Energy, Mines, and Resources

Assessment and Abandoned Mines

Abandoned Mines

Timeline

Mount Nansen Pages...

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Huestis adit rail line1943 - 1984
Intermittent exploration occurs throughout the area. Two attempts to mine local deposits are not viable due to poor gold recoveries.

1985 - 1988
Chevron Minerals and BYG Natural Resources Inc. (BYG) carry out exploration and environmental baseline studies of the Mount Nansen property.

1994
Exploration resumes under BYG management.

Brown-McDade pit in the spring time1996
In October, a Type A Water Licence is issued allowing mining and milling to begin.

1997 - 1999
During this operating period, total ore production is 269,000 tonnes. Recovery problems limit total gold production to 35,700 ounces. Total capital investment is approximately $14,000,000. The mining operation generates operating profits in only two quarters. Serious environmental concerns include problems with tailings dam construction and operation, and discharges from water treatment plant repeatedly failing toxicity tests. BYG requests four amendments to its Water License to suspend non-toxicity requirements.

February 1999
Water inspector issues directive for BYG to comply with the water license or cease operations. Mining and milling are suspended and BYG declares voluntary receivership. D. Manning and Associates Inc. are appointed by the company as receiver for physical assets.

July 1999
D. Manning and Associates resign and leave the property overnight. Government of Canada (Canada) hires aYukon company to maintain environmental integrity.

August 1999
Canada formally declares the property abandoned and takes over under Section 39 of Yukon Waters Act.

Pony Creek adit prior to rehabilitation1999 - 2002
Canada manages care and maintenance of the site.

April 2003
Management of site is devolved to Government of Yukon (Yukon) with Canada providing the funding.

April 2004
Supreme Court of Yukon appoints PricewaterhouseCoopers as interim receiver for the assets of BYG at the Mount Nansen mine.

Huestis adit rail line and old mining cart2005 - 2006
Yukon manages care and maintenance for the site while PricewaterhouseCoopers continues to manage the siteassets. A contribution agreement is signed between Yukon and Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation (LSCFN) to support their involvement in the project.

2007-2008
PricewaterhouseCoopers sells mineral claims outside the mine site area. Yukon government continues to manage care and maintenance.

2009 - 2010
Yukon continues to manage ongoing care and maintenance while PricewaterhouseCoopers continues to manage the site assets. Risk site investigations, inspections and risk assessment studies are completed to support implementation of a final closure and remediation plan. A technical working group involving Canada, Yukon and LSCFN is established to discuss and provide feedback on the technical and scientific results.

Contact Us:


Assessment and Abandoned Mines
Mail: Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
Phone: 867.393.7098
Fax: 867.456.6780
Email: yukonabandonedmines@gov.yk.ca