Yukon miners win reclamation awards

The government of Yukon announced the annual Robert E. Leckie award winners for outstanding quartz and placer reclamation practices Nov. 24. The awards are for companies and individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty in responsible mining and reclamation. This includes adding features to the land that notably enhance the area; returning mined land to a condition that is both structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing; or cleaning up properties mined prior to mining land use regulations coming into effect.

Gimlex Enterprises won the placer mining reclamation award. Dr. Jim Christie and his family operated on Dominion Creek in the Dawson district from 1996 until 2004, mining a large portion of the wide valley bottom, a short distance upstream from the confluence with Sulphur Creek. Old mine cuts have been sloped to shallow grades, creating natural-looking ponds with vegetation growing right up to the edge. These ponds are already providing seasonal waterfowl habitat according to Yukon's Department of Energy, Mines and Resources.

Tailing piles and other waste piles were contoured to a gentle slope and stockpiled overburden was spread throughout the area, which has resulted in rapid natural revegetation over wide areas. In addition, a considerable amount of work was done to create a system of stable ditches, which provide ongoing control of surface drainage and prevent erosion of reclaimed areas.

A-1 Cats honorable mention

Operator Ross Edenost of A-1 Cats received an honorable mention in the placer mining category. Edenost has mined on Dominion Creek since 2002. Since the start of operations, A-1 Cats has done ongoing reclamation. Stripping and tailings piles are kept in low relief. Organic overburden is stockpiled for spreading on contoured areas to facilitate rapid re-vegetation.

Eagle Plains Resources won the quartz mining reclamation award for their work at the Rusty Springs property, which they acquired in 1994. Through good management practices, the company has steadily cleaned up the legacy of the exploration that took place between 1975 and 1986, the Yukon government said.

In 2005 contractor Aurora Geosciences removed rusted fuel drums and up to 2,000 pounds of steel rods and various metal pieces, an old jeep, numerous plastic buckets and other debris from around drill sites. The crew cleaned up the old camp, burned the wood and tidied up the road and strip. They then cleaned up their drill sites and camp site. Every backhaul flight removed waste.

Strategic Metals received an honorable mention in the quartz mining category for their work at Logtung, near Rancheria. The site has seen activity since the 1970s and the company has been cleaning it up for several years. In 2004 they removed 300 45-gallon drums, part of a bulk sample left on site. The drums, drum lids and metal bandings were crushed and removed to the Whitehorse landfill or recycled. The plastic liners were removed from site and the pallets were burned.