AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Geology of the south zone deposits, Jason property, Macmillan Pass area, Yukon

Mineralized zones on the Jason property are stratifrom, sediment hosed Pb-Zn-barite deposits that occur in a Late Devonian age marine carbonaceous shale and turbidite sequence. The Jason Property is located 400 km northeast of Whitehorse near Macmillan Pass on the Canol Road. Since the discovery of mineralization in 1975, eighty-nine diamond drill holes have delineated three mineral deposits. In order of their discovery, they are known as the Main, South and End zones. Geological reserves indicated and inferred for the three zones total 14.1 million tonnes averaging 7.1% Pb, 6.6% Zn and 79.9 g/t Ag.

The following questions are the focus of the study::
1) What is the stratigraphic position and setting of the South zone? 2) What is the geological relationship of the South zone to the Main zone? 3) What is the geometry of the South zone? 4) How can the mineralization in the South zone be described in terms of mineralogical and textural facies? 5) What constraints on the processes of ore formation can be demonstrated by utilizing the above studies?

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Surficial geology and geohazards of the greater Whitehorse area.

Remote predictive community-scale surficial geology mapping was completed for the greater Whitehorse area, through desktop interpretation of recent high-resolution imagery (primarily 2013–2019 lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) and 2007 air photos), and supported by field investigations carried out during the 2017–2021 field seasons. The nominal scale of mapping is 1:15 000, although some features were mapped at scales as large as 1:5000. This report provides background on the mapping methodology and classification system used, as well as some discussion of geohazards. The surficial geology is provided as a series of ten 1:15 000 scale map sheets in PDF format (Sheets 1 to 10; Fig. 1), and digitally in Esri geodatabase format (with standardized symbology files), as an accompaniment to this open file report. The map was also used to develop an aggregate potential model (Sheet 11), which can be used to help guide future exploration for gravel resources in the study area.

Geohazards that exist within the study area include landslides, radon gas, seismicity, permafrost and flooding. This report focusses on landslides as the primary geohazard, and includes a robust summary of the unprecedented landslide activity along the Whitehorse escarpment that occurred in early 2022. Recent and historical landslide features are also identified in the accompanying surficial geology map. 

Landforms that indicate the presence of permafrost are likewise identified in the surficial geology map. Additionally, Yukon Geological Survey (YGS) collaborated with Yukon University Research Centre (YRC) from 2017 to 2021 to characterize permafrost in the region in detail. The results of this work were recently published by Roy et al. (2021). Their report also provides a summary of historical climate trends and future climate change projections for the Whitehorse area.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Investigations of 2000 RGS survey Northern Yukon, Eagle Plains Ecoregion

Fieldwork was completed in July/August, 2001 in northern Yukon. Fieldwork included investigating results from the stream sediment geochemical survey commissioned to the GSC in the summer of 2000. This survey had been designed to complete the geochemical coverage over the Eagle Plains ecoregion, cover the transition zone between neighboring ecoregions and fill a gap in RGS coverage between pre-existing surveys.

The 2001 fieldwork was designed to investigate the most significant RGS anomalies, prospect for mineral occurrences, sample the stratigraphy to determine background metal content, document the geological environment and collect information with the objective of adding to the understanding of the mineral potential of the area.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Mine Sludge Stability - Densification in Cold Climates

