General note:
A majority of the sheets show drill holes in a sectional format in the various areas being explored. Areas include: Mildred and Ruth Lakes, Steepbank River, Horse River Reserve and the area north of the Muskeg River.
Exploration and drilling activity in the region at this time was a result of the depletion of oil reserves during the Second World War and the need to find and tap new reserves. In 1942 the Minister of Munitions and Supply commissioned the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada to undertake certain investigations in this area to include test drilling to find suitable deposit for a large oil plant. In 1943 this exploration was taken up as a direct activity of the Mines and Geology Branch of the Dept. of Mines and Resources.
Custodial history:
Accession was transferred from Public Records Division in 1976.
Cartographic math data:
Scales differ.
Formatted contents note:
East Steepbank River area report on exploratory drilling 1945 / Mines and Geology Branch -- Steepbank River area report on exploratory drilling 1942 to 1945 / Mines and Geology Branch -- Townships 94 and 95, range 10; township 96, range 11 west of fourth meridian report on reconnaissance drilling 1945 and 1946 / Mines and Geology Branch -- Horse River Reserve report on exploratory drilling 1944 / Mines and Geology Branch.
Location of duplicates note:
A duplicate set of RG87M 77803/3, items 1-108, was transferred by the National Archives of Canada to the Provincial Archives of Alberta in 1976 (accession PR1976.0519 in the provincial archives).
Dates of creation note:
Date range taken from finding aid. Thirty-four undated items fall within range.
Associated material note:
An account of these drilling activities is available in three volumes entitled, Drilling and Sampling of Bituminous Sands of Northern Alberta, published by the Dept. of Mines and Resources, Mines, Forests and Scientific Services Branch, Bureau of Mines. Vol. I contains the results of investigations from 1942-47, Vol. II contains detailed drilling and sampling records and Vol. III has the cross-sections and plans of the areas drilled. (TN806.C32 A4).