Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Modern Placer Mining
Modern Placer Mining
Modern Placer Mining
The Use of Gold From Yukon Creek Beds to Outer Space ...................................................................................................19
Mining the Past Signs of Ancient Life Unearthed by Placer Miners ..........................................................................................21
Mike McDougall and his daughter, Sarah, in the Sixtymile River valley upstream of a
former settling pond mined by Mikes father, Charles. Kim McDougall photo
1
The Klondike Placer Miners small example of how placer mining Because were going through a period
Association wants to make sure contributes to the Yukons economy. of change in our operation, its a good
Yukoners are up-to-date about what opportunity to talk about what it takes
placer mining is like in the 21st century, The following articles provide a primer to move from one stage of mining to
and what that means for our economy on modern placer mining, covering another, says Christie.
and our environment, says Christie. what it takes to open, operate and
Placer mining is a long-established eventually close a placer mine. But not even the rst stages of mining
and important industry in the Yukon, can take place until the geological
but its so highly-specialized and We hope that this publication will formations are in place to support them.
technical, its not well understood. provide a resource for Yukoners who
are interested in learning more about
The Yukon Geological Surveys placer the science, technology and economics
mining overview for 2003 shows about behind modern-day mining and
125 operating mines, employing about reclamation, as well as some slice-of-
400 people, primarily in the Dawson, life stories about what mining is like
Whitehorse and Mayo Mining Districts. for individuals and families who are
It also estimates about 600 additional involved in it, says Christie.
jobs that are generated in related
service and hospitality sectors. Her own familys business, Gimlex
Gold Mines, has placer mined in
Placer mining has been a mainstay several locations near Dawson City
of the Yukon economy for more than and is in the process of restoring and
100 years, says Mike McDougall, closing down their current site and
the President of the Klondike Placer opening up a new one.
Miners Association. For example,
in Dawson City, we have a greater
selection of grocery stores and other
businesses than might be possible
without the dollars spent by the placer
mining community. Thats just one Resistance to Corrosion
Gold is the most non-reactive of all metals.
It is benign in all natural and industrial
environments. Gold never reacts with oxygen
(one of the most active elements), which
means it will not rust or tarnish. The gold
death-mask in the tomb of Tutankhamun
looked as brilliant when it was unearthed in
1922 as when it was entombed in 1352 BC.
(Excerpt from The Gold Institute)
2
Placer Mining: The Search for Gold in the Gravel
he term placer is a Spanish Theres a certain allure to the idea of of gold deposits somewhere out there,
word meaning place where looking for gold, says Tara Christie, waiting to be found. Thats what keeps
gold can be recovered Executive Director of the Klondike placer miners at it, and draws new
from gravel. But which gravel? Placer Miners Association and partner people as well.
This question is a mystery that still in Gimlex Gold Mines of Dawson City.
fascinates prospectors and placer No matter how much gold has already But its more than just chance or luck.
miners alike. been found, there is always the chance The science of geology contributes
greatly to the placer mining industry.
Placer miners have a huge interest in
understanding how the gold gets there
in the rst place, and where we are
most likely to nd it.
3
information that can help placer miners Now that were learning more about In the Klondike area, small gold veins
understand their deposits and do their how placer deposits occur, the new have been found, but no larger possible
work more economically, but in turn, trend is to explore in glaciated areas as sources of bedrock gold.
we rely on the knowledge placer miners well.
have about their own ground. People have been looking for a
Placer gold deposits occur when gravel motherlode for a long time, says
A basic piece of geological information that holds minerals is washed many LeBarge. One theory is that the
is whether the land was ever covered times by the ow of creek water. Gold, bedrock gold has already been
by a glacier. In other words, is the one of the heaviest minerals, tends to completely eroded into the creeks and
ground glaciated or unglaciated? drop down during the washing process, no longer exists.
Geologists also look at when the land until it can go no further. It gradually
was glaciated, how many times and nds its way to some impermeable Whatever the fate of a possible
what layers have ended up on top. layer, like bedrock or thick clay. motherlode, it seems clear that there are
They study the stratigraphy or in still placer gold deposits to be found in
other words, the layers of gravel, lake Placer miners and others are the Yukon. And although geoscience
sediment and glacial deposits. still captivated by the idea of the provides the baseline information
motherlode the place from which the for placer miners, its still up to the
The majority of gold production in the gold originates in the bedrock. The idea individual miners to nd and choose
Yukon, about 85 per cent, comes from is that if you can nd the motherlode, the patch of ground they believe will
unglaciated areas, where the geology youll also nd a whole lot of gold. pay off.
was not complicated by the movements No one knows for sure that such a
of glaciers. motherlode even exists, but there are
tantalizing clues.