In 2001, a project was initiated to stduy the behavior of treatment sludges in northern climatic conditions. For this study, leach columns were commissioned in the laboratory to evaluate metal mobility from treatment sludges. In addition, sludge densification by the freeze-thaw mechanism was studied.
Sludge samples from effluent treatment operations at United Keno Hill (UKH) and Faro mine sites were used in this study. This project has been divided into two main tasks; a leaching study and a freeze-thaw study, but conducted in the laboratory and in the field. This final report presents the results of the sludge characterization, the freeze-thaw study and the leaching study.
The composition of the acid mine drainage sludge produced at Faro and UKH mine sites were different as compared to typical lime treatment sludge. The metal composition of the mine water was very low, in particular for iron. While the pH of the wastewater was near neutral, the addition of lime was required mainly to precipitate zinc. The metal content of the sludge was low and the neutralization potential was very high which was in accordance with the high carbonate content measured in the sludge. The United Keno Hill sludge was mainly composed of calcite. Instead of calcite, the Faro sludge had as a major consituent aragonite, a pseudomorph of calcite crystals.
The sludge characterization revealed that the lime treatment process at both sites could be optimized. The origin of the high carbonate content of the sludge was probably from the lime quality used and from a high carbonate concentration in the mine water. Mineralogical results revealed evidence that minor amounts of calcium carbonate is from primary precipitation during the lime addition. Also, larger particles of calcium carbonate were also identified in both sludges which are thought to be from the lime used to precipitate metals. The lime treatment process could probably be improved by optimizing the slaking temperature, agitation time rate and using the proper chemical reagents to precipitate metals.
The freeze-thaw mechanism evaluated in the field increased the percent solids of the sludge fromm 23% to 60% for the UKH and from 28% to 58% for the Faro sludge. The freeze-thaw study conducted in the laboratory showed final percent solids values in the same order. The capability of the sludge to dewater so easily is explained by the low amount of iron hydroxide in the sludge. Because no particle repulsion force or bond water are associated to the iron hydroxide phase. The high solids content reached in this study was mainly due to natural dewatering rather than the freeze-thaw mechanism.
In terms of chemical stability, the column and the SPLP studies revealed that the metal release in minimal because of the high neutralization of both sludges. The variation of the temperature did not have any significant impact on metal mobility. Nickel and zinc were released to significant levels for both sludges when the sludges were subjected to the TCLP.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Geothermal Exploration in the Burwash Landing Region, Canada, Using Three-Dimensional Inversion of Passive Electromagnetic Data

Sustainable development of Canada’s North requires an increased focus on renewable, zero-emission energy sources. Burwash Landing in Yukon is prospective for geothermal energy based on a high geothermal gradient, local occurrence of warm groundwater and proximity to the active, crustal-scale Denali fault. Uncertainties about the potential geothermal system include the nature and geometry of fluid pathways, and heat sources required to drive a hydrothermal system. In this study,
we inverted three passive electromagnetic datasets—321 extremely low frequency electromagnetic, 33 audiomagnetotelluric and 51 magnetotelluric stations—to map the subsurface electrical structure to 8 km depth. Our new model reveals vertical conductive structures associated with the two main faults, Denali and Bock’s Creek, which we interpret to represent fluid-deposited graphite and hydrothermal alteration, respectively. Our model supports an interpreted releasing bend on the main Denali fault strand. This is associated with the deepest conductivity anomaly along the fault and potential for deeper penetration of fluids. Enigmatic conductive bodies from 1 to > 6 km depth are associated with intermediate to mafic intrusions. Fluids released from these bodies may advect heat and provide a possible heat source to mobilize hot fluids and sustain a geothermal system in the region.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Deputy Ministers’ Report to the Premier on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Report – “Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future”

This report is a Deputy Ministers’ Report to the Premier on the [Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report entitled “Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future”](https://nctr.ca/records/reports/#trc-reports), released in June 2015. 

To support the Government of Yukon’s participation in a collaborative planning process with First Nations, Deputy Ministers were tasked with reviewing the TRC report, assessing work completed to date and identifying areas where more work is required.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
2006–07 Supplementary estimates no. 3

Supplementary estimates no. 3 for the Government of Yukon 2006–07 Budget. 
This document was prepared by the Department of Finance under the direction of Management Board for the 1st Session of the 32nd Legislature, Yukon Legislative Assembly. October 2007, Whitehorse, Yukon.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Tin-bearing skarns of the Thirtymile Range, NTS Sheet 105 C/9: A progress report

