SIGÉOM is a unique spatial reference geomining information system. It contains the entire Québec geoscientific database collected over the past 150 years. Every year, it grows richer with additional data coming from geological mapping surveys, prospection and exploration activities undertaken by the Ministry, mining companies and universities.
You will find :
An interactive map which gives a global overview of the SIGÉOM database.
Web map services that allow you to access the SIGÉOM database over the internet, and load import data directly into your GIS software.
The SIGÉOM à la carte gives access to the entire geoscientific database. This site allows searches to be performed by precise criteria and to get maps in different file formats.
EXAMINE constitutes the gateway to Géologie Québec record holdings with more than 80,000 documents (bibliographic data, reports, maps).
With SIGÉOM, you can visualise, consult and download the product of your choice.
The SIGÉOM database is a compilation of geologic information from governmental surveys, exploration works from the mining industry and university research literature. Geoscientific data essentially come from the fields of geology, geochemistry and geophysics.
Today's replacement value of SIGÉOM data is estimated at approximately four billion dollars. For works completed before 2004, cost evaluation is based on the estimation of investment costs for different types of surveys. For instance, the cost value of diamond drillings, which equals to more than 50% of the estimated database cost, has been set at 25$ per foot. Since 2004, the replacement value of SIGÉOM data represents actual expenses made by mineral exploration companies and the Québec government. These financial data are provided by mining credit management systems and government accounting services. The aforementioned replacement value represents a minimal estimation, since the analysis is not in constant dollars and some costs represent very conservative estimates.
Designing and implementation of SIGÉOM required a total investment of over $40 million since 1993. This number includes budgets allocated to data entry by the Ministry's personnel as well as maintenance and upgrading technologies.
SIGÉOM is a very important asset for Quebec's sustainable development. It makes mineral exploration more efficient by avoiding duplication of work and reducing the ecological footprint thereof. The resulting savings thus enable companies to invest their resources more wisely. SIGÉOM will continue to progress over time, as its value and usefulness are a true golden heritage!
The Step-by-step User Guide - Mastering the SIGÉOM Data helps users to choose between the different types of data source access available in order to compare and understand advantages and limits of technologies (formats) available. This guide is for all SIGÉOM users, from casual users searching for data about the general geology of Quebec to geomaticians interested in data access technologies.
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Types of cookies used by GoogleYou may freely use the content of these documents by simply mentioning the source. However, you are not allowed to sell this content. To do this, simply include the Government of Québec's copyright notice on the partial or total copy of the document.
To quote a source in the text, you must always indicate the author and year of publication. You must also mention the page where the quotation is found.
Example:
MERN, 2018. Plan quinquennal du Bureau de la connaissance géoscientifique du Québec, Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles 2016-2021. DV 2018-01, 20 pages
For EXAMINE documents please read the license.
For SIGÉOM data please read the conditions of access and use relative to our products.
Corresponds to the «Reference» display format in Examine
Example:
Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF), 2021 - Interactive map. MRNF, Québec; Online products and services - Mines, Interactive Map, https://sigeom.mines.gouv.qc.ca/signet/classes/I1108_afchCarteIntr (Quebec Geomining Information System consulted on December 2, 2021).
From the Trousse éducative (Educational Kit), you have access to educational material and thematic posters of the Géologie pour tous (Geology for All) series (https://mern.gouv.qc.ca/mines/trousse-educative/).
If you are a member of the education sector, you can obtain a free hard copy of a poster. Simply contact the Mines Service Centre at the following email address: service.mines@mern.gouv.qc.ca
You can download a digital copy of these books by following the links below:
Géologie des ressources minérales : https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/EXAMINE/MM200801
Des mines et des hommes : https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/EXAMINE/GT201301
The Interactive Map, which is freely available, allows a rapid visualization of numerous geological data in Quebec (geological units, mineral deposits, diamond drillings, etc.) which could be linked to mining data (mining activities, mines and projects, mining titles) and geographical data (satellite imagery, hydrography, topography, etc.).
