Canada advances the Canadian Digital Core Library with new funding and the start of core scanning

On September 14, Canada scanned its first core for the CDCL in Calgary, beginning with core samples from the Northwest Territories. Other participating provinces and territories are identifying priority drill cores and preparing to begin scanning in the coming weeks. These first scans are the result of close collaboration between the federal government, provinces and territories, drawing on geoscience expertise from across the country.

September 21, 2026                                          Calgary, Alberta                                             Natural Resources Canada

Canada’s vast geological resources underpin our mission to build a strong, secure and competitive economy. Making high-quality geoscience data more accessible will help unlock this resource potential, attract investment and strengthen domestic critical mineral supply chains.

Central to this effort is the creation of the Canadian Digital Core Library (CDCL), which will use advanced scanning technologies to convert drill core held in repositories across the country into a common digital record made available through an AI-ready platform. Drill cores provide valuable information about mineral deposits and the size, quality and economic potential of a mineral resource. This information is what allows Canada to identify mining opportunities across the country and mine the resources that underpin national defence, advanced manufacturing and the energy transition.

On September 14, Canada scanned its first core for the CDCL in Calgary, beginning with core samples from the Northwest Territories. Other participating provinces and territories are identifying priority drill cores and preparing to begin scanning in the coming weeks. These first scans are the result of close collaboration between the federal government, provinces and territories, drawing on geoscience expertise from across the country.