Mining Claims Map — Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories — home to Canada's diamond industry and the largely underexplored Slave Geological Province — is a prime target for junior exploration companies. Here's how to create a professional mining claims map using Exploration Maps in 15–30 minutes.

Example mining claims map created in Exploration Maps
Example mining claims map exported from Exploration Maps — style your Northwest Territories data the same way.

About Mining in Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories hosts Canada's diamond industry and the historic Yellowknife gold camp, with extensive underexplored terrain across the Slave Geological Province.

Key minerals: diamonds, gold, tungsten, lead, zinc, lithium. Notable deposits: Ekati, Diavik, Giant Mine, Con Mine. Mining districts: Yellowknife, Mackenzie, Slave Geological Province.

The Northwest Territories Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment administers mineral rights in Northwest Territories. Claim data is accessible through NWT Mining Recorder.

Getting Mining Data for Northwest Territories

PortalFormatsNotes
NWT Mining Recorder Shapefile, PDF NWT claim data is administered through the Mining Recorder in Yellowknife. Most datasets are provided in NAD83 UTM Zone 11N or 12N depending on location west or east of 102°W — verify the correct zone for your property before converting to WGS84.

How to Create a Mining Claims Map for Northwest Territories

For a full step-by-step guide to mining claims maps, see How to Make a Mining Claims Map.

  1. Import your claims data as a GeoJSON or CSV file
  2. Assign the Claims layer role to apply standard styling automatically
  3. Add roads and water layers for geographic context
  4. Select a basemap — Light for technical reports, Satellite for investor decks
  5. Configure the title block with project name, company, and map date
  6. Upload your company logo
  7. Set the export ratio and frame your map
  8. Export as PNG (presentations) or PDF (reports)
Mineral claims styled on a map in Exploration Maps
Mineral claims styled on a map in Exploration Maps.

Tip for Northwest Territories: Slave Province properties often cover large areas of Shield terrain — zoom to a scale that shows several named lakes as landmarks, which helps investors orient to maps of remote terrain where towns and roads are absent.

Recommended Settings for Northwest Territories

  • Basemap: Light or Satellite
  • Design theme: Investor — Navy & White or Technical — Sharp Borders
  • 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 Northwest Territories

  • NI 43-101 technical reports
  • Investor presentations
  • News release figures
  • Property acquisition packages
  • Regulatory filings

Frequently Asked Questions

What file format do I need for Northwest Territories mineral claims data?
Northwest Territories mineral claims boundaries are available from NWT Mining Recorder 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 Northwest Territories?
Mineral claims in Northwest Territories are regulated by the Northwest Territories Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. All tenure and claims data can be queried through NWT Mining Recorder.
What minerals are typically mapped in Northwest Territories?
Northwest Territories is known for its diamonds, gold, tungsten, lead deposits. Key producing and exploration-stage properties include Ekati, Diavik, Giant Mine. The main mining districts are Yellowknife, Mackenzie, Slave Geological Province.
Can I export a Northwest Territories mining claims 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.