The Interactive Map is unique and offers many features, including rapid display, zooming, transparency in data layer, as well as data selection and query. This easy-to-use tool makes geological, geographic and mining data available to all. The Interactive Map offers another significant feature: real-time access to the database, enabling users to benefit from continuously updated data. This is particularly important for certain users.
The so-called « Pseudo-Mercator » projection (also called "Web Mercator" or simply "Mercator"; EPSG code: 3857) is used in the SIGÉOM Interactive Map.
This projection utilizes a projected coordinate system used by many open source data providers (e.g. OpenStreetMap) and Web services (e.g. Google Maps). It is bounded by latitudes 85° N and 85° S so that when the world map is displayed, it appears in a square.
Government of Québec - Map Background Service (Service de fonds de carte) (WMTS) : http://www.igouverte.org/documentation/services-web-ogc-igo/
Imagery of the Government of Québec : https://mern.gouv.qc.ca/repertoire-geographique/vue-aerienne-quebec-imagerie-continue/
You may share your map as it appears on the screen with other users. Please refer to Section 2.11 of the Step-by-step User Guide - Mastering the SIGÉOM Data.
Certain layers are visible only from a specific scale for performance reasons and in order to answer all requests. Here is a list of layers with their respective display scales:
| Layer | Visible scale range |
|---|---|
| Major restrictions | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Minor restrictions | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Drilling surveys | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Exploration surveys | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Quaternary surveys | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Geochemical surveys | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Geological surveys | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Sediment samples | From 1 to 545,978 |
| Rock samples | From 1 to 272,989 |
| Morpho-sedimentological zones | From 1 to 545,978 |
| Quaternary observation sites | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Unconformity contacts | From 1 to 545,978 |
| Regional folds | From 1 to 545,978 |
| Regional geology | From 1 to 545,978 |
| Regional faults | From 1 to 545,978 |
| Compilation outcrops | From 1 to 545,978 |
| Geofiche outcrops | From 1 to 545,978 |
| Electromagnetic anomalies | From 1 to 545,978 |
| Mapping targets | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| 3D modeling targets | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Potential Evaluation targets | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Quaternary targets | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Geochemical targets | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Geophysics targets | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Diamond drillings | From 1 to 272,989 |
| Active mining rights | From 1 to 272,989 |
| Mining rights on demand | From 1 to 272,989 |
| Observation stations | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
| Peatlands | From 1 to 2,183,911 |
SIGÉOM services are designed to deliver images with maximum dimensions of 2,000 by 1,500 pixels. This limitation ensures an acceptable image resolution while considering the performance capabilities of servers that have to adequately answer all queries.
If you have used the browser zoom , the window's dimensions might exceed permitted values. To restore the display, you may use the keyboard shortcuts as follow:
«CTRL +» to zoom in
«CTRL -» to zoom out
«CTRL 0» for default level.
More info : http://www.wikihow.com/Zoom-With-a-Web-Browser
«A Web service is a rapid means to enable communication over the internet among various clients, providers and partners, regardless of languages and platforms used, a capacity known as interoperability. Web services comply with the specifications of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) to make data accessible to all over the Internet.»
In digital cartography, Web services enable users to display maps and to process and save certain data as required. A Web map service (WMS) is therefore not an application in itself, but rather a data source used by different applications. It is integrated into a project through a «URL» address, which contains parameters related to the requested data, the coordinate system, the area of interest, etc. This method of dissemination is used to display maps from a Web site or from a geographic information system (GIS). A WMS server delivers the image requested from the GIS or the Web site through the Internet. The various data sets are then superimposed by the GIS or the Web site in order to produce the desired map. This approach provides the user with regularly updated data by official providers, with return periods dictated by respective mandates thereof. Today, several freely available and commercial softwares allow online connection to a data source using Web map services.
Web map services therefore facilitate a more effective dissemination of geospatial data from anywhere in the world, whether these are vector or descriptive data, metadata, raster images, map layouts, etc.
Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles, March 31, 2015. «Cadre de référence technique pour l'implantation de services Web géographiques».