Glaciated areas are more difcult
to understand, says LeBarge. The The Mount Nansen hard rock gold
way the glacial ice owed into the deposit near Carmacks has the same
valley affects how the gold deposits geochemical composition as placer
were buried. Or in some cases the gold gold nearby, says LeBarge. So we
would have been encompassed into the can conclude that the placer gold came Electrical Conductivity
glacial material, and diluted. from the hard rock deposit. Gold is among the most electrically conductive
of all metals. Since electricity is essentially the
As a result, glaciated areas only ow of charged particles in a current, metals
provide about 15 per cent of total gold that are conductive allow this current to ow
production in the Yukon. But that is unimpeded. Gold is able to convey even a tiny
slowly changing, says LeBarge. electrical current in temperatures varying from
-55 to +200 centigrade. This makes gold
a vital component for electrical connectors
in computers and telecommunications
equipment. (Excerpt from The Gold Institute.)
4
A Placer Mine at Stake
hen placer miner Tara The information is available in the size of the post is stipulated. Then
Christie was just a kid, other places too, like the Internet, at the post must be inscribed with the
she would tag along with www.yukonminingrecorder.ca. But we name or number of the claim, its length,
her dad in the bush around Dawson nd it works the best when someone the date and the stakers name. The
City. Their family was mining at comes in to talk to us, says Kathryn claim must then be recorded with the
Scroggie Creek, but like most placer Perry, the Mining Recorder in Dawson. Mining Recorder. If the claim is within
miners, they were also on the lookout That way, we can answer questions ten miles of the Mining Recorders
for other promising ground to stake. and ensure they really understand ofce, the staker has ten days to record
whats required. it. For every additional ten miles of
Tara was often there to see her dad sink distance, another day of travelling
the two posts into the ground and write The requirements for staking a claim time is allowed.
his claim upon them. She probably are very specic. A post must be placed
even helped him do it. But according to at each end of the claim, which can The law has been that way for a long
placer mining laws, it wasnt until she be no longer than 500 feet. The staker time, chuckles Perry. But there can
was 18 that she could stake her own must clear the bush between the two often be a rush at the last minute, even
claim. posts to provide a clear line of sight, or for miners who live right in Dawson.
whats called a location line. Even We still get a surprising number of
Staking my rst claim was a rite of
passage, says Christie. Finally, it was
my name written on the post. It was a
part of growing up, in the same way
that getting your rst moose, or your
drivers license, might be for other
kids.
5
people coming in at a quarter to ve on we always ask him about his latest midnight on its anniversary date, says
their last day of travelling time. adventure. Once he told us about Tara Christie. Then the race is on.
encountering an angry grizzly bear People will walk or even run out to the
If all that is done properly, the miner while staking. The bear charged, and site to try to get the ground staked rst.
has the placer claim. But thats not the the miner had to fend him off with little It gets very competitive. You might
end of it. In order to keep the claim, more than hand tools. be heading out there, suddenly hear
the miner must carry out at least $200 a helicopter overhead, and then you
worth of work there annually, and Other adventures involve the race to know youre likely to get there too late.
then le it with the Mining Recorders re-stake a claim that is expiring because It can be pretty exciting.
ofce by the claims anniversary date. the necessary work was not done and
Thats to ensure the ground, as a public the claim was not renewed.
resource, is being worked, and not
unduly tied up, thereby preventing An unworked claim will expire at
someone else from staking and
working it.
6
Exploring for Gold: From Hand Tools to High Technology
ne of the rst phases in the says Tara Christie, Executive Director That optimism might well be a
life of a placer mine is one of the Klondike Placer Miners professional requirement. Placer
that some would say is the Association. We love the thrill of the miners spend many years and
most exciting exploration. But along chase and the chance that we might thousands of dollars exploring areas
with the excitement comes a high nd something that no one else has that may or may not support a placer
degree of risk. Placer miners tend to ever seen. We tend to be an optimistic mine.
have a built-in sense of wanderlust, bunch.
Exploring for gold provides no
income, says Christie. Most of us
borrow money to pay for exploration,
in the hope that well eventually
establish a mine and start making
money.
7
to-nd gold is gone. We want to ensure The apex of the fan has good potential The Surveys research is available to
an area is economical to mine before a and is the easiest to mine, says YGS all placer miners to help them decide
project gets too far along. placer geologist Bill LeBarge. But where and how to mine. But placer
newer studies also show it can pay miners must also rely heavily on their
A valuable high-tech tool has been the off to mine farther down the fan and own knowledge.
radio tracer technology developed by up the valley. In some areas, gold has
mining engineer Randy Clarkson of been found in pre-glacial gravels under There are a lot of variables to
New Era Engineering in Whitehorse. lake sediments. We have found similar consider, says Christie. We use
Particles of gold are irradiated at a very stratigraphy in other places, so its our own geological knowledge, plus
low level, and then inserted into the likely others could mine successfully we have to consider things like road
gravel. Clarkson is then able to measure there. access, proximity to town, and even
the number of radioactive gold particles if the kind of equipment we own will
pulled out of the ground by the test Some miners are moving into this work well in that area.
drill. This measures the effectiveness kind of non-traditional mining area.
of the drilling and helps placer miners Others are pleasantly surprised to nd Once those decisions are made, the
improve their exploration methods. gold in areas that have already been placer mine moves into the next
heavily mined. phase production.
