Southern Ontario Surficial 3D Model

To support improved groundwater geoscience knowledge for southern Ontario, a regional 3-D model of the surficial geology of southern Ontario has been developed as a part of a collaboration between the Ontario Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Canada. Covering approximately 66,870 km2 in area, the model is a synthesis of existing geological models, surficial geology mapping, and subsurface data. The model is a simplified 9-layer reclassification of numerous mapped local surficial sediment formations in places over 200 m thick with a total volume of approximately 2,455 km3. The model integrates 1:50,000 scale surficial geology mapping with 90 m bathymetrically corrected topographic digital elevation model (DEM) and 8 existing local 3-D models. Archival subsurface data include 10,237 geotechnical and stratigraphic boreholes, 3,312 picks from geophysical surveys, 15,902 field mapping sites and sections, 537 monitoring and water supply wells and 282,995 water well records. Roughly corresponding to regional aquifer and aquitard layers, primary model layers are (from oldest to youngest): Bedrock, Basal Aquifer, Lower Sediment, Regional Till, Post Regional Till Channel Fill, Glaciofluvial Sediment, Post Regional Till Mud, Glaciolacustrine Sand and Recent Sediment / Organics. Modelling was completed using an implicit modelling application (LeapFrog®) complemented by an expert knowledge approach to data classification and rules-based Expert System procedure for data interpretation and validation. An iterative cycle of automated data coding, intermediate model construction and manual data corrections, expert evaluations, and revisions lead to the final 3-D model. A semi-quantitative confidence assessment has been made for each model layer surface based on data quality, distribution and density. This surficial geology model completes the development of a series of regional 3-D geological and hydrogeological models for southern Ontario.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated April 17, 2026, 21:24 (UTC)
Created April 17, 2026, 21:24 (UTC)
contact_email nrcan.gsc-geosciencedata-donneesgeoscience-cgc.rncan@canada.ca
contact_person {"en": "Government of Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Geological Survey of Canada - GSC Central Canada,Government of Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Geological Survey of Canada,voice; 1 (613) 9477068,charles.logan@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca,nrcan.gsc-geosciencedata-donneesgeoscience-cgc.rncan@canada.ca", "fr": "Gouvernement du Canada; Ressources naturelles Canada; Commission géologique du Canada - CGC Centre du Canada,Gouvernement du Canada; Ressources naturelles Canada; Commission géologique du Canada,charles.logan@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca,nrcan.gsc-geosciencedata-donneesgeoscience-cgc.rncan@canada.ca"}
criticality_level []
data_dictionary EPSG:26917,http://www.epsg-registry.org/,6.14
geographic_scope []
open_canada_collection fgp
open_canada_date_published 2024-06-14 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords {"en": ["Anthropogenic deposits", "Colluvial and mass-wasting deposits", "Undifferentiated deposits", "Organic deposits", "Samples", "Geomorphological features", "Recent Geological Events", "Surficial Geology", "Glacial Ice or Snowpack", "Material", "Methods", "Weathered bedrock or regolith", "Alluvial sediments", "Eolian sediments", "Glaciofluvial sediments", "Glacial sediments", "Glaciolacustrine sediments", "Glaciomarine sediments", "Lacustrine sediments", "Marine sediments", "Volcanic deposits", "Bedrock", "Surficial Geology Unit Types", "Named units", "Aquifer", "Aquifer system", "Aquitard", "Surficial geology"], "fr": ["Dépôts anthopogéniques", "Dépôts de versants", "Dépôts non différenciés", "Dépôts organiques", "Échantillons", "Éléments géomorphologiques", "Événements géologiques récents", "Géologie des formations superficielles", "Glace glaciaire ou neige pérenne", "Matériel", "Méthodes", "Roc météorisé ou régolithe", "Sédiments alluviaux", "Sédiments éoliens", "Sédiments fluvioglaciaires", "Sédiments glaciaires", "Sédiments glaciolacustres", "Sédiments glaciomarins", "Sédiments lacustres", "Sédiments marins", "Sédiments volcaniques", "Substrat rocheux", "Types d'unité de géologie de surface", "Unités nommées", "Aquifère", "Système aquifère", "Aquitard", "Géologie des dépôts meubles"]}
open_canada_subject ["form_descriptors", "nature_and_environment", "science_and_technology"]
sensitivity_level unrestricted
title_fr Modèle 3D de surface du sud de l'Ontario
update_frequency not_planned