(April 27/2000)

LITHOPROBE, Canada's largest earth science project, will be in eastern Ontario next week with five dancing elephants.

The "elephants" -- high-tech vibrating trucks that safely send sound waves deep into the ground -- are all part of a seismic reflection survey trying to map "the inner space" of southern Ontario.

In particular, LITHOPROBE scientists want to learn more about the Grenville Province, a 40-km thick portion of the earth's crust. More than 50 percent of Canada's population now lives on top of this formation - the roots of an ancient mountain range.

The first, 160-km long survey (and the dancing elephants) will begin next week (May 1st or 2nd) near Ferguslea along the old CPR K&P line, then joining with regional roads and ending on Burnbrae Road southwest of Brockville. Much of the survey will take place on Dwyer Hill road east of Arnprior. [Maps are available here]

With data gleaned from two other planned surveys (100 km in Durham County north of greater Toronto and 150 km in the Regional Municipality of Haldimand-Norfolk in the Niagara Peninsula) scientists hope to learn the following:

1. Part of the Grenville Province runs under western Quebec, southern Ontario and probably northern New York State. Scientists don't know why but a segment of this formation is associated with low-level earthquake activity. The survey cannot distinguish between active and ancient faults. However, it will give scientists more information about the geological structures that may be related to these faults.
    
2. Seismic data from close to the earth's surface will also help identify the deep pathways of water aquifers. These data may help assess the potential effects of damage to water supplies from contamination or pollution.
    
3. In addition to mapping the basement of the Grenville region, the survey may also identify geological structures within the sediments of the Niagara peninsula that could be associated with oil and gas reservoirs.

Since 1984 LITHOPROBE seismologists have gathered more than 10,000-km worth of seismic data from across Canada. This information helps scientists create a multidimensional map of the earth's crust. Such images, in turn, help explain the geological structures responsible for tectonic activity on the Pacific coast or rich mineral plays in northwestern Ontario. By the year 2003, LITHOPROBE hopes to have a clearer idea how a variety of ancient continents, oceans and islands crunched and juggled together to form the geology of Canada. [See recent Globe and Mail article]

This field survey is funded primarily by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) in joint partnership with Natural Resources Canada and LITHOPROBE. It will significantly improve our understanding of the earth's crust in southern Ontario. Data processing, analysis and interpretation will be done by independent earth scientists from the federal and provincial government and universities. Results will be available next year and published through the normal peer review system.

For more information about OPG's involvement call
John Earl (1-877-592-4008).

And for information about the whereabouts of the "dancing elephants" call
Dale Harrison (Kinetex Inc.): 403-660-5044.

Curious about LITHOPROBE? Call our media adviser,
Doreen Docherty (403-283-5010) or
check our website:
LITHOPROBE.ca">www.LITHOPROBE.ca