Maximizing the value of historical bedrock field observations: An example from northwest Canada

Historical bedrock field observations have potential for significant value to the scientific community and the public if they can be rescued from physical records stored in archives of scientific research institutions. A set of historical records from ‘Operation Norman’, a bedrock mapping activity conducted in northwestern Canada by the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) from 1968 to 1970, was identified as suitable for data rescue and incorporation into a GIS geodatabase. These observational data, including field stations, lithology descriptions, structural measurements, measured section locations, and fossil localities, were digitized as geospatial features with attributes assigned according to the observation records. Over 90% of the original observations were successfully rescued in this manner, allowing for effective incorporation with newer observations. Lack of reliable location information for field observations was the primary impediment to effective data rescue. Access to original participants in Operation Norman was particularly helpful in ensuring successful data rescue, as was the excellent state in which research materials had been curated. The resulting dataset of combined historical and recent observations provides improved distribution of observations to constrain geological analysis and map interpretation. Rescued data from Operation Norman have been incorporated in new bedrock map compilations and other scientific publications.