The Yukon Geological Survey (YGS)
also carries out research on placer In 1993, we staked claims in a very
deposits, including those in geological busy area of the Klondike on Dominion
settings that have not been historically Creek, says Christie. The mine we
considered to have high economic built there sustained us for ve years. It
potential. was encouraging to discover that there
is still gold to be found right in front of
An example of this is the Surveys us, in a very traditional mining area.
work in alluvial fans and fan deltas.
They are created when creeks fan
out and empty into a body of water,
like a bigger creek, or a lake. As the
water slows down, the heavier gold
can no longer be carried by the stream,
so it comes to rest on the stream bed,
forming a placer gold deposit.
8
Working the Goldelds A Family Affair
Yukon placer miners and Canadian Jamie Christie assists other family members with panning at Dominion Creek.
Christie photo
farmers both share a short growing
season the summer months, when Canada. In 2000, McDougall left miners. McDougall is a second-
much of the key work must be done. his mining operations near Dawson generation placer miner himself, as is
This intense period of work creates City and established a business in Tara Christie, the Executive Director
a lifestyle which again shares many Kamloops, B.C. of the Klondike Placer Miners
characteristics with the family farm. Association.
But we missed the people and
Placer mining families often live right the place and the lifestyle, says All of our family members are
on the claim, says McDougall. Our McDougall. I kept coming back to partners in our operation my parents,
eldest child arrived on the claim at just poke around my old property, even my brother and his wife, and myself,
six weeks of age. Having your family though I wasnt working it anymore. says Christie. The kids help out where
close by is one of the great things about I found myself spending just about as they can. Typically, the children start
being a placer miner. You can have much time here as in the south, so we out learning how to do small jobs, and
lunch every day with your children. decided it was probably time to come eventually graduate to running the
back. big equipment. My 8-year-old niece
Lifestyle was part of what drew Mike recently learned how to clean out the
McDougall back to placer mining The involvement of families often sluicebox plant, earning $2 per cleanup.
after a hiatus of four years in southern leads to multiple generations of placer My own dad taught me how to weld
9
and x things. Its a very satisfying The Yukon Geological Survey The family operation is also a
experience to pass knowledge down to estimates that the 125 placer mines pragmatic structure, says Christie.
your children that way. that operated in the Yukon last year Decisions can be made quickly and
employed about 400 workers and close to the ground, because all the
In the Yukon, placer mines are virtually generated about 600 jobs in related shareholders live and work on the mine
all family-run, but extra workers are service and hospitality sectors. site.
often hired on to help. The smaller
operations might consist of just one Because placer mines are family Some of those decisions might involve
miner and a helper. The largest placer operations, they have staying power, how best to comply with regulatory
mine currently operating in the Yukon says Christie. Placer miners tend requirements in the Yukon.
employs about 20 workers during the to tighten their belts and stick it out
summer season. during tough times, instead of packing Next well focus on how such
their bags and leaving. This personal regulatory requirements affect todays
Even with the recent ups and downs in investment can be seen in the longevity placer mining.
the placer mining industry, were still a of the placer mining community. Some
key contributor to the Yukon economy, families have been in the Klondike
says McDougall. Placer miners hire since the Gold Rush.
local workers and buy local goods.
Our industry is denitely a major
contributor to the territorys economy.
Thermal Conductivity
Gold is also an excellent conductor of thermal
energy or heat. Since many electronic
processes create heat, gold is necessary to
transfer heat away from delicate instruments.
For example, a 35 percent gold alloy is
used in the main engine nozzle of the Space
Shuttle, where temperatures can reach 3300
centigrade. Gold alloy is the most tenacious
and long-performing material available for
protection at these temperatures. (Excerpt
from The Gold Institute.)