Advantages
- Freely available;
- Real-time access to a database by displaying updated information without import/export. This means you can access directly all the data;
- Avoids acquiring, converting, processing, updating and storing data;
- Allows for viewing, querying and analysis of data;
- Allows for creating composite maps (mashup) by combining Web Map Services from different sources, resulting in value-added content;
- Utilises open standards and protocols, hence easily accessible from a wide range of applications on computers, tablets and smart phones (any device equipped with Internet access);
- Software licence is not required.
Disadvantages
- Internet access required;
- Display waiting time are sometimes very long, depending on the speed of the Internet service, the browser, the operating system used, etc.;
- Data analysis is currently limited;
- Data download is not possible.
This page contains all the necessary information to connect to SIGÉOM Web Map Services.
For performance reasons, certain data are visible only from a specific pre-determined scale. The following table lists the scale of view for each layer.
| Layer | Visible scale range |
|---|---|
| Mining activity | |
| Major restrictions | From 1 to 200,000 |
| Minor restrictions | From 1 to 200,000 |
| Documents | |
| Drilling surveys | From 1 to 200,000 |
| Exploration surveys | From 1 to 200,000 |
| Quaternary surveys | From 1 to 200,000 |
| Geochemical surveys | From 1 to 200,000 |
| Geological surveys | From 1 to 200,000 |
| Geochemistry | |
| Sediment samples | From 1 to 700,000 |
| Rock samples | From 1 to 300,000 |
| Quaternary geology | |
| Morpho-sedimentological zones | From 1 to 700,000 |
| Observation sites | From 1 to 2,200,000 |
| Bedrock geology | |
| Unconformity contacts | From 1 to 700,000 |
| Regional folds | From 1 to 700,000 |
| Regional geology | From 1 to 700,000 |
| Regional faults | From 1 to 700,000 |
| Compilation outcrops | From 1 to 700,000 |
| Geofiche outcrops | From 1 to 700,000 |
| Geophysics | |
| Electromagnetic anomalies | From 1 to 700,000 |
| Mineral Potential | |
| Mapping targets | From 1 to 2,200,000 |
| 3D modeling targets | From 1 to 2,200,000 |
| Potential evaluation targets | From 1 to 2,200,000 |
| Quaternary targets | From 1 to 2,200,000 |
| Geochimical targets | From 1 to 2,200,000 |
| Geophysics targets | From 1 to 2,200,000 |
| Drilling | |
| Diamond drillings | From 1 to 700,000 |
| Mining titles | |
| Active mining rights | From 1 to 500,000 |
| Mining rights on demand | From 1 to 500,000 |
| Peat | |
| Observation stations | From 1 to 2,200,000 |
| Peatlands | From 1 to 2,200,000 |
SIGÉOM services are designed to deliver images with maximum dimensions of 2,000 by 1,500 pixels. This limitation ensures an acceptable image resolution while considering the performance capabilities of servers that have to adequately answer all queries.
Data are available in several projection systems. Details are reported in the technical description found under Web Map Services.
You will need a Geographic Information System (GIS) or a Web application compatible with OGC standards to use SIGÉOM Web Map Services. Here is a list of freely available tools:
- QGIS : http://www.qgis.org (recommanded)
- gvSIG : http://www.gvsig.com/home
- ArcGIS Explorer Desktop distributed by ESRI : http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/explorer
- uDig : http://udig.refractions.net/
- OpenJUMP distributed by OpenJUMP.Project : http://www.openjump.org/
Sections 3.5 (QGIS) and 4.4 (ArcGIS) of the document entitled Step-by-step User Guide - Mastering SIGÉOM Data describe the steps to follow to integrate SIGÉOM data into a project using the WMS Web Map Services.
It is impossible for a client to obtain the entire documentary collection in a single request.
EXAMINE documents (reports, digital data, maps) are available individually for free download by searching in EXAMINE or using a search engine (Google, Bing, etc).
Yes, you can view documents relating to closed mines through the Examine document collection.
