Drill Results Map — Manitoba

Manitoba — home to the Thompson Nickel Belt, one of the world's great nickel-copper camps — is a prime target for junior exploration companies. Here's how to create a professional drill results map using Exploration Maps in 15–30 minutes.

Example drill results map created in Exploration Maps — Example drill results map exported from Exploration Maps — style your Manitoba data the same way.

About Mining in Manitoba

Manitoba hosts the Thompson Nickel Belt — one of the world's largest nickel deposits — as well as significant VMS (volcanogenic massive sulphide) gold-zinc deposits.

Key minerals: nickel, copper, zinc, gold, lithium, cesium. Notable deposits: Thompson Nickel Belt, Flin Flon VMS, Snow Lake, Tanco. Mining districts: Thompson, Flin Flon, Snow Lake, Lynn Lake.

The Manitoba Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources administers mineral rights in Manitoba. Claim data is accessible through iMaQs (Integrated Mining and Quarrying System).

Getting Mining Data for Manitoba

Portal	Formats	Notes
iMaQs (Integrated Mining and Quarrying System)	Shapefile, KML	Manitoba claims are administered through iMaQs. Note: the public claim GIS layer includes claim numbers but no holder names — look up ownership in iMaQs itself, and search by claim/tenure number when mapping.

How to Create a Drill Results Map for Manitoba

For a full step-by-step guide to drill results maps, see How to Make a Drill Results Map.

Import your drill collar CSV (columns: hole ID, latitude, longitude, depth, assay)
Assign the Drillholes layer role
Import the property claims boundary as GeoJSON
Add callout labels to key holes showing hole ID and best intercept
Use Badge Label type to highlight the highest-grade holes
Configure the title with program name and date
Set the Landscape 16:9 ratio for news release figures
Export as PNG at 2× for email and PDF for the news release attachment

Labelling a drillhole with its best intercept in Exploration Maps.

Tip for Manitoba: Thompson Nickel Belt drill programs often target deep sulphide zones — label your drill collar map clearly as showing surface collar positions, and note the target depth range in the title block to avoid confusion with the surface expression of the deposit.

Recommended Settings for Manitoba

Basemap: Light or Satellite
Design theme: Investor — Navy & White
Export format: PNG at 2× for investor presentations, PDF (Letter or A4) for NI 43-101 reports
Coordinate system: Ensure source data is in WGS84 (EPSG:4326)

Common Use Cases in Manitoba

Exploration news releases
NI 43-101 technical reports
Investor day presentations
Analyst briefings

Frequently Asked Questions

What file format do I need for Manitoba mineral claims data?

Manitoba mineral claims boundaries are available from iMaQs (Integrated Mining and Quarrying System) and can typically be downloaded as Shapefiles or KML. Convert these to GeoJSON at mapshaper.org before importing into Exploration Maps.

Who regulates mineral claims in Manitoba?

Mineral claims in Manitoba are regulated by the Manitoba Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources. All tenure and claims data can be queried through iMaQs (Integrated Mining and Quarrying System).

What minerals are typically mapped in Manitoba?

Manitoba is known for its nickel, copper, zinc, gold deposits. Key producing and exploration-stage properties include Thompson Nickel Belt, Flin Flon VMS, Snow Lake. The main mining districts are Thompson, Flin Flon, Snow Lake.

Can I export a Manitoba drill results map for a NI 43-101 report?

Yes. Exploration Maps exports PNG and PDF at 2–3× pixel ratio, suitable for inclusion in NI 43-101 technical reports as required figures. The export includes north arrow, scale bar, legend, and title block — all standard map elements required for NI 43-101 compliance.