10
Imagining a Placer Mine
eeting regulatory How much fortitude? Enough to huge amount of work to make all your
requirements to ensure face down and ll out the 63-page plans and anticipate all your needs. Its
mining is done in a application form that gets them started important to give yourself lots of time.
responsible way is now a regular part on the permitting process. In fact, in the case of a new site that
of doing business in todays mining my familys placer mining company
work. It is a necessary challenge How much imagination? Enough to be is moving onto, we did our permitting
that all Yukon placer miners must able to visualize the placer mine they several years ago to make sure
face. In order to do so successfully, want to build, how it will operate and everything was in place in time.
placer miners need time, fortitude and everything that will be needed.
imagination. Land and water regulations are
Placer miner Tara Christie has been designed to ensure mining is done
How much time? The Yukon Water living and working around placer mines in a responsible way that safeguards
Board advises most placer miners to for most of her life. the environment and promotes the
build about four months into their use of modern efcient technology
planning process for completing The permitting process can be and reclamation practices. They are
regulatory requirements. somewhat onerous, she says. Its a common practice across North America
Exploration Reclamation
New Development
Overview of Ross Mining on Dominion Creek shows the operation, settling ponds, reclaimed areas, exploration drilling and new
development. Bill LeBarge photo
11
and have become a part of doing and the Yukon Salmon Committee. Recent experience has been with
business in todays world. There is also newspaper advertising. a fairly heavily regulated industry,
Any interventions are considered says Christie. It wasnt always that
Most placer mining operations require when the Board meets to decide on the way. Prior to 1975, there was very
a water use license and approval of a application. The permits for the license little regulation of placer mining. The
Class IV Mining Land Use Operating and approval, if theyre given, usually industry has been practiced in the
Plan. To get either, a third process last for ve or ten years. Yukon for more than a century, but
must take place, an environmental the concerns about land, water and the
assessment. These processes are run Some placer miners also need to obtain environment have only come to the
simultaneously by the Yukon Water permits and approvals from other fore in the last few decades. This has
Board. agencies. For example, they would brought about huge changes for the
need to go Transport Canada if they industry in the operational procedures,
We know the size of the application want to put a bridge over navigable lead times and costs of placer mining.
package can be a little intimidating, waters.
says Dianna Mueller, Licensing Ofcer Once all the necessary permits are
with the Board. But it does consolidate Most of the time, staff at the Water obtained, placer miners are able to
and harmonize three separate processes, Board have a pretty good sense of who begin operating, but they continue to
in order to simplify things as much the other authorizing agencies are, so work to meet a number of conditions.
as possible. Weve also done our best we can tell miners where the other They can expect regular inspection
to make the form as clear and easy to permits are available, says Mueller. visits from natural resource ofcers to
understand as possible. As well, we ensure everything is ship-shape.
are very willing to give assistance to The regulatory environment that placer
anyone who needs it. Well even take miners work in today has changed
collect calls. greatly since the early days of mining
in the Yukon. Even the past 30 years
For each application, the Water Board have seen great changes, says Tara
develops an extensive distribution Christie.
list, usually of 25 to 30 different
parties. The list includes government
departments, First Nations in whose
traditional territory the project is
located, nearby trappers or outtters,
and non-governmental organizations
such as the Yukon Conservation Society Uses for Gold
Golds superior electrical conductivity, its
malleability, and its resistance to corrosion
have made it vital to the manufacture
of components used in a wide range of
electronic products and equipment, including
computers, telephones, cellular phones, and
home appliances.
12
Inspecting Yukon Placer Mines An increasing
record of compliance
13
environment and important sh habitat, We also look for reclamation efforts, However, this doesnt mean its
and that the mine can be restored to says Thomson. Sometimes certain always easy. Thomson says meeting
the same state of utility that existed restorative activities must take place stringent water quality standards can
prior to mining. During a mine visit, at the end of each season, while be a challenge. Next well take a closer
ofcers look for site stability and for others cant happen until the miner is look at how and why water quality is
compliance with applicable legislation, completely nished mining at that site. measured at Yukon placer mines.
regulations and the terms of any
permits. When a natural resources ofcer does
nd non-compliance, there are several
We check to see that the channel, bed routes to take, including verbal or
and banks of any streams are stable. written warnings, or a stop-work order.
We dont want to see slumping banks
or water draining into a stream across a We can also issue a ticket, which is a
freshly-stripped area, says Thomson. way of informing the miner that were
If a new channel has been built to investigating possible violations that
divert a stream from its natural course, could end up in court, says Thomson.
the new channel has to be large enough But our most effective tool is the
and strong enough to withstand the ofcers authority to issue directions to
rush of water that could come through the miner, requiring certain measures to
during spring melt or a summer storm. be taken to x the problem. Most placer
The inspections also include a stability miners want to comply and we nd that
check of any protective berms, settling good communication solves the vast
ponds or dams. majority of problems.
