Surficial Geology

This layer contains point features that represent reconnaissance till sampling locations collected by the New Brunswick Geological Survey between 1986 and 2014. Samples were collected on an approximated 2 km grid, with increased density over areas of interest. At each location, observations and measurements about the forest soil profile, terrain surface, and (in some locations) forest species information were recorded, and a soil sample was collected for geochemical, lithological, and grain size analysis. Observational data are included in this layer, but analytical results are not included in this layer.  

This layer contains point features that represent till sampling locations collected by the New Brunswick Geological Survey between 2014 and present. Sampled areas and sample density are dependent on the goals of the project and historical sampling. At each location, observations and measurements about the forest soil profile and terrain surface were recorded, and a soil sample was collected for geochemical, lithological, and grain size analysis. Observational data are included in this layer, but analytical results are not included in this layer.

This layer contains point features that represent New Brunswick Geological Survey till sample locations where laboratory grain size analysis was completed. Grain size data are contained in the attribute data for each location.

Grain size analysis is limited to the dry-sieved <2 mm fraction of collected till samples. This fraction of the till sediment is subjected to hydrometer grain size analysis to determine the percentages of sand, silt, and clay. The process is based on the hydrometer method of Bouyoucous 1962.

Sand: 63 µm to 2 mm

Silt: 2µm to 63 µm

Clay: < 2 µm

Bouyoucous, G.H. (1962) Hydrometer Method Improved for Making Particle Size Analysis of Soils. Agronomy Journal, 54, 464-465

This layer contains polygon features that represent the generalized surficial geology of New Brunswick. Unconsolidated materials occurring over bedrock, are classified according to physical attributes and genesis, and categorized into map units. This layer is intended to be used at small scales (e.g., provincial scale). It is an update of the 2002 Generalized Surficial Geology Map of New Brunswick, the updates reflect re-interpretation of the geology based on additional field investigations.

This layer contains polygon features that represent granular aggregate deposits in New Brunswick. ‘Granular Aggregate’ is the term used to describe naturally occurring deposits of sand and gravel formed during the last ice-age when glaciers were melting and receding. These important resources, which are used for infrastructure construction and maintenance.

There are several files that can be used to help symbolize the features in the Surficial Geology dataset.