This report summarizes the results of geological mapping of the Thirtymile Range, Sheet 105 C/9, and an investigation of tin skarns at the Mindy (MINFILE 105 C 054) and Ork (MINFILE 105C 038) prospects. The Thirtymile range is a tectonic melange of Upper Palaeozoic and (? )Mesozoic siliciclastic and carbonate sediments, the more competent members of which survive as sheared and brecciated disrupted units or phacoids surrounded by highly foliated ultramylonite of slaty appearance. These have been deformed by later low angle thrusting, moderate angle faulting and extensional faulting and have been intruded by Mid-Cretaceous granitic plutons. Ting-tungsten-boron-fluorine-bearing skarns have formed in the aureoles of the granites.

A granitic stock about 6 km in diameter which occurs north of the Thirtymile Range, a smaller granite at the Ork prospect further south, and the fluorine-boron mineralized skarns at the Ork and Mindy prospects were mapped in detail. Initial petrographic and analytical work shows that the Mindy skarn horizons are predominantly pure diospide-andradite or diospide-actinolite ±pyrrhotite/arsenopyrite assemblages, with complex retrograde assemblages containing magnetite, magnesium borate/fluoride and cassiterite/tin borate mineralization. The Ork showing contains abundant fluorite and axinite but little metallic mineralization. Mapping indicates that extensional faulting played an important role in control of the tin-tungsten mineralization at the Mindy prospect.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Preliminary site characterization for earthquake hazard assessment using ambient vibration techniques in Haines Junction, Yukon (parts of NTS115A/11, 12, 13, 14)

Regional mapping of soil stiffness improves understanding of seismic hazard in northern Canada, specifically southwestern Yukon, where local amplification hazards are largely unknown. Ambient vibration (AV) measurements record microtremor seismic noise used to calculate the horizontalto-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) and identify resonant frequencies at sites. In-situ estimation of fundamental frequency (f0) is used to characterize sites and map local site amplification hazards. Furthermore, AV measurements permit the estimation of surface-wave propagation speeds at different frequencies (i.e., dispersion). Dispersion measurements are used to infer profiles of shear-wave velocity as a function of depth. We present preliminary site characterization using AV measurements from 23 measured sites in Haines Junction, Yukon. The preliminary results suggest a spatial trend of fundamental frequency laterally, where higher frequencies are identified north of Haines Junction and lower f0 values are identified in south-central Haines Junction. We attribute these observations to the proximity to the Dezadeash River basin.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Tin and tungsten veins and skarns in the McQuesten River area, central Yukon

Tin and tungsten veins and skarns in the McQuesten River area occur in the contact zones of Cretaceous feldpspar-porphyritic biotite granite stocks, plugs, and dykes. Most occurrences are located in the exocontact of plutons, in the brittle metasedimentary country rocks known as the Grit Unit of Upper Precambrian to Lower Cambrian age. Cassiterite (+/- silver) occurs in chlorite-, tourmaline-, and quartz-matrix breccias with fragments of quartzite, schist, and vein material of chlorite, tourmaline or quartz; in thin veinlets with little gangue of tourmaline, K-feldspar, or muscovite; and in actinolite-quartz-epidote-axinite-garnet skarn (+/- pyrrhotite, pyrite and chalcopyrite).

Scheelite is mainly disseminated in fine-grained, diopside-quartz, or actinolite-quartz (+/- pyrrhotite) exoskarn which is interlayered with white wollastonite-quartz skarn. Scheelite (+/- molybdenite) also occurs in sheeted quartz (+/- feldspar) veins in both the endo- and exocontact regions of two feldspar-porphyritic granite stocks. Rarely do tin and tungsten occur together, however some low tin values are found in some tungsten occurrences, and vice versa. Tungsten occurs closer to the associated intrusion than tin.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Multisensor airborne geophysical survey, Stewart River area, 115O/6

Data were acquired during the second phase of an airborne geophysical survey (gamma ray spectrometer, magnetometer) carried out by Fugro. Funding was provided by Natural Resources Canada's Targeted Geoscience Initiative. The survey was completed between July 18 and September 28, 2001.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Yukon hard rock mining, development and exploration overview 2021

