Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon i INDUSTRIAL MINERALS, GEMS AND MINOR METALS IN THE YUKON Compiled by G.V. White, P. Geo. GV White Resources Ltd., Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada ii Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon iii ii Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon iii PREFACE PRE iv Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon v iv Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon v This paper follows a similar format used by D. Downing in his 1993 report entitled ‘Industrial Minerals and Minor Metals and Their Potential for Development in the Yukon’. The report’s objective is to encourage and inform mineral explorationists about industrial minerals and their potential for development in the Yukon. A discussion about gemstones and minor metals is also included, because of the potential for economic deposits to occur in the territory. Primary sources of information compiled in this report are from government and industry commodity forecast reports, geological bulletins, papers, open file reports, industry summary reports, company property reports and maps, industrial mineral trade magazines, and through personal communications. Information about documented Yukon industrial mineral occurrences was extracted from the most recent Yukon Minfile database (Yukon Minfile 2001) and from company reports and assays. For organizational purposes and to allow for easier reading, this report is divided into five separate chapters. A brief description of each chapter follows: Part A - Introduction Provides a brief general overview about industrial minerals and minor metals. Included in this chapter is: • A general overview and introduction to industrial minerals; • Classifications of industrial minerals; • Methods used to explore for industrial minerals; • Sampling methods and deposit evaluations; • Physical and analytical testing of industrial minerals; and • Economic and market forces and their impact on industrial minerals. Part B – Industrial Minerals Lists alphabetically industrial minerals, which have been documented in the Yukon or have the potential to occur in the territory. Included in each description is: • Chemical and Physical Characteristics; • Deposit Examples; • General Geology; • World Production; • End Use; • Quality and Specifications; • Market Trends; • Price; • Economic Factors - whenever possible includes reserve and grade estimates from producing mines and other factors such as the importance of an established infrastructure, power supply or industrial demand which may have an influence on the success of any new development. • Yukon Occurrences (including listings from Yukon Minfile). • Exploration Guidelines to consider when searching for an industrial mineral in the Yukon. In this report, particular attention is given to industrial minerals which are imported into the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER*) for which the Yukon may find a market. * Formed in 1991, PNWER is a statutory public/private partnership created by the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and the Yukon Territory to increase the economic well being of these regions. PNWER states and provinces represent the 11th largest economy in the world and have a combined population base of 18 million people. vi Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon vii Part C - Gemstones Describes gemstones that have been documented in the Yukon or have the potential to occur in the Yukon. Part D – Minor Metals Describes minor metals that have been documented in the Yukon or have the potential to occur in the Yukon. Part E – Yukon Infrastructure Describes Yukon infrastructure including hydro development, air and road access, and the Territory’s access to year-round ocean port facilities. In addition, the report includes a listing of abbreviations and element symbols and a glossary of terms. vi Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ACK In the preparation of this report the author would like to acknowledge a number of individuals and organizations who contributed significantly to this report. First, I would like to thank Mr. Z.D. Hora, P. Geo., an Industrial Mineral Specialist, who provided a detailed and expeditious technical review of the original manuscript. His contribution to the report’s structure, content, and technical accuracy is greatly appreciated and acknowledged. I would also like to thank Ms. Catherine White, BA, for her grammatical review of the report and for her patience and support during its preparation. Ms. Lori Walton, Senior Mineral Development Advisor, with the Yukon Department of Energy, Mines and Resources provided helpful suggestions throughout the report’s preparation. Her comments were both constructive and helpful. I would also like to acknowledged and thank Mr. Hector Campbell, P. Eng., and Mr. Tom Debolt of Yukon Energy Corporation, who provided useful information about Yukon’s energy resources and reviewed and improved the portion of the report dealing with energy infrastructure; Ms. Roxanne Schofield-Wray of Yukon Energy Corporation, compiled the Yukon Territory Power Infrastructure map and Ms. Crystal Lambert of Applied Ecosystem Management Ltd. of Whitehorse compiled the maps on industrial minerals, gemstones and minor metals; Mr. Robert Deklerk, Staff Geologist with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, provided timely information on the Yukon’s Minfile database; Mr. Bryony McIntrye, Manager, Energy, Mines and Resources, Lands Branch, compiled statistics about Yukon’s sand and gravel consumption; and Ms. Linda MacDonald, with Yukon Business, Tourism and Culture provided useful information about the Territory’s transportation networks. I would like to make a special acknowledgement to the contribution made by the staff of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada’s Whitehorse library. Without this excellent technical library and the services it provides this report would not have been possible. Finally, I would like to thank Ms. Stephanie Churchill of Inkspirationz Graphix for her helpful suggestions and comments while preparing this manuscript for publication. This project was funded under the Yukon Regional Mineral Development Program, Yukon Government, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources. viii Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon ix viii Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon Industrial Minerals, Gems and Minor Metals in the Yukon ix TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE.............................................................................................................................................................. iii Part A - Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... v Part B – Industrial Minerals ............................................................................................................................. v Part C - Gemstones ........................................................................................................................................... vi Part D – Minor Metals ..................................................................................................................................... vi Part E – Yukon Infrastructure.......................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................................... vii Yukon Industrial Mineral and Minor Metal Exploration Targets ............................................................ xiii INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 1 General Overview and Introduction of Industrial Minerals Ove .............................................................. 3 Classification of Industrial Minerals Clas .................................................................................................... 3 Methods Used to Explore for Industrial Minerals Meth .............................................................................. 4 Sampling Methods and Deposit Evaluation Samp ..................................................................................... 5 Physical and Analytical Testing of Industrial Minerals Ana ....................................................................... 6 Ask What Tests Are Required Te ................................................................................................................. 7 Selecting A Laboratory To Test Industrial Mineral Samples Lab ............................................................ 8 Economic and Market Forces and Their Impact on Industrial Minerals For ........................................ 8 Industrial Mineral Markets Mar ...................................................................................................................