Overview of Yukon placer geology, gold production and prospects

The physiography and glacial history of Yukon bear directly on the geological setting, grade and economic viability of Yukon placer deposits. The limits of several advances of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet are evident in south central Yukon in the form of deposits and ice-marginal features left successively southeast by retreat of the three main glacial episodes. The oldest, including multiple glaciations, was the pre-Reid at up to 3 Ma, succeeded by the Reid at up to 200 Ka, and the McConnell which ended approximately 10.3 Ka. Yukon placer deposits are grouped into five broad categories based on age, gemorphic and sedimentologic characteristics. These are 1) Pliocene to early Pleistocene alluvial placer deposits preserved as high level terraces buried beneath non-auriferous overburden; 2) Pleistocene non-glacial alluvial placer deposits that occur as valley-bottom fill and low to high level terraces in unglaciated terrain; 3) Interglacial placer deposits that occur as valley-bottom alluvial fill or low terraces in drainages that have escaped the effects of glacial erosion; 4) Glacial placer deposits that have formed when gold from regional bedrock or paleoplacer sources was…

Publisher

Government of Yukon

Resources

2

Catalogue metadata updated

2026-09-09