Drill Results Map — Ontario

Ontario — hosting the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt and Canada's largest gold output — 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 Ontario data the same way.

About Mining in Ontario

Ontario is the largest gold producer in Canada and hosts the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt, one of the most mineralized geological terranes on Earth.

Key minerals: gold, nickel, copper, zinc, silver, platinum group elements. Notable deposits: Detour Lake, Macassa, Timmins Gold Camp, Sudbury Basin. Mining districts: Timmins-Porcupine, Kirkland Lake, Red Lake, Abitibi Greenstone Belt.

The Ontario Ministry of Mines administers mineral rights in Ontario. Claim data is accessible through Ontario Mineral Lands Administration System (MLAS).

Getting Mining Data for Ontario

Portal	Formats	Notes
Ontario Mineral Lands Administration System (MLAS)	Shapefile, CSV, KML	MLAS exports use NAD83 UTM Zone 17N (EPSG:32617) for most of Ontario. Convert to WGS84 before importing, or verify your data's coordinate system when the imported layer appears offset from the basemap.

How to Create a Drill Results Map for Ontario

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 Ontario: The Abitibi Greenstone Belt straddles the Ontario–Quebec border — if your property spans both provinces, import the two provincial claim files as separate layers and keep them distinct for regulatory clarity.

Recommended Settings for Ontario

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 Ontario

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Ontario mineral claims boundaries are available from Ontario Mineral Lands Administration System (MLAS) 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 Ontario?

Mineral claims in Ontario are regulated by the Ontario Ministry of Mines. All tenure and claims data can be queried through Ontario Mineral Lands Administration System (MLAS).

What minerals are typically mapped in Ontario?

Ontario is known for its gold, nickel, copper, zinc deposits. Key producing and exploration-stage properties include Detour Lake, Macassa, Timmins Gold Camp. The main mining districts are Timmins-Porcupine, Kirkland Lake, Red Lake.

Can I export a Ontario 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.