Abstract: Yukon has over a century of placer mining history, predominately in unglaciated regions. However, as these targets are exploited, focus turns to more complex landscapes where glaciation has buried, eroded and incorporated placer gold. This study examines how Early Pleistocene glaciation in the Mount Nansen area, central Yukon, has affected placer gold deposits. Detailed stratigraphic analysis and sample collection has focused on Back Creek, where placer mining has exposed a 22 m section with several gold bearing units. In the section, sediment from two glacial advances cap sporadically preserved pre-glacial gravel. The section is variably dissected by younger placer gold bearing fluvial gravel with enrichment related to intersection of inter-glacial or pre-glacial placer gold deposits. Analysis at Back Creek reveals the potential for deeply buried placer gold deposits in other glaciated regions of Yukon.

Authors: P.O. Englehardt, B.C. Ward, J.D. Bond and M.J. Coleman

NTS Mapsheet(s): 115I03

Citation: Englehardt, P.O., Ward, B.C., Bond J.D. and Coleman, M.J., 2016. Early Pleistocene glaciation and implications for placer gold deposits in Back Creek, Mount Nansen area, Yukon. In: Yukon Exploration and Geology 2015, K.E. MacFarlane and M.G. Nordling (eds.), Yukon Geological Survey, p. 111-129.

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