Major mine licensing
Hard rock mining project
A major hard rock mining project in the Yukon requires a detailed environmental and socio-economic assessment. It also requires various regulatory approvals, including a water and quartz mining licence.
What follows is an overview of major mines, past and present, authorized by the Yukon government. This list does not include mines that were approved by the federal government before April 1, 2003. After that date, the territory assumed control over its natural resources.
Visit Yukon.ca to find current project information. You'll also find respective licences, approvals, reports, and submissions related to the Quartz Mining Act.
Brewery Creek
Brewery Creek is a past-producing gold mine located 55 kilometres east of Dawson City.
It was an open-pit heap leach project that operated from 1997 to 2001. The project is now in a state of permanent closure.
Future mining activities are planned for this area. The planned activities are undergoing an environmental assessment.
Brewery Creek location
Carmacks Copper
The Carmacks Copper property is located 198 kilometres north of Whitehorse.
The property never fully developed and is now in a state of permanent closure.
Future mining activities in this area will need an environmental assessment.
Carmacks Copper location
Eagle Gold
The Eagle Gold mine is located 85 kilometres from Mayo.
The project is an open-pit mine that uses cyanide heap leaching techniques to extract gold. The mine has been in production since September 2019. In June 2024, a failure occurred at the heap leach facility and operations ceased. The project is currently in a state of temporary closure.
An expansion to this project is planned. The expansion is undergoing an environmental assessment.
Eagle Gold location
Keno Hill Silver District
The Keno Hill silver district is a silver-lead-zinc property. It's located 50 kilometres northeast of Mayo and 3 kilometres east of Keno. The project has been in production since December 2010.
The district has a long history of mining. It was once home to United Keno Hill Mines, one of Canada's largest silver producers. The current Keno Hill mining project is separate from the ongoing care and maintenance and closure activities associated with historic mining operations.
Keno Hill Silver District location
Minto
The Minto mine is a copper-gold mine on Selkirk First Nation Category A Settlement Land. It’s located 240 kilometres northwest of Whitehorse.
Minto mine is an open-pit and underground mining operation.
The mine has been in production since July 2007. It ceased operations in May 2023. The project is currently in a state of permanent closure. The Yukon Government is responsible for overseeing care and maintenance at the site.
Minto location
Sä Dena Hes
The Sä Dena Hes mine is a lead-zinc mine located 45 kilometres north of Watson Lake. Operations ceased in November 1992. The Sä Dena Hes mine is currently in a state of permanent closure.
Sä Dena Hes location
Wolverine
The Wolverine mine is an underground mine. It’s located in southeast Yukon, approximately halfway between Watson Lake and Ross River.
The mine produced lead, zinc, and copper concentrate.
It ceased operations in January 2015. The Yukon government is responsible for overseeing care and maintenance at the site.
Wolverine location