14
The Quality of Water
ne of the main jobs for solids that settle to the bottom. He also sensitivity of the sh habitat.
todays placer miners is to measures temperature, pH, electrical
protect the quality of the conductivity and turbidity how Our water testing is important for
water that runs through and near their cloudy the water is. a variety of reasons, says Nowosad.
mine sites. Water samples are taken Suspended sediments can affect the
by territorial natural resources ofcers Different types of sediment take respiration, eating habits and food
several times every season from placer longer to settle, says Nowosad. sources of sh. Settled sediments
mines throughout the territory. Those Heavy particles like sand will settle in affect sh beds and breeding areas.
samples are then analyzed in a Yukon under 40 seconds, but silts can take up Some of the other measurements can
Energy, Mines and Resources (EMR) to eight hours, and clays even longer, indicate whether the water could cause
laboratory in Whitehorse. Nearly all of sometimes days. Some sediments never problems for other animals or humans.
them end up in front of the same man settle, because of the electrical charge
Mark Nowosad, the Placer Sediment they contain or the effect of other Water is used on a placer mine
and Water Quality Technologist at particles. primarily to wash the gold out of gravel
EMRs Client Services and Inspections as it travels through a sluiceplant, but it
branch. Placer miners are allowed to increase can also be used to excavate new areas
the solids concentration in water by by blasting away the permafrost. The
Nowosad sees a lot of water. He a certain amount, depending on the water then becomes muddy. Usually,
analyzed 581 placer mine water
samples in 2003. Since 1997, he
estimates analyzing approximately
5000. But far from tiring of the work,
Nowosad is captivated by it.
15
the placer miner cleans the water by The other is to add to the database that It makes sense that placer miners
running it through a series of settling allows them to research how mining would want to comply with water
ponds, usually driven by gravity, before sediments affect water quality in the quality standards, says Nowosad.
discharging it back into the stream. But Yukon. So far, their results are very They live in the same environment
innovations are also being tried. encouraging. where their mine is located. They and
their good friends and neighbours often
Some miners can build closed Our research shows that other non- use the same water that runs through
systems, says Nowosad. Water is mining sources of contamination, such the mine. Its in their best interests not
recycled through the mine again and as surface water run-off, landslides and to affect the water quality.
again, eliminating the need to discharge rainfall, all had a greater inuence on
large volumes into the stream. degrading downstream water quality Summertime is high season for placer
However, you need lots of space for the than did efuent discharge from placer miners, and their sluiceboxes are
ponds, and more money is required to mines, says Nowosad. Sometimes working hard these days to retrieve
buy pumps and diesel fuel. placer settling ponds can even help out gold.
Mother Nature by catching sediment
In addition, recycling water means water from big rainfalls or oods.
more wear and tear on equipment,
says Tara Christie, the Executive Statistics from 1989 to 2003 show a
Director of the Klondike Placer Miners marked improvement amongst placer
Association. And if its not monitored miners in meeting efuent discharge
carefully, the recycling system can standards. For the rst six years,
decrease the recovery of gold. As well, 80 to 88 per cent of miners were in
some miners in narrow valleys dont compliance. For eight of the last nine
have sufcient space to build recycling years, its been 90 per cent or better,
systems. So while recycling can be an and reached a high of 99 per cent last
option, its not always workable. year.
16
Placer Mining The Creative Use of Heavy Metal
une is a busy month for placer near end of the sluice plant. Its then ground. A bulldozer periodically pushes
miners, and Bill Trerices operation fed into the hopper a kind of funnel them out of the way.
in the Yukons Mount Nansen area that directs the dirt into a rotating barrel
near Carmacks is no exception. called the trommel. Meanwhile, smaller rocks head into the
When a helicopter full of visitors sluice runs, where the heavy particles
arrives at Trerices Back Creek mine Jets of water nudge the rocks and mud of gold are separated out. Water runs
on a morning in early June, theres a lot along at various points, until they reach out of the sluiceplant and into a series
going on. a set of screens at the far end of the of settling ponds built along the creek
trommel. This is where the larger rocks valley.
A bulldozer pushes mounds of dirt (everything about the size of a football,
within reach of a stationary back hoe or bigger) are fed up into the stacker, a The heavy equipment, pumps, rushing
or excavator, which shovels it into the conveyor belt which drops them to the water and falling rock all make for
plenty of noise and activity. All this
is being managed by just two people,
Trerice and his one hired hand.
