Abstract: 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).

Authors: Casselman, S.G.

NTS Mapsheet(s): Yukon Wide

Citation: Casselman, S.G., 2023. Yukon hard rock mining, development and exploration overview 2022. In: Yukon Exploration and Geology Overview 2022, K.E. MacFarlane (ed.), Yukon Geological Survey, p. 43–59.

Downloads

Name	Comment
paper	this pdf is 10MB.	Download PDF