This paper provides a high-level overview of the Yukon Geological Survey’s (YGS) activities in 2023. Several of the projects described here are presented in more detail in the 2023 Yukon Exploration and Geology technical papers volume. References to these are included where applicable. The YGS had a challenging year in 2023. Wildfires and landslides punctuated the field season, disrupting field plans for some, and requiring work priorities to be adapted. Additionally, the survey had six staff members leave and two others were on extended absences, which had an impact on operations. Despite a reduced capacity, YGS staff continued to deliver on projects and fill client requests for information. Recruitment efforts are underway and YGS anticipates seeing growth in the coming year. Looking forward, 2024 marks the start of the survey’s next five-year planning cycle. The YGS has started preparing for discussions among staff, research partners and clients about knowledge gaps and emerging needs. Readers are welcome to reach out and share their project ideas or suggest ways to improve on data delivery.

The Yukon Geological Survey (YGS) had a busy year in 2019, welcoming seven new staff and initiating several new projects. In addition to its regular activities, the survey hosted a planning workshop with clients and stakeholders in April to identify gaps in Yukon’s geoscience knowledge base and engage participants in a discussion about their current and future information needs. The YGS holds these workshops every five years, and they are valuable for providing insights into research and exploration trends, generating ideas for new projects, and identifying opportunities for collaborative partnerships. As a backdrop for these discussions, participants were asked to consider how existing and emerging markets, climate change, societal needs and new technologies might influence how the YGS collects, manages and disseminates information. This paper provides both a brief overview of 2019 program activities and a summary of what was heard at the April planning workshop. Workshop discussions covered a broad range of topics and included both specific project ideas as well as general themes. The YGS has already initiated some of the projects that were proposed in April. The paper is organized based on the thematic breakout sessions at the workshop; current activities underway under each of the themes are presented first, followed by a summary of the input heard at the workshop.

This overview provides a summary of research highlights for 2022. Many of the projects described here are presented in more detail in the Yukon Exploration and Geology technical papers that are released with this Overview volume. Two highlights from 2022 are worth noting this year. First, 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of YGS. Since its creation, the Survey has grown and evolved into a multi-disciplinary organization that provides expertise across a range of disciplines (bedrock geology, regional tectonics, glacial history, geohazards and metallogeny) and excels at geoscience education and information management. The second noteworthy event to point out was the discovery of a mummified baby woolly mammoth (Nun Cho Ga) in June on Upper Eureka Creek. Two Survey staff had the privilege of assisting with the recovery of the mammoth and participating in the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation ceremony that marked this scientifically and culturally important discovery. Jeff Bond subsequently mapped the discovery site in detail, documenting the conditions that led to the remarkable preservation of Nun Cho Ga.

The Yukon Geological Survey (YGS) has seen significant change over the last year, with eight new staff joining the team in 2024. This change has brought some new energy to the survey, enabling more visits to exploration projects and building the organization’s capacity to deliver geoscience. This report provides a snapshot of YGS’ staff and fiscal resources, and summarizes YGS’ 2024 activities and project highlights. Over the course of the year, YGS organized three workshops to assess current gaps in map coverage, seek input from clients about their needs, and consider how current trends such as interest in critical minerals and increasing frequency of landslides might influence YGS’ priorities in the future. Following each workshop, a list of project ideas for future work was compiled; these are summarized in this report. Gold prices in 2024 were high, averaging over C$3351 per ounce during the production season. This was a major driver for placer activity in the Yukon, which recorded the highest production on record since 1886. On a more somber note, the failure of the heap leach pad at Eagle Gold Mine in late June had a significantly negative impact on the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun and the mineral industry in general. The medium to long-term effects of this incident on the environment and the mining sector are currently unclear.

Following a challenging year in 2020, activities at the Yukon Geological Survey (YGS) began to return to near-normal in 2021. While a number of provisions related to COVID remained in place, staff returned to working at the office, field activities proceeded without significant delays, and access to core library services for clients resumed. Visits to hard rock exploration projects also picked up over the summer, and face-to-face meetings were held with a few First Nations representatives. In November, Yukon government announced a state of emergency in the territory as a result of a sharp increase in COVID cases. At the time of writing, staff are working mainly from home, although they are still available to respond to client requests and the Core Library remains open. Clients accessing the Core Library facilities must wear a mask, and access is limited to no more than two clients.

Four years after the first Yukon Geoscience Planning Workshop (the Marsh Lake Workshop, Yukon Geoscience - A Blueprint for the Future, Yukon Geology Program, March, 1995), forty-two representatives of industry, academia, and government met at the High Country Inn in Whitehorse to re-examine the state of Yukon geoscience. Over two days, with the expert facilitation of Steve Morison, Gartner Lee Ltd., the participants reviewed the first plan, the work that was done since 1995, and produced a new set of priorities to guide Yukon geoscience into the next millenium. The 1999 Yukon Geoscience Planning Workshop had a format similar to the 1995 workshop and many of the original participants were able to attend. This continuity greatly added to the quality and credibility of the input.

The Yukon Geological Survey (YGS), a branch within the Government of Yukon, is dedicated to advancing our understanding of Yukon’s geology and disseminating this knowledge to various stakeholders, including other government departments, First Nations governments, private companies and the public. The YGS team conducts research across a range of Earth science fields including surficial and bedrock geology mapping, mineral assessments, permafrost and landslide monitoring, geotechnical monitoring along highway corridors, and geothermal research. This research generates data essential for understanding Yukon’s environment and addressing challenges. A foundational understanding of Earth science is essential for government partners, First Nations and the public to fully benefit from YGS’ findings. The YGS supports informed decision-making, responsible land stewardship, and economic development by making geoscience knowledge accessible. Outreach serves as a bridge between research and real-world application, ensuring that YGS’s research is not only shared but also understood by end users. The YGS seeks to inspire and engage with Yukoners by demonstrating how Earth science is both fascinating and relevant to daily life. The YGS helps individuals make informed decisions about the Yukon’s land and resources by sparking curiosity and building an understanding of Earth science. The YGS prioritizes outreach efforts by fostering collaboration with First Nations, supporting educators with curriculum-aligned resources, and encouraging public engagement with Earth science. This overview highlights YGS’ outreach initiatives and achievements throughout 2024.

Yukon mineral exploration activity in 2022 normalized, somewhat, as the restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic abated. However, headwinds remained for explorers in Yukon: continued worker shortages, rising labour costs, high fuel prices, supply chain issues, and difficult financial markets. A surprising number of companies were not able to raise the funds necessary to execute exploration programs in 2022. The good news is that precious and base metal prices were generally strong, however, they did soften slightly towards the end of the summer. Expectations are that year-end exploration expenditures will be approximately $124 million ($123 million in 2021). Development expenditures for the year are expected to be $105 million, up from $86 million in 2021. These estimates are compiled by the Yukon Geological Survey from data posted on company websites and conversations with explorers. The expected value of year-end hard rock metal production for 2022 is approximately $543 million ($525 million in 2021; Fig. 1).

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