17
Like many placer miners, Trerice is an The Executive Director of the Klondike Creativity and innovation are key
admitted jack-of-all trades. He not only Placer Miners Association, Tara ingredients, says Christie. If placer
runs the equipment, he often builds, re- Christie, agrees that Trerices mine is miners need something, they dream it
builds and repairs it. In the case of his typical of small placer operations in a up and they build it.
sluiceplant, he purchased the trommel number of ways.
and built the rest of it using existing Placer miners use their machinery to
equipment over a period of about a Placer miners invest an enormous search for paydirt, of course, which
month. amount of money in equipment, long includes gold and other minerals. Next
before they see any gold. They use well look at what they nd and how
Although its an accomplishment their own money or mortgage their own those minerals are eventually used.
some people would never dream of homes. And since the equipment is only
attempting, Trerice downplays it. used for about a hundred days a year,
miners keep it going for a long time by
A lot of it is trial and error, he repairing, rebuilding and recycling.
says. I used to make adjustments
and changes to my sluiceplant every The key piece of heavy machinery, the
spring, or sometimes every month. You sluiceplant, is not something you can
learn from experience and from other buy off the shelf.
people. You look at other sluice plants,
you remember the things you tried Every mine site is different, so each
that didnt work, and try not to make sluiceplant is also unique, says
the same mistakes. It helps if you like Christie. You have to know what will
making and xing things, and dont work on your site, and modify your
mind getting dirty. plant to t. Lots of work goes into
design, development and installation of
A sense of humour also comes in your sluiceplant.
handy. Theres an old saying in placer
mining, says Trerice. You can make a
small fortune, as long as you start with
a big one.
Gold Nuggets
An authentic gold nugget is considered a
gemstone because of its rarity and beauty.
The rarest form of gold is a nugget. The
largest known nugget is called the Welcome
Stranger. It weighs about 70.8 kg. It was
accidentally uncovered, from just below the
surface of the ground, by a wagon wheel in
Victoria, Australia, in 1869. (Excerpted from:
www.goldfever.org)
18
The Use of Gold From Yukon Creek Beds to Outer Space
19
Its used in components of satellite Its also possible for placer miners to Minerals are not all that is found when
dishes, computers, telecommunications recover copper, platinum, tin, tungsten, placer miners excavate the ground.
and other electronics. titanium and even gems like diamonds, They also often come across ancient
garnets or hematite, known as Alaska bones and artifacts. Next well look at
The Gold Institutes website www. black diamond. how placer miners have contributed
goldinstitute.org has an impressive to our body of knowledge about the
list of the uses of gold. Its used In some areas of the world, placer Yukons past.
in everything from televisions and miners have found enough of some of
VCRs, to airplanes and spacecraft, to these minerals to make it worthwhile
reghting gear and food freshness to recover them, says Bill LeBarge,
sensors. There are also a number of placer geologist with the Yukon
medical and dental uses. Geological Survey. Some Yukon
placer miners are also investigating
Although gold and silver are currently the possibility of mining for other
the main minerals Yukon placer miners minerals. It has the potential to make
are selling, there is some potential to a marginally-economic gold mine into
recover and sell others. something more lucrative.
Price of Gold
South Africa is the worlds leading supplier of
gold. Gold reached an all-time high price of
US$800 per ounce in 1980. (Excerpted from:
www.goldfever.org)
20
Mining the Past Signs of Ancient Life
Unearthed by Placer Miners
n July 1991, a heavy equipment It was just one of many signicant says Norm Ross of Ross Mining. They
operator working for Ross Mining discoveries made on Yukon placer extracted the skeleton, crated it up and
near Dawson City hit pay dirt that mines over the last century. In fact, removed it for further study.
had nothing to do with gold. In addition such nds form the core of several
to the usual load of mud and gravel, important fossil collections in the The unearthing of Ice Age skeletons
he had scooped up a piece of ivory Yukon and elsewhere. may seem exotic but for many placer
a tusk. He dug a little further and miners, its all in a days work.
found bones. It turned out to be the We were able to halt our work in that
nearly-complete skeleton of a woolly area for a week or so and get in touch Ross says its fairly common to nd
mammoth. with the Yukon Paleontology ofce, tusks, horns, teeth, skulls and bones,
sometimes thousands of years old. As
miners search for gold, they dig into
ancient layers of gravel. Within those
layers are clues to the way life was
lived in the Yukon a very long time
ago.
21
Discoveries made on placer mining Research on such fossils can go on for Harington also notes several important
claims have helped to build a base years. The information is published discoveries on placer mines near
of knowledge in paleontology and in academic journals, books and Dawson that shed light on human
archaeology in the Yukon and across popular magazines, as well as being development in the Yukon. One was an
the country as well. used in museum exhibits. The fossils eleven thousand-year-old antler tool,
themselves become part of Yukon or used for shaping stone tools, found
About 90 per cent of the Yukons Canadian collections and sometimes on Hunker Creek on the ground of
fossil collection comes from placer end up on display at the Beringia John Erickson and Herman Leidtke.
mining nds, says John Storer, Yukon Interpretive Centre or other museums Another was a thirty thousand-year-old
Paleontologist. These nds have been in the Yukon and elsewhere. bison bone found at Nugget Gulch on
hugely important in piecing together the ground of miners Bernie and Ron
the story of the Ice Age in Canada. The Canadian Museum of Nature Johnson. It has a fracture evidently
is one such institution. Our Yukon made by a human who wanted to
Storer appreciates the cooperation collection includes tens of thousands expose and eat the marrow.
