The core of Glenlyon and northeastern Carmacks map areas is underlain by a northwest-trending belt of metasedimentary, metavolcanic and (meta)plutonic rocks of the Yukon-Tanana Terrane. It includes two successions of Carboniferous arc volcanic rocks, associated plutonic suites of Mississippian age, Devonian-Mississippian metaclastic rocks, and their basement complex. To the southwest, Yukon-Tanana Terrane is juxtaposed with the Semenof block a belt of mafic metavolcanic rocks of uncertain terrane affinity along the Needlerock and Big Salmon faults. To the northeast, the Tummel fault zone delineates the contact between Yukon-Tanana and Cassiar terranes. The narrow belt of chert, argillite and greenstone which occurs within the Tummel fault zone probably correlates with the Slide Mountain Terrane. The area is intruded by Early Jurassic and Cretaceous plutons and is dissected by a series of late faults, which results in approximately 56 km of dextral offset of the Yukon-Tanana Terrane.

In collaboration with the Yukon Geological Survey, the Geological Survey of Canada, and other project partners, Innovate Geothermal Ltd. performed an analysis of geoscience data in southwestern Yukon as part of an effort to better understand the potential for geothermal energy resources that, if present, could be utilized to help reduce fossil fuel use. The study area for this project is located in the vicinity of the Village of Haines Junction (Dakwäkäda) and lies between the Denali and Shakwak fault zones. The main aim of this project is to analyze and interpret a variety of pre-existing and newly acquired geological and geophysical datasets to evaluate where geothermal reservoirs may be present within the study area. A secondary aim is to propose favourable drilling locations, if warranted, for exploratory wells to collect information on subsurface temperature and permeability. The geoscience work accomplished here includes both 2D map interpretation as well as construction of a 3D geologic model that was guided by geophysical inversion modelling of gravity, magnetic and audio-magnetotelluric survey data. At a regional scale, multiple lines of evidence suggest that subsurface temperatures are above the crustal average. More importantly, a municipal water well drilled in 2002 in the Village of Haines Junction produce warm (~20 °C) water from a depth of ~350 m. This water well proves that at least one permeable sediment-hosted geothermal aquifer is present under Haines Junction. Additional geothermal aquifers within the pile of young sediment that sits atop the bedrock are likely present. However, due to a lack of deep drilling in the area, the exact location, temperature, thickness and permeability of such aquifers remains unknown. In this study, a depth-to-bedrock model has been generated to aid with the identification of favourable target areas for exploratory drilling of geothermal wells. The four areas where the top-of-bedrock is deepest have estimated depths in the range 650 to 1225 m below ground surface. Temperature data from two wells in the Haines Junction area suggests the temperature gradient is ~60 °C/km. Thus, geothermal aquifers located near the top-of-bedrock in the four areas identified could have temperatures in the range of 39–74 °C. Production of geothermal fluids from these areas requires permeability in the sediments that sit above the bedrock. Deeper drilling is needed to measure actual subsurface temperatures beneath the village and to identify permeable intervals. Geologic structures and faults that may control permeability in the bedrock remain poorly constrained.

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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.

This is a product of the Gold and base metals–southeastern Yukon (Selwyn basin) project funded jointly by the Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM) program of Natural Resources Canada, and the Yukon Geological Survey (Government of Yukon).

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Mining is expected to remain as Yukon's most important industry during the next 5-10 years. The future prosperity of the mining industry in Yukon depends on the discovery of new mineral deposits. These new discoveries will depend on up to date geoscientific research: geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, and mineral deposit studies. Government and First Nations also need the results of this research to evaluate mineral potential and assist with land use planning and environmental impact assessments. With this in mind, the Geological Survey of Canada, Northern Affairs Program (DIAND), Government of Yukon and the Yukon Chamber of Mines collaborated on a 2-day workshop in April, 1995, to identify and prioritize Yukon's Geoscience requirements for the next 5 to 10 years. This document summarizes the results of the workshop. It represents a consensus between the four sponsoring agencies, based on input from 34 geoscientists currently working in Yukon, and will be used in planning geoscientific research to ensure that priorities are met and that maximum value is obtained from available funding.

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