Canada - Aeromagnetic survey data compilation

This data set consists in a compilation of data acquired by aeromagnetic surveys in Canada, gridded at a 200 m and 1 km resolution. Magnetic anomalies show small variations in the magnetic field that are caused largely by variations in the magnetic properties of Earth's crust. The first vertical derivative of magnetic anomalies is calculated from the residual magnetic field and enhances the short wavelength component of the field. The magnetic character of a rock depends on its ferromagnetic mineral composition, its concentration and its deformational and metamorphic history. To map these variations, the Geological Survey of Canada has been acquiring aeromagnetic data since 1947. Over the years, more than 700 surveys have been carried out, generally with a flight-line spacing of 800 m and an altitude of 305 m above the ground, though since 2000 the majority of surveys have been flown with a line spacing of 400 m or less. These aeromagnetic surveys have been leveled to each other to correct for arbitrary datums, slow variations of Earth's magnetic field over time, and differing survey specifications. The dominant structural trends of geological provinces, truncation of those trends at structural boundaries, and the characteristic patterns of suture zones can be recognized on the magnetic anomaly map. The magnetic signature of Precambrian basement rocks can be seen through the Phanerozoic sedimentary basin cover. Major dyke swarms can be traced over hundreds of kilometers from their radiating linear magnetic pattern. Oceanic crust has a characteristic striped magnetic pattern that is due to changes in the polarity of Earth's magnetic field, which occur over intervals of millions of years.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated April 17, 2026, 19:29 (UTC)
Created April 17, 2026, 19:29 (UTC)
contact_email nrcan.infogdc-infocdg.rncan@canada.ca
contact_person {"fr": "Gouvernement du Canada; Ressources naturelles Canada; Secteur des terres et des minéraux / Commission géologique du Canada,mathieu.ouellet@canada.ca", "en": "Government of Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Lands and Minerals Sector / Geological Survey of Canada,1-613-995-5326,mathieu.ouellet@canada.ca"}
criticality_level []
data_dictionary EPSG:3978,http://www.epsg-registry.org,8.7.4
geographic_scope []
open_canada_collection fgp
open_canada_date_modified 2020-01-07 00:00:00
open_canada_date_published 2017-05-23 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords {"fr": ["levés magnétiques", "levés aériens", "Géophysique", "Sciences de la terre"], "en": ["magnetic surveys", "airborne surveys", "Geophysics", "Earth sciences"]}
open_canada_subject ["form_descriptors", "nature_and_environment", "science_and_technology"]
sensitivity_level unrestricted
title_fr Canada - Compilation de données de levés aéromagnétiques
update_frequency as_needed