Publications Issued by the GSC

The Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) is not only concerned with scientific research, but is also directly involved with providing the geoscience data needed for short-term planning and for making policy decisions on such critical subjects as nonrenewable energy resources, transportation corridors, strategic mineral resources, earthquake or landslide hazards, and other environmental issues. Because almost all the results of GSC studies should be equally available to all Canadians as nearly as possible at the same time, a variety of publication modes are used to meet these diverse objectives. They range from printed geological maps and classic scientific treatises that present results acknowledged by the scientific community to be major contributions, to coloured Open File maps and reports produced digitally on demand, and completely digital products released as computer diskettes, CD-ROMs, and via the Internet.

The output from the GSC's scientific program is announced monthly in the GSC Information Circular and can be purchased from the Geological Survey of Canada Bookstore, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E8 as well as from the GSC's regional offices in Vancouver and Calgary. Information on publications and orders can also be placed by telephone (613-995-4342), fax (613-943-0646), or e-mail (gscbookstore@nrcan.gc.ca).

Bulletins

This series generally comprises final results from ESS science projects (outputs) or comprehensive final reports on subjects like, for example, the geology of specific geographic areas or the study of climate change in an area of Canada. Bulletins deal with topics like the following and are of either broad regional or local interest: systematic bedrock or surficial mapping, geophysics, geochemistry, structural geology, economic geology, carbon sequestration, climate change, etc.

Older Bulletins (released prior to 2002) are available on paper. Generally, Bulletins are available either on paper, on CD-ROM/DVD, or free of charge through GeoPub.

They are all critically reviewed by two specialists, and may include oversized items (e.g. geological maps) on the CD-ROM/DVD. Accompanying data are released in the Data or Open File series, but may be included on the CD-ROM/DVD. The series is geared towards specialists (mining industry, land-use planning, geoscience students) rather than the general public.

Since 1993, the Bulletin series incorporates all the categories of GSC publications that were formerly released as Memoirs, Economic Geology Reports, and Papers.

Current Research

This series contains short reports that are comparable in scope and subject matter to those appearing in scientific journals and other serials.

They are all critically reviewed by one specialist. Contributions are released free of charge through GeoPub as they are completed. The series is geared towards specialists (mining industry, land-use planning, geoscience students) rather than the general public.

A CD-ROM of this series is produced at the beginning of each calendar year and includes all the contributions released from January to December of the previous year. No oversized items are included in Current Research articles.

Current Research volumes released prior to 2000 are available in paper only. Current Research 2000 is available only on CD-ROM. Current Research 2001 and 2002 articles are available free of charge on the Web, individually on paper, or collected on CD-ROM.

Popular Geoscience

Those are popular guides or posters designated mainly for the use of the general public to help understand the geosciences and how they are important for Canada. Examples of products that will fit this series are Geoscape and Climate Change posters, Rocks and Minerals for the Collector, and field guides.

They are all critically reviewed by two specialists. They are available through the GeoPub Web site, offset-printed paper copies, plotted paper copies (on demand), or on CD-ROM/DVD (on demand), depending on the format of the document (poster versus book). The series is geared mainly for the use of the general public.

As of December 2006, Popular Geoscience replaces the Miscellaneous Report series.

A-series Maps

These are final, edited maps - georeferenced interpretation and selected data from a science project in any part of Earth Sciences Sector, e.g. GSC, CCRS, etc.

They are all critically reviewed by two specialists. A-series maps are available either on paper, on CD-ROM/DVD, or free of charge through GeoPub. The series is geared towards specialists (mining industry, land-use planning, geoscience students) rather than the general public.

When released on CD-ROM/DVD, the actual GIS data is included, as well as an image of the map in PDF format.

Instructions on database standards and procedures for geological map production are available.

Open Files

This series is produced to expedite the release of information by making unedited manuscript material available to the public in advance of formal publication, and to act as a repository for relevant supporting data that are referred to in published reports.

Open Files can be maps; reports; voluminous data sets resulting from multiparameter geophysical and geochemical surveys; consultants' reports; preliminary, unvetted field and laboratory results.

They are all critically reviewed by one specialist. The release media include free of charge through GeoPub, on-demand paper copies, or on-demand CD-ROM/DVD copies. The series is geared towards specialists (mining industry, land-use planning, geoscience students) rather than the general public.

Open Files are made available for viewing at GSC sales outlets and GSC libraries, and also at certain provincial geoscience information centres.

Technical Notes

This series is a vehicle for publishing methods and techniques developed by ESS scientists as program outputs and by laboratory staff in support of programs. Oversized items, if any, are included on a CD-ROM/DVD.

Technical Notes are all critically reviewed by one specialist. The release media include free of charge through GeoPub, on-demand paper copies, or on-demand CD-ROM/DVD copies. The series is geared towards specialists (mining industry, land-use planning, geoscience students) rather than the general public.

Data

This series comprises final data from ESS science projects (outputs) or data to which value has been added, e.g. providing interpretation for a target audience or by grouping data from different sources.

They are all critically reviewed by two specialists. The release media include free of charge through GeoPub, and/or CD-ROM/DVD. The series is geared towards specialists (mining industry, land-use planning, geoscience students) rather than the general public.

Scientific Presentations

This series comprises summary versions of scientific results from ESS science projects (outputs) or posters for a conference presentation.

They are critically reviewed by one specialist. The release media include free of charge through GeoPub, on-demand paper copies, or on-demand CD-ROM/DVD copies. The series is geared towards specialists (mining industry, land-use planning, geoscience students) rather than the general public.

Geology of Canada (DNAG)

The Geology of Canada series, consisting of eight volumes (published in English and French), is the GSC's contribution to the Geological Society of America's Geology of North America series, produced as part of the Decade of North American Geology (DNAG) Project.

The series is geared towards specialists (mining industry, land-use planning, geoscience students) rather than the general public.

Papers

These differ from Bulletins primarily in that they may comprise interim results; papers may be final to the extent that the author did not anticipate further work.

Economic Geology Reports

These include reports on subjects of economic interest on a broad regional basis.

Memoirs

These are comprehensive final reports on the geology of specific geographic areas