Gladiator Metals Stakes Jackson Ridge
Photo: Yukon Hiking | From the top of the ridge, looking towards the Ibex Valley.
Backgrounder
Gladiator Metals, best known for controversial exploration near Cowley Creek along the Copper Belt, has staked new claims along the Jackson Ridge Trail.
Gladiator Metals Corp. is a company based out of Australia. The company currently has two active exploration projects: The Koonenberry North Project in New South Wales Australia and the Whitehorse Copper Belt in the Yukon.
Gladiator Metals caused controversy when it started exploring their claims with some lying within Whitehorse City Limits. The company was fined a total of $43,700 for going beyond the permit’s scope and causing more environmental damage than allowed.
To read more about this companies track record please read our past blog Backyard Mining in Whitehorse.
Gladiator Metals staked new quartz claims along Jackson Ridge on May 17, 2024.
“Gladiator Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on advancing high-grade copper projects. With a strategic emphasis on the Whitehorse Copper Belt in Yukon, Canada, Gladiator is committed to uncovering and developing significant copper resources. The company’s exploration efforts have already identified promising copper skarn mineralization at Cowley Park and the newly staked Jackson Copper Skarn prospect.” - The Globe and Mail
The 55 new claims (encompassing 11.3 square kilometres) are an expansion of Gladiator’s Whitehorse Copper Belt project. Part of the claims directly border KDFN Class A Settlement Land. The staked trail is adjacent to Fish Lake. Jackson Creek which runs through the claims is a part of a watershed that connects to Fish Lake. YCS hiked the Jackson Ridge Trail and can confirm that the stakes are in.
Photo: YCS | Gladiator Metals stakes along the Jackson Ridge Trail | June 12, 2024
Mining Vocabulary
Exploration: The search for mineral deposits and the work done to prove or establish the extent of a mineral deposit.
Mining: Digging, removing earth, rock and other materials for the removal of desired minerals such as copper, silver or gold.
Quartz Mining: Mining for metal or a mineral when it is a part of another rock. This is called ore. The ore is dug up and the wanted metal is extracted through physical or chemical means.
Staking Claims: Physically marking the land to gain the exclusive rights to the minerals within the boundaries of that claim. To mark a claim, one uses stakes such as two by four wood posts along with claim tags. A typical claim measures 1,500 feet by 1,500 feet.
Trenching: Trenches or pits are then excavated or blasted into the rock to expose mineralized zones for sampling and testing.
Corridor: A long strip through the landscape used to help facilitate access.
Cut Lines: This practice is done to help prepare the landscape for future geological or geophysical use. Cut lines can be cut in a grid and are used to help provide coordinates, aid in surveys such as electromagnetic or soil sampling.
Now that a claim has been staked, what could come next?
The company could next apply for a Class 1 Quartz Permit. A Class 1 Quartz Permit is the type of permit the company is using at their other claims. A Class 1 Quartz Permit can cause a lot of environmental damage.
This type of permit would mean that the company could:
Store up to a maximum of 5 000 litres of fuel with a limit of 2 000 litres per container (equivalent to 250 20L jerry cans);
Construct lines with handheld tools up to a maximum of 1.5 metres wide;
Construct corridors with a maximum of 5 metres wide and 0.5 kilometres long; (ie. explorations roads)
Create trenches up to a maximum of 1 200 cubic metres on a group of three claims. Individual claims can have up to 400 cubic metres of trenching and claims cannot be apart of more than one group;
Create a maximum of 8 clearings per claim (including any pre-existing clearings), a maximum of 2 of the 8 clearings can be for helicopter pads, clear a maximum of 200 square metres for operational clearings and a maximum area of 500 square metres for helicopter pad and camp clearings;
Have a maximum of 10 people at any one time at camp with up to 250 person days.
This list outlines some of what a Class 1 Quartz permit allows a company to do. There are even more possible activities that a company could do as per their Class 1 Quartz permit. The company may do all or a handful choose to not use some of these activities during their exploration.
Furthermore, Class 1 Quartz Permits do not need an environmental assessment through the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board (YESAB). This means that public consultation is not necessary for the company to be awarded the permit. However, affected First Nations must be consulted by the Yukon Government in this process. According to the Yukon Government’s website, the permitting process typically happens within 25 days.
More about the Class 1 Exploration limits and processes.
Some key takeaways about Class 1 Quartz Permits
A company that has a proven track record of causing unnecessary environmental damage has staked claims and will presumably apply for a Class 1 Quartz Permit, the same permit they were fined under at Cowley Creek;
Class 1 Quartz Permits allow a lot of damage to happen to the ecosystem and biodiversity through the use and presence of heavy equipment;
The Class 1 Quartz Permit process is currently not transparent. There is no public comment period to express concern about the possible impacts.
So, what’s at stake?
Mining exploration involves searching for and sampling mineral deposits. It is key to remember that the aspiration of mineral exploration is to one day mine high quality minerals. Though the mining process is complicated and can move quite slowly, YCS is concerned about the environmental impacts that exploration could have on the area.
We’re worried about the gravely track or trail up Jackson Ridge will begin being more heavily used for exploratory purposes. Exploration activities tend to also lead to environmental disturbance (on the spectrum of minor to major) of the ecosystem, watershed and wildlife (such as pika and thin horn sheep). Exploration activities also eventually impact harvest activities and recreational use for people.
Next Steps
Hike Jackson Ridge Trail:
The hiking trail is within the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN) and is accessible just under 20 kms from downtown Whitehorse. To get to the trailhead, you turn off of the Alaska Hwy onto Fish Lake Road, then Jackson Lake Road (See Yukon Hiking for detailed directions & trail description).
Go hike Jackson Ridge before Gladiator starts exploration activities in the area if you want to enjoy it in its current, beautiful condition. Hiking this area and appreciating its condition prior to possible disturbance can create a greater understanding of the impacts of exploration, create empathy and assert value greater than mining as a land use.
Keep an eye out for upcoming Blog Posts:
In the coming weeks, we’ll share an overview mining exploration process as well as an in-depth look at wildlife in the area.
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