Klondike Placer Prospecting Drill Results from a Light ATV Auger Rig

Twenty-three drill holes tested a portable ATV auger rig in Yukon's Klondike District, with twelve reaching bedrock and thirteen being gold-bearing. Penetration rates ranged from 0.9 to 10 meters per hour, influenced by ground freezing and gravel size. The Government of Yukon published this pilot project report, last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Evaluating drill penetration rates based on material type and freezing extent
• Correlating gold presence between small and large diameter drill holes
• Analyzing stratigraphy of Yukon placer deposits from vertical sections
• Assessing terrain suitability for light-weight, helicopter-transportable drill rigs

Strengths

• 23 drill holes provide a pilot-scale test dataset
• Gold particle size data ranges from 0.1 mm to 2 mm
• Results include direct correlation with 11 previously drilled holes

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• The drill rig tested had worn components and outdated design

Provenance

Source

Government of Yukon

Collection Method

Field testing of an ATV-mounted auger drill rig

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-17 16:08:29.886624; freshness should be verified

Geography

Klondike District, Yukon