite and Ultrabasic Occurrences
- Kimberlite Indicator Minerals Chemistry
- Lithium Concentrations in Formation Water
We provide open access to provincial minerals data through online interactive maps and downloadable files. Two interactive maps, the Alberta Interactive Minerals Map (AIMM) and the Alberta Sand and Gravel Deposits Map, allow users to visualize and explore mineral occurrences, related data, geologic maps, and prospective areas for various commodities without downloading files or installing specialized software such as GIS applications. You'll even find links to download the data for your own use!
Explore Our Data:
Mineral exploration and production activities in Alberta are governed by the Mineral Resource Development Act (MRDA). Under this legislation, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) serves as the sole, full life-cycle regulator for metallic and industrial minerals, including both rock-hosted and brine-hosted resources. The AER’s authority covers all stages of development, from exploration through production to closure, within a framework designed to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible operations.
The MRDA excludes petroleum, oil, bituminous sands, oil sands, natural gas, coal, ammonite shell, sand, gravel, clay, peat, and marl. The AER continues to regulate petroleum, oil, asphalt, bituminous sands, oil sands, natural gas, and coal under existing relevant legislation.
Companies seeking to explore or develop mineral resources must comply with the requirements outlined in AER directives and manuals, including Manual 030: Rock-Hosted Mineral Exploration and Directive 91: Rock-Hosted Mineral Resource Development. These documents provide guidance on application processes, environmental stewardship, and reclamation obligations.
Learn More:
- Directive 91: Rock-Hosted Mineral Resource Development
- Manual 030: Rock-Hosted Mineral Exploration
- Alberta Energy Regulator's Emerging Resources
- Government of Alberta’s Ammonite Shell Tool Kit
- Government of Alberta’s Surface Materials Regulations
- Alberta Energy Regulator’s Jurisdiction Over Borrow Pits
- Alberta Energy’s Metallic and Industrial Minerals Interactive Map
- Government of Alberta’s Mineral Permits, Leases, and Maintenance
- Government of Alberta’s Placer Gold Mining Tool Kit
- Alberta Energy’s Annual Reports on Mineral Development
- Government of Alberta’s Mineral Resource Development Act
The Alberta Geological Survey is undertaking an ongoing initiative to transform mineral assessment reports into accessible, structured data. These reports, originally submitted by the mineral exploration industry to the Government of Alberta, contain valuable geological information that has historically only been available in PDF format.
The goal of the program is to digitize and standardize data collected over many years, such as drill hole records, geophysical measurements, rock and sediment samples, water analyses, and geochemical results, so that researchers, industry professionals, and the public can easily access and use this information. By converting these reports into a searchable dataset, the program supports resource development, environmental studies, and scientific research, while preserving Alberta’s geological knowledge for future generations.
Data Extracted from Selected Alberta Mineral Assessment Reports:
- Drillhole data
- Outcrop descriptions and sample geochemistry
- Sediment geochemistry
- Surface water and groundwater chemistry
- Outcrop section logs and sample geochemistry
- Gamma-ray spectrometry data
In addition to our reports, data, and interactive maps, there is mineral exploration information available from Alberta Energy Regulator and Alberta Energy. This includes Alberta Energy Regulator's annual Alberta Energy Outlook (ST98), and Alberta Energy’s reports on Alberta’s mineral agreement interactive maps, and Mineral Assessment Reports.
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