Energy, Mines and Resources
Minerals
Mining in Yukon
Placer mining land use
Quartz Mining Land Use
Placer Mining Land Use – Threshold Table
View placer operation class criteria in the chart below or download a copy of the list 
28 KB.
If you exceed Class 2 criteria, you need to apply for Class 3 placer mining land use. If you require a Water Licence, you will need to apply for Class 4 mining land use through the Water Board.
|
Item |
Activity |
Class 1 Criteria |
Class 2 Criteria |
| 1 | Construction of structures other than underground structures | Structures without foundations intended for use of not more than 12 consecutive months | Structures without foundations |
| 2 | Number of person days per camp | Not exceeding 250 | Exceeding 250 |
| 3 | Number of persons in a camp at any one time | Not exceeding 10 | More than 10 |
| 4 | Storage of fuel, total amount stored | Not exceeding 5000 litres | Not exceeding 40,000 litres |
| 5 | Storage of fuel, per container | Not exceeding 2000 litres | Not exceeding 10,000 litres |
| 6 | Construction of lines | Not exceeding 1.5 meters in width and cut by hand or with hand held tools only | More than 1.5 meters in width or cut with tools that are not hand held |
| 7 | Construction of corridors - width | Not exceeding 5 meters in width | Not exceeding 5 meters in width |
| 8 | Construction of corridors - length | Total length not exceeding 0.5 km | Total length not exceeding 0.5 km |
| 9 | Trenching |
Total volume not exceeding (a) 1200 m³ on a group of three adjoining claims in the operation, provided that no claim in the operation forms part of more than one group; or (b) 400 m³ per claim that is not part of a group of three adjoining claims referred to in paragraph (a) |
Exceeding (a) 1200 m³ on a group of three adjoining claims in the operation, provided that no claim in the operation forms part of more than one group; or (b) 400 m³ per claim that is not part of a group of three adjoining claims referred to in paragraph (a) |
| 10 | Total volume of ditching and drains | Total volume not exceeding 250 m3 per claim year | Total volume exceeding 250 m3 per claim |
| 11 | Area stripped per claim per year | Total not exceeding 600 m2 | Total not exceeding 1 hectare |
| 12 | Establishing new access roads per operation | Not authorized | Not exceeding 5 km |
| 13 | Upgrading of access roads per operation | Not authorized | Not exceeding 10 km |
| 14 | Use of vehicles on existing roads and trails | Within the design limits or tolerances of the road or, if design limits or tolerances of roads or trails are not known, vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of less than 40 t for roads, and less than 20 t for trails | Within the design limits or tolerances of the road or, if design limits or tolerances of roads or trails are not known, vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of less than 40 t for roads, and less than 20 t for trails |
| 15 | Off-road use of vehicles in summer | Low ground pressure vehicles only | Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 20 t that are used over a distance of not more than 15 km per year, or with a GVW not exceeding 50 t that are used over a distance of not more than 2.5 km per year |
| 16 | Off-road use of vehicles in winter | Low ground pressure vehicles or vehicles with a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 40 t, used over a distance of not more than 15 km per year | Vehicles other than low ground pressure vehicles, used over a distance of not more than 25 km per year |
| 17 | Use of explosives | Not exceeding 1,000 kg in any 30 day period | More than 1,000 kg in any 30 day period |
| 18 | Height of overburden piles | Not exceeding 3 meters in height | More than 3 meters in height |
