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What was mined at Clinton Creek?
Asbestos was mined at the Clinton Creek mine site. Asbestos is found in serpentinite rock and was used for numerous industrial purposes.
Where is the mine located?
The mine is located 100 km northwest of Dawson City, Yukon. It is located in the Tr’ondek Hwëch’in First Nation traditional territory.
When did the mine operate?
Cassiar Asbestos Corporation operated Clinton Creek Mine from October 1967 to August 1978. By 1978, all of the available asbestos was mined.
What are the concerns at the mine site?
Hudgeon Lake was created when waste rock from the mine operation slid and blocked Clinton Creek and water pooled in the creek valley behind the rock forming the lake. The vegetation at the bottom of the valley was flooded. The vegetation has since died and rotted. The rotting process consumes oxygen and has left the water with very little dissolved oxygen except for the top three metres of the lake. Fish can not survive in the lower depths of the lake because they need oxygen to survive.
The primary concern is that Hudgeon Lake could erode the waste rock slide leading to significant flooding downstream. This could result in harm to people, wildlife and fish downstream of Clinton Creek.
The secondary concern are the tailings. The tailings from the milling operation have slid down into the Wolverine Creek Valley restricting water flow and two ponds formed. Due to the abiltiy of the creek to continually wash away the tailings, this is not as serious a problem as with Hudgeon Lake.
What is in place to ensure public safety and no damage of environment at the mine site?
Current stream channel stabilization work includes repairs to the damaged portions of the Clinton Creek channel at the waste rock pile. To prevent further erosion to the Clinton Creek stream channel, erosion resistant rock-filled gabion baskets have been placed in the channel.
Unsafe structures and equipment have been removed from the mine site, warning signs have been posted, and pit safety measures such as pit berms and ditches have been constructed to ensure public safety.
Ongoing monitoring of the effects of further waste rock movement on the channel stabilization work will continue for a number of years, in order to determine if changes or further work need to be completed. The health of the overall environment in and around the mine site will also be monitored for the foreseeable future through annual water sampling. Monitoring of benthic invertebrates was also done in 2007.
The benthic invertebrates are actually larvae of insects that have been laid in streams to develop and grow. The abundance and diversity of these invertebrates are a very good indicator of the health of waterways and serve as food for fish. Further sampling of these “bugs” will be done in future years.
What about the asbestos?
Due to potential hazards with the use of asbestos, it is no longer commonly used. It can cause health problems if breathed in over long periods of time. Testing has been done at the mine site and results showed the health risks are minimal to occasional visitors to the mine site. The waste rock that contains asbestos has been covered with regular waste rock.
What’s next for the site?
Work towards the development of an alternatives document looking at options for future management of Clinton Creek.
Contact Us:
Assessment and Abandoned Mines
Mail: Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
Phone: 867.393.7429
Fax: 867.456.6780
Email: yukonabandonedmines@gov.yk.ca