How to Create an NI 43-101 Compliant Map

To create an NI 43-101 compliant map, enable the title block with project name, date, and projection reference, add a scale bar and north arrow, configure the legend, apply the Technical theme, and export as a high-resolution PDF. Exploration Maps includes all required map elements and applies industry-standard NI 43-101 styling by default.

What NI 43-101 Requires for Map Figures

National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) does not prescribe a rigid cartographic standard, but QPs (Qualified Persons) and securities regulators expect map figures in technical reports to contain:

Title block: project name, property name, company name, map date, and figure number
North arrow
Scale bar with distance in kilometres or metres appropriate to the map scale
Legend explaining all symbols and colours used
Datum and projection reference (e.g., NAD83 / UTM Zone 10N or WGS84)
Map type label (e.g., Property Location Map, Mineral Claims Map, Drill Hole Location Map)

Step 1: Choose the Right Export Ratio and Page Size

NI 43-101 technical reports are submitted as PDFs, typically formatted to Letter or A4 paper size. Maps are embedded as figures — either full-page (Letter Landscape) or half-page figures within text. In Exploration Maps, select the Letter Portrait or Letter Landscape export ratio in the Export section. Letter Landscape is standard for full-page map figures. For maps intended to sit alongside descriptive text, Letter Portrait with the map occupying the upper portion of the page is common.

Step 2: Enable the Title Block with Required Fields

Click the title text on the map to edit it inline. Enter the project name as the main title and the map type (e.g., 'Property Location Map') as the subtitle. In Design → Text & Metadata, fill in: Map Date (the date the data was compiled, not the export date), Company Name, and Figure Number if applicable. Upload the company logo using the logo uploader in the Layers section. The QP often requires the coordinate system in the title block — add this in the Map Notes field.

Step 3: Add Scale Bar and North Arrow

Toggle on both the Scale Bar and North Arrow in the Design section. These are mandatory elements in every NI 43-101 map figure. The scale bar calculates the displayed distance automatically from the current zoom level and updates if you pan or zoom — always set your final map frame before exporting so the scale bar reflects the correct distance. The north arrow is placed automatically in the corner of the map frame.

Step 4: Configure the Legend

The legend is generated automatically from your layer names and styles. Rename each layer in the layer card to a descriptive name that will appear in the legend — 'Mineral Claims' rather than 'layer_1', 'Drill Collars — 2024 Program' rather than 'drills_q3.csv'. For NI 43-101 maps, every symbol and colour used on the map must be identified in the legend. If you have multiple claim blocks with different colours, each should be a separate named layer.

Step 5: Apply the Technical Theme

In the Design section, select the Technical — Sharp Borders theme. This theme is calibrated to the visual conventions used in Canadian technical reports: clean line weights, a light background, high-contrast claim boundaries, and a neutral colour palette that reproduces clearly when printed. The Investor — Navy & White theme is acceptable for investor-facing technical reports but is less conventional in formal regulatory submissions.

Step 6: Export at Submission Quality

Export as PDF for formal NI 43-101 technical report submission. PDFs from Exploration Maps are vector-quality — lines, labels, and boundaries remain crisp at any zoom level when viewed in a PDF reader or printed. For PNG exports, use the 2× or 3× setting for sufficient resolution at the figure's intended print size. A Letter Landscape PNG at 3× is approximately 3300 × 2550 px — suitable for printing at 300 DPI on Letter paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What map elements are required in an NI 43-101 technical report?

The QP is responsible for ensuring figures meet the technical standards required under NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1. Standard required elements are: title block (project name, company, date, figure number), north arrow, scale bar, legend, and a datum/projection reference. The exact figure list depends on the report type — a resource estimate report will require different maps than a preliminary economic assessment.

What resolution does a QP require for map figures?

There is no mandated resolution in NI 43-101, but industry practice is that map figures should be legible at the print size at which they will appear in the report. For PNG exports, 300 DPI at the intended print size is the accepted standard. Exploration Maps PDF exports are vector-quality and resolution-independent. PNG exports should use the 2× or 3× setting.

Does Exploration Maps support the coordinate system references required in NI 43-101?

All data in Exploration Maps is handled in WGS84 (EPSG:4326). If your QP requires a specific projection reference in the title block (e.g., NAD83 / UTM Zone 10N), add this as a manual note in the Map Notes field in Design → Text & Metadata. The underlying geographic accuracy is WGS84 — the projection statement is a labelling requirement for standard investor-facing map figures.

What colour conventions are expected for mineral claims in NI 43-101 maps?

The conventional colour for mineral claims in Canadian NI 43-101 reports is blue — a medium blue stroke with a light blue semi-transparent fill at 20–25% opacity. This is applied automatically when you assign the Claims role in Exploration Maps, and it matches the convention recognized by QPs, securities lawyers, and regulators across the industry.

Can I include multiple map figures from the same project in one Exploration Maps session?

Yes. Create multiple maps for the same project by adjusting the zoom level, visible layers, and export ratio for each figure. Common NI 43-101 figure sets include: a regional location map (zoomed out to show the province or state), a property location map (showing the claims boundary and surrounding area), and a detailed drill hole location map. Export each figure separately as a numbered PDF for insertion into the report document.