The Earth Sciences in Canada 9781487578152

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THE EARTH SCIENCES IN CANADA A Centennial Appraisal and Forecast

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA Special Publications 1 The Grenville Problem. Edited by

JAMES E . THOMSON

2 The Proterozoic in Canada. Edited by 3 Soils in Canada. Edited by

JAMES E. GILL

ROBERT F. LEGGET

4 The Tectonics of the Canadian Shield. Edited by 5 Marine Distributions. Edited by

J.

s.

STEVENSON

M. J. DUNBAR

6 Studies in Analytical Geochemistry. Edited by

DENNIS M. SHAW

7 Crucial Maps in the Early Cartography and Place-Nomenclature of the Atlantic Coast of Canada. By w. F . GANONG. With an Introduction, Commentary, and Map Notes by

THEODORE E. LAYNG

8 Geochronology in Canada. Edited by 9 Continental Drift. Edited by G.D.

F. FITZ OSBORNE

GARLAND

10 Appalachian Tectonics. Edited by T.

H. CLARK

11 The Earth Sciences in Canada: A Centennial Appraisal and Forecast. Edited by E. R. w. NEALE

THE EARTH SCIENCES IN CANADA A Centennial Appraisal and Forecast

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS, NO. 11 Edited by E. R. W. Neale

Published by University of Toronto Press in co-operation with The Royal Society of Canada, 1968

©

University of Toronto Press 1968 Printed in Canada

Reprinted in 2018 ISBN 8020 1523 9

ISBN 978-1-4875-7900-5 (paper)

CONTENTS Preface

vii

Contributors

xi

The Nature and Organization of Earth Sciences in Canada J · M. HARRISON, F.R.s .c., D. c. ROSE, F.R.S.c., and R. J. UFFEN, F.R.s.c.

3

Trends in Geological Research in Canada H. R. WYNNE-EDWARDS and J. F. HENDERSON, F.R.s.c.

13

Trends in Geophysical Research in Canada

G.D. GARLAND, F.R.S.C.

37

COLIN W. STEARN, F.R.S.C.

52

C. F. BURK, JR.

75

Geological Education in Canada Data in the Earth Sciences

Geological Concepts and the Search for Ore, 1930-1967 C. J . SULLIVAN

The Changing Role of Mining Geophysics in Canada

HAROLD

82

o. SEIGEL 100

The Evolution of Techniques and Concepts in Geochemical Prospecting R. w. BOYLE, F.R.S.C. and A. Y. SMITH 117 Geotechnique and National Development

129

ROBERT F. LEGGET, F.R.s.c.

186

R.

Hydrogeology: A Decennial Appraisal and Forecast Geology in the Public Eye

w.

LANDES

Geosciences in the Petroleum Industry

P. MEYBOOM

203

D. M. BAIRD, F.R.s.c.

222

The Influence of the Mineral Industry on the National Economy J.-P. DROLET and R. B. TOOMBS 231

Ce volume est le resultat d'un collogue tenu par la Division des sciences de la terre de la Societe royale du Canada; le collogue eut lieu a Ottawa, en 1967, annee du Centenaire du Canada. La reunion avait pour but de faire le point de l'activite et des realisations du pays clans le domaine des sciences de la terre et d'etablir des jalons et des previsions pour l'avenir. Les travaux presentes au cours de ce collogue portaient sur les tendances clans l'enseignement universitaire, ainsi que sur la recherche pure et appliquee et !'organisation des sciences de la terre au Canada. Ces etudes sont destinees aussi bien a ceux qui s'occupent de !'orientation de la science clans l'industrie, les gouvernements et les universites qu'a ceux qui poursuivent des recherches. Parmi les auteurs, on trouve plusieurs Canadiens qui ont acquis une renommee mondiale de meme que plusieurs jeunes scientifiques qui s'emploient actuellement a mettre au point de nouveaux concepts clans le domaine des sciences de la terre au Canada. Der vorliegende Band ist das Ergebnis eines im Jahre 1967 aus Anlass der Hundertjahrfeier Kanadas von der Abteilung Geologische Wissenschaften der Koniglich Kanadischen Gesellschaft in Ottawa abgehaltenen Symposions,

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5. Inferred relationships between basalt, eclogite, and basaltic liquid. Diagram simplified from Yoder and Tilley ( 1962).