and hospitality shown by many placer of specimens, says Dick Harington,
miners who have helped him and curator emeritus at the museum. These nds are important because
colleagues from elsewhere. About a third of those were found on they are amongst the earliest signs of
placer mines. Miners have made quite a human activity in the Yukon and North
Placer miners save material of interest contribution. America, and they were found with the
for us, sometimes even making sure help of placer miners, says Harington.
it stays frozen, which is important for A famous example is the horse found Discoveries continue to be made every
some DNA studies. They have allowed by placer miners Lee Olynyk and year and placer miners are generally
paleontologists and archaeologists to Ron Toews on Last Chance Creek very aware of what to do to ensure
work on their mine sites, even adjusting near Dawson. Dating back twenty- the nds are well looked after. This is
their work schedules to accommodate six thousand years, it was so well invaluable to our work.
us. preserved that portions of the front leg,
hide, mane and tail were intact, as well
One of Storers best memories is of as parts of the stomach and its contents.
the work he did at Thistle Creek, on
Stuart Schmidts placer mine south of
Dawson, and south of the Indian River.
The nd was rich in fossils of plants,
insects and mammals, including horse,
mammoth, chipmunk, ground squirrel,
vole, lemming, pika and shrew.
Oceans of Gold
There are about 10 billion tons of gold in
the worlds oceans; however, there is yet
no known way to economically recover it.
(Excerpted from: www.goldfever.org)
22
Training the Placer Miners of Tomorrow
23
the sluicebox so they dont get stuck. Eight trainees were placed at eight The Executive Director of the Klondike
Now that most placer miners use more different placer mines. Seven of them Placer Miners Association, Tara
complex sluice plants, that job has were First Nations youth. Christie, is pleased to see the level
virtually disappeared. of interest in the training program,
That level of participation indicates especially from First Nation youth.
As a result, when placer mine owners a keen interest and support for placer
are looking for employees, they want mining from the Trondek Hwechin Placer miners are very interested in
someone with experience. First Nation, says Knutson. It was an recruiting more young workers who are
excellent partnership opportunity for local and are likely to want to stay on
This summers training program us. for the long term. And with land claims
offered Dawson youth ages 16 to 25 now settled for many Yukon First
a chance to spend a week working Knutsons own placer mining crew is Nations, there are new opportunities
on a placer mine, gaining experience 50 per cent First Nation his two sons developing for First Nations people on
in a variety of onsite jobs. They also and three others. their own lands.
attended three classroom sessions,
which covered staking and placer 17-year-old Kyle Isaac is one of those The training program took place in
mining rules and regulations, job three. He has worked on Knutsons early June, so that trainees had time
readiness and resume writing, and placer mine for two summers and to look for summer work afterwards.
workplace safety. enrolled in the training program this Several of them did receive continuing
year to gain additional experience. work on placer mines. The program
The KPMA received valuable helped to build connections between
help from other professionals in the It was good to see how another mining placer miners and youth, says
community who delivered classroom operation is set up, says Isaac. I also Knutson. That might lead to work
instruction, says Knutson. Our spent part of my training week learning opportunities down the road as well.
partnership with the Trondek to run the backhoe, which is a new skill
Hwechin First Nation was also very for me and will be very useful.
important. Their staff visited the
school, talked to young people about Isaac, who is a member of the Trondek
the program and took applications. Hwechin, hopes to continue working
in placer mining and eventually have
The First Nation paid half the wages his own mine.
which trainees received. The other Measuring Gold
half was paid by the placer mining The weight of gold or gold articles is usually
companies for whom trainees worked. expressed in troy ounces. (1 troy ounce =
1.097 ordinary ounces.) The purity of gold
Depending on circumstances at each articles is generally described in three ways:
mine, the trainees experience included percent (parts of gold per 100), neness (parts
maintenance, mechanical work, of gold per 1000) and karats (parts of gold per
carpentry, machinery operation and 24). (Excerpted from: www.goldfever.org)
sluicebox cleanup.