Yukon mineral exploration activity in 2021 continued to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, due to measures put in place by mining and exploration companies, contractors and suppliers, and supported by the Yukon Government, the 2021 season approached “normal”. These measures also allowed the operating mines to continue to ramp-up production.
Precious and base metal prices fluctuated throughout the year as pandemic and supply chain related issues affected markets, but generally prices remained elevated. Expectations are that year-end exploration expenditures in Yukon will be approximately $113 million ($75.8 million in 2020). Development expenditures for the year are expected to be $71.5 million, up from $53.9 million in 2020. The value of year-end hard rock metal production for 2021 is expected to be approximately $500 million, thanks to the continued ramp up of production at the Eagle Gold mine, the restart of mining at Keno and continued operations at Minto.
The number of active exploration projects dropped slightly from 106 in 2020 to 91 projects in 2021. Twenty-six of the 91 projects spent more than $1 million, while 44 projects spent less than $500 000. Many of the smaller projects received Yukon Mineral Exploration Program (YMEP) grant funding. YMEP funds were distributed to 32 hard rock and 20 placer exploration projects in this volume for more information). In terms of all Yukon projects, gold continues to be the most sought-after commodity, with 59% of the projects targeting the precious metal. The remainder of projects focused on exploring for copper (15%), lead-zinc (9%), silver (16%), nickel-PGEs (0.2%), and tin and others (0.2%).

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Fine Sediment Geochemistry for Gold Orientation Survey

This project compares fine sediment geochemistry (-53 microns) with traditional -180 microns (-80 mesh) sediment geochemistry. The goal of this project is to confirm or deny the key theoretical advantages of fine fraction sediment sampling as outlined in YGS Open File 1993-9 (G), and to develop practical and efficient techniques for collecting and processing the samples. Those key theoretical advantages are less local sample site variation, improved reproducibility, and the potential to preferentially define anomalies associated with significant bedrock mineralization.

Five study areas were selected in Yukon. Four of these areas contain known gold mineralization that has been mined in the past or contain significant drill indicated reserves. The Mt. Skukum deposit is a low sulfide quartz carbonate vein system that was mined in the mid 1980s. Ketza River is a sulfide-rich manto-style deposit with significant oxide reserves that was mined in the late 1980s. Dublin Gulch is a gold-bearing stockwork hosted within intrusive, similar to the Fort Knox gold deposit at Fairbanks, Alaska. Brewery Creek is a disseminated gold deposit hosted primarily within structurally disrupted intrusives.

Samples of -2000 micron sediment were collected from streams draining these areas of known mineralization, as well as from streams draining areas with no known significant mineralization but with erratic gold values from government sponsored regional geochemical surveys (RGS), and from streams that have only background gold values from RGS. Gold concentrations for each sample were determined by duplicate 30 g fire assay and one 10 g aqua-regia analysis. Values for 32 other elements were determined by ICP analysis.

Evidence from this orientation survey demonstrates the potential to improve the success rate of reconnaissance exploration for gold by collecting fine fraction sediment samples as a first step in exploration. Increased project cost at this stage could be greatly offset by more efficient and successful follow-up programs.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Age, geochemistry, paleotectonic setting and metallogeny of Late Triassic-Early Jurassic intrusions in the Yukon and eastern Alaska: A preliminary report