27

TRENDS IN GEOLOGICAL RESEARCH

degree of confidence as a thermal gradient derived from heat-flow measurements. Eclogite, a dense garnet-pyroxene rock, occurs either as small bodies associated with highly deformed metamorphic rocks of various metamorphic grades, or as inclusions in ultrabasic bodies. The diagram shows that eclogite is unlikely to be stable under the conditions to be found within the continental crust, and that it more probably represents pieces of the mantle emplaced at higher levels by tectonic or magmatic processes. The 0 r-:::'.-----""T'"------r------""T'"-------, 0

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1966

1960

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FIGURE 4

TABLE V VALUE OF CANADIAN MERCHANDISE EXPORTS BY COMMODITY CLASS (millions of dollars)

Year

Farm and fish products

Forest products

Metals and minerals

Manufactured goods

1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966

935 1,149 1,329 1,258 984 917 1,121 1,012 1,172 1,090 1,018 1,301 1,264 1,464 1,844 1,736 2,007

1,102 1,377 1,363 1,283 1,365 1,505 1,496 1,451 1,410 1,511 1,587 1,623 1,701 1,824 2,009 2,100 2,240

605 764 922 904 917 1,227 1,472 1,597 1,439 1,657 1,814 1,861 2,063 2,169 2,493 2,686 2,929

368 475 543 513 441 427 489 533 572 564 600 719 902 1,073 1,441 1,665 2,527

Source : Bank of Canada.

MINERAL INDUSTRY AND NATIONAL ECONOMY

245

from merchandise exports: the mineral industry accounted for over 30 per cent of these exports. The deficit in current account of $1,083 million in 1965 was balanced by capital movements in the capital account. The role of mineral-industry transactions in the capital account can be noted by reference to direct investments. Gross capital inflows amounted to $443 million, with mining and the petroleum industry accounting for 58 per cent, and this does not include capital inflows into mineral-based manufacturing industries. The mineral industry is also the source of other transactions in the capital account. Another evidence of the industry's economic influence is seen in the fact that the net favourable balance in mineral trade in 1965 was $992.4 million. Inasmuch as the deficit in current transactions was $1,083 million, the net favourable balance in the mineral industry was a critical factor in keeping the current account within manageable limits. In 1966 the deficit in the current-account balance declined somewhat to $983 million; the increase in non-ferrous metals exports of $150 million and of $40 million in petroleum and natural gas contributed to this favourable trend and helped to counterbalance the increase in imports elsewhere in the economy. The deficit in the current account has been a continuing problem in recent years and, consequently, the mineral industry's favourable trade balance is becoming of increasing significance in Canada's balance of international payments position. The dynamic role that the mineral industry plays in the economy's growth is well illustrated by such economic indicators as the index of industrial production. As noted in Table VI and Figure 5, the index representative of industrial production as a whole in 1966 reached 275, on a 1949 base, whereas the mining index comprising metals, non-metals, and fuels was considerably higher at 394. The manufacturing index was 24 7. The indexes for the manufacturing sector show the relatively more rapid growth of mineral-based manufacturing compared with the composite manufacturing index (Table VII and Fig. 6). The real domestic product volume index shows relative gains for mining, in comparison with other resource industries: in 1966, these indexes stood at 394 for mining, 172 for forestry, and 167 for agriculture on a 1949 base of 100 (Table VIII). The regional impact of mineral industry development has been particularly notable in the prairie provinces. The size of Alberta's economy has been almost doubled as a result of oil industry growth in the past 20 years and has been greatly diversified from the one-time agricultural economy. More than $2 billion has accrued to the provincial government as revenue from the petroleum industry since 1946, and the more than $600 million now spent annually on exploration, development, and production has a tremendous multiplying effect throughout the economy of this province. In Saskatchewan, oil and potash developments are major growth forces, while in Manitoba the Thompson nickel operation and related mineral enterprises of the 1960's are doing much to extend that province's northern frontier.

246

J.-P. DROLET AND R. B. TOOMBS

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INDEXES OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION (1949=100)

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