Geoscience

Geological Survey Activity Tracker

Southwest Manitoba

 

Silica sands of the Winnipeg Formation

 

Digital elevation map showing distribution of the Winnipeg Formation in pink; NTS 250K sheets are labelled. Areas of interest are highlighted in red. Inlay is microscope image of silica sand of the WInnipeg Formation. Click image to enlarge.Project Information

Principal investigators:
Kathryn Lapenskie, Michelle Nicolas

Partnered with:
Claim Post Resources Inc., Victory Silica Ltd.

Location:
NTS 62H, 62I, 62P, 63K, 63J

 

Project Description

Main objectives:

The overall objective of this project is to assess the economic potential of the silica sands of the Winnipeg Formation, specifically as its usefulness as a proppant for the fracking industry, through analyses and lithostratigraphy.

Methodology:

  • Provide detailed geological descriptions of the Winnipeg Formation through examinations of outcrop and drillcore.
  • Correlate lithofacies changes throughout the subcrop-outcrop belt of the Winnipeg Formation within the Williston Basin.
  • Assess the variation in quality of the silica sands of the various lithofacies through qualitative and quantitative analyses, including geochemical and proppant testing.
  • Detailed isopachs and structure contour maps of economically significant areas will be generated for the Winnipeg Formation.

 

Benefits:

This project will provide a valuable update to the economic potential of the high purity silica sands of the Winnipeg Formation. It will be the first report the Manitoba Geological Survey produces that specifically examines the potential of this formation as a frac sand.

 

Plans for fiscal year 2020–2021:

  • Not available

 

Completed outputs:

2019–2020

Lapenskie, K. 2019: Lithostratigraphy and brief lithological descriptions of logged Phanerozoic core, southwestern and central Manitoba (parts of NTS 63C3, 14, 63J5, 6, 11, 12, 14); Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development, Manitoba Geological Survey, Data Repository Item DRI2019006, Microsoft® Excel® file.

Lapenskie, K. 2019: Summary of Phanerozoic core logging activities in Manitoba in 2019 (parts of NTS 63C3, 14, 63J5, 6, 11, 12, 14); in Report of Activities 2019, Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 77–82.

Lapenskie, K. 2020: Whole-rock geochemistry data of the Winnipeg Formation, west-central Manitoba (parts of NTS 63J5, 6, 11, 12, 14); Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development, Manitoba Geological Survey, Data Repository Item DRI2020006, Microsoft® Excel® file.

2018–2019

Lapenskie, K. and Nicolas, M.P.B. 2018: Lithostratigraphy of the Neepawa DDH No. 1 Prov. core at 15-29-14-14W1, southwestern Manitoba (part of NTS 62J3); in Report of Activities 2018, Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 136–149.

2016-2017

Lapenskie, K. 2016: Preliminary investigations into the high-purity silica sand of the Winnipeg Formation, southern Manitoba; in Report of Activities 2016, Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 176–180.

back to top