If the documents you are interested in are not available in Examine, you should contact the Mines Service Centre: service.mines@mern.gouv.qc.ca
Documents containing georeferenced plans are easily recognisable as follows:
- the icon appears in front of the document while in « Summary » display. By clicking on the icon, plans will be displayed in the Interactive map;
- the « Location and georeferenced plans on the map » button is available for each document in « Complete » and « Summary » displays;
It is therefore possible to visualize georeferenced plans in the Interactive map. In the left menu bar, under «Temporary Layers» the list of selected georeferenced plans will appear.
Each plan has an associated check box to activate or disable display, a slider to adjust transparency and a button to display the legend, if applicable. The following icons are used
to center a document on the map;
to delete a document from the « Temporary Layers » section
Georeferenced plans can be displayed in any GIS environment (QGIS, ArcGIS, MapInfo, Interactive map) by using WMS Services. To do so, you will need to copy the service web address in your environment.
From one document to another, only the last part of the WMS link changes. The generic link format is as follows:
http://sigeom.mines.gouv.qc.ca/ApolloCatalogWMSPublic/service.svc/get?layers=document number
The link for document DP 2015-05 will therefore be:
Example : http://sigeom.mines.gouv.qc.ca/ApolloCatalogWMSPublic/service.svc/get?layers=DP201505
SIGÉOM products are free since September 1st, 2018.
The Atlas géoscientifique allows the user to order and download the database (geology, geophysics, geochemistry, etc.) for all of Québec, or for a given NTS map sheet, in ArcGIS File Geodatabase (FGDB), Shapefile, comma-separated values (CSV) and Geopackage (GPKG) formats.
SIGÉOM à la carte is used to order and download one or multiple specific geoscientific elements in ArcGIS File Geodatabase (FGDB), Shapefile, comma-separated values (CSV) and Geopackage (GPKG) formats.
EXAMINE allows you to order and download digital data (FGDB, ShapeFile, Geotiff, Grid, Geosoft, XYZ, .BIN, .DAT, and .XLSX coordinate files, etc.) from geological reports produced by the Ministry. These data can be found under the Other digital data section.
Access to all documents
* Please note that only the perimeters covering assessment works are available in the Atlas géoscientifique vector data and SIGÉOM à la carte. The content of assessment work reports is only available through EXAMINE holdings.
The glossary containing the SIGÉOM database elements gives a description for each field in alphabetical order.
Documents are available here.
The Quebec Geomining Information System (SIGÉOM) uses numerous symbols and abbreviations to illustrate and describe the various geometric elements presented on:
Symboles and abbreviations used in SIGÉOM databases are grouped under different themes. Each theme provides users with an overview of the characteristics and rules used by Géologie Québec for the cartographic representation of the various geometric elements.
The information on this site is updated regularly as changes are made to the database and new feature layers are added to SIGÉOM. It replaces information previously published in the PRO 2000-08 and DV 2014-06 documents. This site also includes several elements of the General Geological Map Legend (Légende générale de la carte géologique; MB 96-28).
The document Geoscience Map Symbols and Abbreviations (Symboles et abréviations de la carte géoscientifique; DV 2014-06) provides an overview of the symbology used in SIGÉOM. It includes the geological map's colour grid legend, the list of lithologies, geological ages, minerals, structures and textures. It also provides simple explanations for applying the SIGÉOM symbology in the ArcGIS environment.
There are two layers of geological coverage in SIGÉOM: Regional Geology et General Geology.
The Regional Geology layer is the geological coverage resulting from the data collected during geological surveys carried out annually by Géologie Québec at a regional scale. At this scale, geological knowledge is not homogeneous throughout Quebec as many elements are still unknown to produce a unique and complete legend for the province. In this case, it is necessary to refer to the different legends of the geological maps that are based on geological surveys.
The General Geology layer is a homogeneous geological coverage of the entire province resulting from the synthesis and simplification of the regional geology layer. For this layer, there is a unique and complete lithological legend for Quebec. It accompanies the Geological Map of Quebec at scale 1:2 000 000 (Carte géologique du Québec; (DV 2012-06), which is available free of charge.
