The dataset contains the results of analyses of surface water samples collected by AGS in the summer of 1999. Three lakes, three creeks, one stream and two rivers were sampled as part of a water sampling program carried out by AGS in the Athabasca Oil Sands in-situ area of Alberta. This area extends from approximately 55.34 degrees north latitude to 55.96 degrees north latitude, and 110.5 degrees west longitude to 111.8 degrees west longitude. The datum is NAD83. The dataset contains information on laboratory measured pH and conductivity, major, minor and trace element concentrations, as well as stable isotope ratio values of oxygen and hydrogen. AGS staff collected the samples using a discrete sampling method. The sample bottle was dipped into the surface water body and partially filled with water, rinsed and the water was discarded. The bottle was then filled and capped. The sample was subsequently filtered on site using a 0.45 micron filter. A sample was acidified for minor and trace-element analysis. Separate samples were collected for stable-isotope analysis. The major, minor and trace-element concentrations were determined by Norwest Labs of Edmonton. The stable isotope values were determined by the University of Calgary stable-isotope lab. The data are as they were received from the laboratories. A change in focus for the second year of the program meant much of the data were not included in the final report, and so were not interpreted to any extent. The data have not been processed or modified.

A digital grid of the top of the Empress Formation where present, or the topography of the surrounding landscape, where the formation is absent. This includes the units 1 to 3 of the Empress Formation in buried valleys, as well as undifferentiated Empress interfluve sediments resting on the bedrock surface between buried valleys. The unit is originally modelled from borehole data and adjusted to the bedrock surface, the surfaces of units 1, 2, 3 and interfluve units of the Empress Formation, and the present-day land surface. The grid is generated at a 250 metre cell-size resolution, based on 2003 information.

The surficial material dataset was developed as part of the Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA) project covering all of NTS 73M, the southern three-quarters of 74D and southeast part of 84A. Part of the dataset was compiled by airphoto interpretations and followed by random ground-truthing by AGS geologists (NTS 73M). The dataset was later merged with other existing surficial geology maps (74D and 84A). The mapping scheme chosen for the 1:50 000 scale terrain classification is a variant of the scheme used in Alberta Geological Survey Bulletin 57 to map the surficial geology of the Sand River area (Map 178), NTS 73L, directly south of the study area. In this terrain classification scheme, each map unit includes a component of genesis, morphology and relief. Where available, additional information regarding the properties of the genetic unit was included as a genetic modifier. For example, the map unit 'sMh1' denotes hummocky (h), low relief (1), sandy (s) moraine (M). Genesis of geological material is considered to be the primary component of the map unit thus colours on the map depict differences in genesis. In the above example, the map unit colour would correspond to the legend colour chosen for moraine (M). An attempt has been made to reclassify the surficial geological units depicted in the surficial geology map of area NTS 74D (Map 148) using this mapping scheme, without significantly changing the polygon shapes of that previous work.

This dataset has stratigraphic and lithological picks of the upper bedrock and Quaternary geological units in the Athabasca Oil Sands Area extending north from Cold Lake to the Fort McMurray region. The picks were compiled from the mid-1970s to 2006 to construct maps of the subsurface distribution, structure, topography and thickness of near-surface bedrock and Quaternary stratigraphic units. Alberta Geological Survey staff, as well as staff from industry and other government departments, interpreted the data.