Type II mine sites
Type II mine site locations
There are 7 Type II mines in Yukon. Some are abandoned and others have industry operators.
Working together to manage these sites are:
- the Government of Canada;
- the Government of Yukon; and
- Yukon First Nations.
This relationship is outlined in the Devolution Transfer Agreement .
Each abandoned Type II mine site has activities unique to its stage in the closure and remediation process.
Scroll through the slides below to learn more about each mine site.
Brewery Creek
Brewery Creek mine is a gold mine that operated from 1997 to 2002. It's located 55 kilometres east of Dawson City. Sabre Gold Mines Corp. owns the site and has plans to bring the mine back into operation.
It's within the Traditional Territory of the:
- First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun; and
- Tr'ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation.
Brewery Creek location
Clinton Creek
Clinton Creek mine is an abandoned asbestos mine. It's located 100 kilometres northwest of Dawson.
It's located within the Traditional Territory of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation.
Issues at the site include:
- instability of infrastructure;
- potential erosion; and
- potential for downstream flooding.
It's currently managed by the Government of Yukon.
Clinton Creek location
Faro
Faro mine is an abandoned lead and zinc mine. It's located 15 kilometres north of the Town of Faro.
It's within the Traditional Territory of the:
- Ross River Dena Council;
- Liard First Nation; and
- Kaska Dena Council.
It's also upstream from the Traditional Territory of the Selkirk First Nation.
Issues at the site include:
- acidic water; and
- water contaminated with heavy metals.
It's currently managed by the Government of Canada.
Faro location
Ketza River
Ketza River mine is an abandoned gold and silver mine. It's located 85 kilometres south of Ross River.
It's within the Traditional Territory of the:
- Ross River Dena Council;
- Liard First Nation;
- Kaska Dena Council; and
- Teslin Tlingit Council.
The issue at the site is water contaminated with arsenic.
It's currently managed by the Government of Yukon.
Ketza River location
Minto
Minto is an active copper and gold mine. It's located 240 kilometres northwest of Whitehorse, near Pelly Crossing.
It's within the Traditional Territory of the Selkirk First Nation.
Minto Metals Corp. owns the mine.
Minto location
Mount Nansen
Mount Nansen mine is an abandoned gold and silver mine. It's located 60 kilometres west of Carmacks.
It's within the Traditional Territory of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation.
Issues at the site include:
- the integrity of infrastructure; and
- metals contaminating the water.
On September 24, 2021, the Government of Yukon transferred responsibility of the mine to the Mount Nansen Remediation Limited Partnership.
The Government of Canada is responsible for funding the partnership to remediate the site.
Mount Nansen location
United Keno Hill
United Keno Hill mine is an active silver mine. It's located 50 kilometres northeast of Mayo and 3 kilometres east of Keno.
It's within the Traditional Territory of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun.
Elsa Reclamation and Development Company Ltd. is responsible for :
- care and maintenance;
- the eventual reclamation; and
- closing the site.
Alexco Resource Corp. is actively mining the remaining deposits at the site.
United Keno Hill location