Fostering geoscience research in the Yukon: CanNor investment continues to support geoscience activities through the Yukon Geological Survey

CanNor is investing over $7.4 million from 2016-2018 in geoscience research across Canada’s three territories.

In the Yukon, CanNor is contributing $1.75 million to the Yukon Geological Survey (YGS) which focuses on geophysics projects, geochemical surveys, land surface studies, database and web application development, and targeted research studies.

CanNor  $1,750,000
Government of Yukon  $572,000
Universities and Research Foundations  $162,000
Total Funding (Yukon)  $2,484,000

The Yukon Geological Survey falls under the Energy Branch of the Government of Yukon’s Department of Energy, Mines and Resources.  Funding will support development of the following projects in the Yukon, including:

1. Geophysics Projects
   • Collecting new data and increasing the value of existing data to reduce exploration risk, support development of new exploration tools, and mitigate geological hazards.
2. Geochemical Surveys
   • Enhancing geochemical data originally generated over 20 years ago. This upgraded data will show the probability of mineral deposits in catchment areas and support regional mineral potential assessments.
3. Surficial Studies
   
   • Planning for two land surface studies: a landslide assessment in Southeast Yukon and further work on a wetlands assessment in the Klondike.
4. Database and Web Application Development
   
   • Improving access to information by digitizing assessment reports and enabling them for the web.
   • Reviewing YGS stand-alone databases and developing a plan for systematic modeling and building data.
5. Data Mining
   
   •  Scanning and indexing mineral industry records and making them available to industry.
6. Geothermal Studies
   
   • Drilling holes at select sites in the Whitehorse trough, which extends from Carmacks to Carcross, to measure its geothermal gradient. This will help assess the trough’s potential to generate geothermal energy. The work includes compilation work with Geoscience BC, followed by drilling anticipated for the end of the first project year.
7. Targeted Studies
   
   • Establishing research partnerships with universities, specifically in studies that align with the program criteria of CanNor’s Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) program. Three studies have been identified for the first project year.