Energy, Mines, and Resources

Placer (Gold) Mining in the Yukon

Gold panInformation on geology, land staked and available for staking, how to obtain approvals, modern and historic placer mining and more.

Contact the Yukon Mining Recorder for assistance and information on ground open for staking, claim maps, mineral titles, assessment work, permitting and licensing of proposed exploration and mining developments. Contact the Yukon Geological Survey for maps, scientific and technical information on the geology and mineral deposits of the territory, and to apply for grassroots prospector funding.

General Information

The term “placer” is a Spanish word, meaning “a place where gold can be recovered from gravel.” As this suggests, placer mining is the technique of recovering gold from gravel. Placer deposits occur in several areas in the Yukon, though historically, most of the mining has taken place near Dawson City. This area is particularly favourable for placer deposits because it is in the unglaciated part of the Yukon.

Yukon Gold Royalty

Under the Placer Mining Act  386 KB, the Yukon levies a royalty on all gold shipped from the Yukon for export, whether in the form of gold dust as mined or bars. The royalty is computed at the rate of 2.5% of the value of the gold, or at such lesser rate as may be fixed by the Commissioner-in-Council. For this purpose, gold is valued at US$15 per ounce.

Legislation

Placer mining in the Yukon is regulated by the Yukon government and key public institutions, including the Yukon Water Board.

Guidelines

Guidelines on practices, standards, policies and procedures for placer mining.

Environmental Assessment and Permitting

Placer activities are assessed under the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act (YESAA). Assessments are conducted by the arms-length Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) or one of its six Designated Offices located throughout the Yukon. The Yukon government is decision maker and responsible for regulating and enforcing permits and licenses.

Disclaimer - Legislation
The Government of Yukon Department of Energy, Mines and Resources assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of any reproduction derived from the legislative material on this site. The legislative material on this site has been prepared for convenience of reference only and does not have official sanction.

For official versions of the Yukon Statutes and Regulations and to obtain copies of legislative documents (including Hansard, Yukon Gazette, Statutes and Regulations), contact Queen's Printer (Legislative Subscriptions) or the Inquiry Centre on the main floor of the Yukon Government Administration Building in Whitehorse.

Mirror Legislation - Existing federal acts and regulations have been "mirrored" into territorial acts and regulations effective April 1, 2003. As a result, territorial institutions are substituted for federal institutions. These acts and regulations will be used until the Yukon government develops and implements new legislation.

More Information About Placer Mining