Late Triassic to Early Jurassic age (~220-185 Ma) intrusions comprise one of the most widespread and volumetrically significant plutonic suites in central and western Yukon, and eastern Alaska, but have received very limited study thus far. A new research project has been initiated that will examine the temporal, geochemical and petrotectonic evolution of this magmatic event, and the nature and origin of associated Cu, Au and PGE mineralization. The intrusions are mainly hornblende- and biotite-bearing granodiorites and quartz monzonites, although granitic phases and rare ultramafic phases (as at Pyroxene Mountain) are also present. Several bodies of coarse-grained muscovite granite that are included within the suite have been recognized in southwestern Dawson, and central and western Stewart River map areas. Most intrusions give preliminary U-Pb zircon and titanite ages of ~195 Ma to ~185 Ma, although scattered bodies give ages up to 218 Ma. Geochemical studies completed thus far indicate that most intrusions are metaluminous and formed in a volcanic arc environment, although some of the muscovite-granite phases in western Yukon are peraluminous and trend into the anorogenic (within-plate) granite field on various tectonic discriminant plots. Dating studies at Minto and Williams Creek indicate that copper-gold mineralization in both areas is hosted in part by deformed intrusions dated at ~194 Ma and is crosscut by massive, post-mineralization Granite Mountain batholith dated at ~190 Ma. The mineralization is therefore intimately associated with the Triassic-Jurassic magmatism, and we tentatively interpret the deposits as deformed copper-gold porphyries.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
2021–22 Operation and maintenance and capital estimates

These budget documents represent the final printed publications which are the official record.
Prepared by the Department of Finance under the direction of Management Board.
1st Session of the 35th Legislature
Yukon Legislative Assembly
May 2021
Whitehorse, Yukon
The 34th Legislative Assembly was dissolved on March 12, 2021. You can find budget bills tabled prior to the 2021 territorial election on the Yukon Legislative Assembly website.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Paleomagnetism of the ~91 Ma Deadman pluton: Post-mid-Cretaceous tectonic motion in central Yukon

The 92 ± 1 Ma Deadman pluton is a massive, circular, felsic intrusion of alkalic composition that is part of the Tombstone plutonic suite. It intrudes Neoproterozoic Hyland Group strata within the Dawson thrust sheet in the northernmost Selwyn Basin. Paleomagnetic determinations have isolated a stable characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) direction, in magnetite, for 237 specimens from 23 sites. The sites are in three plutonic phases, in three dykes cutting the pluton as well as their contact zones, and in the pluton¿s contact-zone skarn. The ChRM at all sites is coeval with pluton crystallization. The ChRM directions of all sites form one population with a mean direction of declination = 333.0°, inclination = 76.8° (95 = 2.6°, k = 139, N = 23), giving a paleopole of 144.9°E, 78.5°N (p = 4.5°, m = 4.8°) that is significantly different, at 95% confidence, from the coeval North American cratonic paleopole. This discordance is attributed to post-emplacement, northward displacement of at least several tens of kilometres of the Dawson thrust sheet, possibly along the Dawson thrust fault. The result is the beheading of the Deadman pluton and rotating its head as it was driven up the curved frontal ramp of the thrust fault. This evidence indicates at least local, but significant, post-mid- Cretaceous deformation within rocks underlying northern Selwyn Basin.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon
Using GIS as a method of identifying controls on the distribution of sediment in the Selwyn Mountains, Yukon Territory

The following paper outlines a method of identifying controls on the distribution of postglacial alpine sediments in the Selwyn Mountains using a Geographic Information System (GIS) as a vehicle to analyze surficial geology maps, bedrock geology maps, and topographical data.

Postglacial alpine sediments in this region include talus, rock glaciers, alluvial fans and Neoglacial till and the spatial distribution of these sediments is controlled by factors such as lithological properties and site characteristics which in turn influence weathering and erosion. As a result, the sediment distribution may give clues about the bedrock weathering and site conditions. The method of cross tabulation is a powerful tool that can provide insight into the spatial patterns of landforms, and processes such as sediment accumulation and landscape denudation. It allows an examination of the distribution of bedrock and surficial geology units with respect to each other and to other map variables such as elevation, slope and aspect. The analysis of the spatial distribution of sediment and the calculation of rates of landscape denudation for different bedrock units then require the use of a G.I.S.

Preliminary results suggest that rates of denudation are controlled by a number of factors including bedrock type and site conditions such as elevation and aspect.

Organization: Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon