Abstract: Yukon’s northern oil and gas basins remained unglaciated during the Pleistocene. The absence of coarse aggregate material generated by glaciation, coupled with continuous permafrost, has required expensive programs of crushing and hauling bedrock for road and infrastructure development. This study examines fluvial deposits associated with the late-Pleistocene Eagle River meltwater channel as potential sources of aggregate for regional development. In particular, it applies a process-depositional model of meltwater channel development to understand the distribution and potential quality of aggregate resources in the area. We identify three zones with meltwater channel development: (i) an upper erosional zone (~ 50 km) of scoured bedrock associated with initial development of the channel; (ii) a middle zone (~ 35 km) of coarse deposition on high terraces associated with initial channel incision; and (iii) a lower zone (~ 75 km) dominated by fine lacustrine and deltaic deposits that likely overlie coarse fluvial deposits with up to 30 m of clay, silt and sand.

Authors: Kennedy, K. and Froese, D.

Keywords: deltaic deposits, Eagle River, lacustrine deposits

NTS Mapsheet(s): 116C, 116F, 116K

Citation: Kennedy, K. and Froese, D. , 2008. Aggregate resource exploration using a process-depositional model of meltwater channel development in the Eagle Plains area, northern Yukon. In: Yukon Exploration and Geology 2007, Emond, D.S., Blackburn, L.R., Hill, R.P., and Weston, L.H. (eds.), Yukon Geological Survey, p. 169-178

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