Mineral Exploration
A sustainable exploration industry in the Region advances geological knowledge, creates opportunities for future mineral development, and contributes to the local economy without undermining environmental, community, cultural, and heritage values. Mineral exploration aims to identify the location, size, and shape of mineral deposits. It ranges from low-impact, small-scale prospecting to more intensive projects.
Exploration activities can focus on quartz or placer deposits. Activities can progress from trenching and soil sampling to larger operations involving camps, road construction, land clearing, fuel storage, and explosives. Classifications (Class 1 to 4) describe the increasing footprint and environmental impact of a project. The speculative nature of exploration means that large projects that are necessary to assess ore quality and extent can result in significant cumulative effects without guaranteed benefits to the Region’s economy.
Due to the Region’s unique geology and deep mining history, it has long been a focal point for exploration activities targeting a variety of minerals, particularly gold. In 2024, 11% of all active quartz exploration projects in the Yukon took place within Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Traditional Territory, with projects primarily focusing on gold. This is a slight increase in exploration activity across the Yukon compared to 2022 and 2023. In 2021, quartz exploration contributed to 11% of Dawson City’s total business employment.
A consistent, streamlined, and effective assessment and permitting process is necessary to ensure the continued success of the industry in the Region. At the time of writing this Plan (March 2026), new minerals legislation is still in development. It will replace the gold rush-era legislation that currently regulates the industry (Placer Mining Act [SY 2003, c.13] and Quartz Mining Act [SY 2003, c.14]). Directions for all values and economic activities should be read alongside the Stewardship Directions for Mineral Exploration, because of the interconnections between values and activities.
Key Planning Issues
- Because only a small fraction of prospecting efforts lead to viable mines, a sustainable exploration industry that supports mining in the Region requires large tracts of land that can be explored.
- Because only a small fraction of prospecting efforts lead to viable mines, the exploration industry’s contributions to the local economy are somewhat independent of mining itself.
- Early-stage mineral exploration can occur with limited surface or air access. However, later-stage exploration generally has greater impacts on the land – for example, linear and surface disturbance, infrastructure development.
- Climate change has the potential to increase risks related to mineral exploration, particularly in relation to infrastructure stability and seasonal reliability.
- The industry is highly sensitive to global mineral prices, which are beyond the Region’s control. This can lead to fluctuations in activity levels and uncertainty about the industry’s future in the Region.
- Current legislation does not provide a consistent, streamlined, and effective assessment and permitting process. This creates uncertainty and delays that may slow industry activity.
- Multiple attempts have been made to update existing legislation, but they have been largely unsuccessful because of concerns over consultation and unalignment with the FNFAs.
- There are no restrictions (timing or location) on exploration activities – for example, to protect wildlife.
Stewardship Directions
- Carry out mineral exploration activities in a manner consistent with the Plan’s principles of stewardship and sustainable development.
- When proposing mineral exploration projects, include emission-reduction strategies, climate risk assessments, and mitigation and adaptation measures.
- When proposing and developing mineral exploration projects, use the lowest-impact technologies possible.
- When proposing mineral exploration projects that overlap with WKAs, demonstrate how you are applying the mitigation hierarchy to environmental and related socio-cultural values that may be affected.
- When carrying out exploration activities, only stake claims for the purpose of mining.
- Fill in excavations and trenches at the end of the project.
- Do not carry out exploration activities within sheep WKAs during late winter and lambing season.
Implementation Actions
- Partner with industry organizations to provide joint educational opportunities for Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Citizens and employees of the mineral exploration industry with the aim of fostering relationships built on trust, understanding, and respect. Examples include:
- Participation of non-Citizen industry employees in Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in 101 to foster understanding of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in culture and values.
- Tours of mineral exploration operations for Citizens.
- Increase monitoring and enforcement of permit requirements to provide consistency for the industry and ensure that development remains sustainable.
Governance Recommendations
- Improve the existing environmental and socioeconomic assessment, permitting, and regulatory processes to be more transparent, efficient, and fair by:
- Improving project coordination between regulatory and assessment bodies to reduce duplication.
- Ensuring consistency in inspections, assessments, as well as permitting and monitoring requirements across regulators and projects.
- Increasing transparency in inspections and compliance reporting.
- Improving cumulative effects and heritage impacts assessments.
- Establishing Yukon-wide performance standards and digital reporting tools.
- Providing training and resources to support joint stewardship between the Government of Yukon and First Nations Governments.
- Providing incentives for operators who show good stewardship. Develop timing windows for exploration activities to protect wildlife.
- Develop timing windows for exploration activities to protect wildlife.
Knowledge Gaps
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Research alternatives to conventional methods for locating ore bodies, focusing on low-impact exploration technologies. Consider their effectiveness and feasibility.