Photo above: Yukon Geological Survey
summer student examines the rifes in a
oating trommel plant at Fourth of July
Creek. Bill LeBarge photo
24
The Final Stage Decommissioning a Placer Mine
25
Placer miners often build a new stream Reclamation efforts are far better now Outstanding quartz and placer
bed in order to re-direct a stream than in the early days of mining. In reclamation practices are also
through it, allowing them to mine under those times, not a lot of thought was recognized annually through the
the original channel. Depending on given to planning for the end of the Robert E. Leckie Awards. After a
circumstances, the stream may later mines life, says Christie. That started selection process carried out by a
be restored to its original course, or it to change in the late 1980s. Now committee of Yukon government and
may continue to run through the new reclamation planning and work happen industry representatives, the awards are
channel. Either way, there are a number right from the beginning. presented to mining companies, placer
of considerations for the miner. operators and others who go above
Although Christie says the and beyond the normal call of duty in
You need to make sure the stream improvements have occurred across the responsible mining and reclamation.
banks can hold during oods, says board, certain miners have been singled
Christie. The channel has to be a out for their extraordinary attention When a placer mining company is
similar length as before, with bends, to reclamation. These include Norm nished with decommissioning, it has
water velocity changes and rock and Sandra Ross of Ross Mining on often already begun mining at a new
groupings. The objective is to create Dominion Creek near Dawson City. site. Next well look at what happens
stable healthy streams with good sh In 2001, they were awarded the Long when a placer miner is starting over.
habitat. Time Achievement Award for Placer
Reclamation by a selection committee
Regular mining inspection visits take of government and placer mining
place at placer mines every season representatives.
and placer miners get advice during
these visits from the natural resources They received the award for the
ofcers employed by Yukon Energy, annual reclamation work theyve done
Mines and Resources. since they began placer mining in the
early 1980s, says Christie. Their
The ofcers are familiar with each responsible mining practices have
mines decommissioning plan, and been far more than was required by
they can advise miners about whether legislation or regulation. They have
what theyre doing is acceptable, says really gone the extra mile.
Christie.
Purity
Even with this help, reclamation is still The purity of gold articles may be described in
an expensive part of mining. Christie three ways:
estimates that about 20 per cent of Percent, meaning parts of gold per 100
overall placer mining costs go to Fineness, meaning parts of gold per 1,000
reclamation and site cleanup. Karat, meaning parts of gold per 24. Not to
be confused with the carat, equaling a fth
of a gram, which is used to state the weight
of a gem stone.
(Excerpted from: www.goldfever.org)
26
Starting Over How to Move a Placer Mine
lacer miners spend many years wants to know which layers contain the In the case of a placer miners move,
and many hundreds of thousands most gold, how deeply the gold is buried there is no house to move into. There
of dollars developing their mine and how coarse or ne the gold is likely may not even be a dry level patch
sites. They do this in the full knowledge to be. of land to build upon. The work can
that at some point, there will not be sometimes begin with something as
enough gold left at the site to make Well often do a test pit or test cut to basic as constructing a gravel pad to
mining worthwhile. If the miner wants conrm the amounts of gold we expect hold the camp.
to continue making a living, that means to nd, says Christie. Well also do
shutting down one mine and starting test sluicing to ensure we are using the Building a mine site is like starting
fresh at a new site. right equipment and screens, so that we from scratch, says Christie. Usually
get an effective recovery of gold. placer miners need to construct or install
Thats the kind of summer it has everything theyll need, including the
been for the Christie family and their Another big job is establishing the septic eld, power, water, roads, culverts
company, Gimlex Gold Mines. The mining camp. This is a monumental task and drainage.
family has been closing their mine site that might appear virtually impossible
on Dominion Creek near Dawson City. to those of us who dread a relatively This summer, the Christie family
After ten years, its time to move on. simple move from one house to another. has picked up all the collected
27
paraphernalia of their lives and their In addition to all this, there is yet Although the Christies have spent a
business, and is busy moving it from another challenge to be dealt with good part of the summer working on
one mine site to the other. This includes when youre doing a move this big, the move, the job is so big that it will
a house, two house trailers, two theres not much time left to do any likely extend into next summer as well.
bunkhouses and a kitchen, a roofed actual mining. By that time, theyll be eager to put
walkway and a workshop. Then there aside the moving crates and get back to
are the smaller items, such as the During a moving year, you have to the business of placer mining.
swing set, picnic tables, trampoline, understand you wont make much
propane tank, welding equipment, money, says Christie. You have to
pumps, hoses and spare parts. plan ahead for a year of low income
and high expenses.
The house and house trailers must be
emptied of most of their contents, and
then all of that must be trucked to the
new site as well.
Purity of Gold
European system:
100.0% gold = 1000 ne
91.7% gold = 917 ne
75.0% gold = 750 ne
58.3% gold = 583 ne
41.6% gold = 416 ne*
Karat system:
100% gold = 24 karat
91.7% gold = 22 karat
75.0% gold = 18 karat
58.3% gold = 14 karat
41.6% gold = 10 karat*
* The minimum amount of gold that a
product can be composed of and carry the
label gold, according to the U.S. Federal
Trade Commission Guides to the Jewelry
Industry.
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Energy, Mines and Resources