Yukon Surficial Geology Maps With 80% Territory Coverage

Over 195 compiled surficial geology maps provide approximately 80% coverage of the Yukon territory. The Yukon Geological Survey standardized maps ranging from 1:250,000 to 1:10,000 scale, preserving original feature descriptions and converting them to a terrain classification system. The data includes polygon attributes for surficial material and texture, line features for glacial landforms, and point features for permafrost indicators.

Use Cases

• Model permafrost distribution and thermokarst depression risk using point features and polygon attributes for surface expression.
• Assess granular resource potential for infrastructure planning by analyzing polygon attributes for surficial material and texture.
• Map glacial limits and landforms like eskers and moraines from line features for geomorphological studies.
• Support mineral exploration by correlating field station and sample locations from point features with surficial material attributes.

Strengths

• Compilation of over 195 individual maps ensures broad spatial representation.
• Approximately 80% coverage of the Yukon territory provides a substantial geographic scope.
• Data preserves original feature descriptions while offering standardized values via the Yukon terrain classification system.
• Includes multiple feature types: polygons for materials, lines for landforms, and points for specific locations.

Limitations

• Spatial overlap between maps at different scales (1:250,000 to 1:10,000) may introduce complexity or require resolution handling.
• Data is derived from maps produced by various agencies over time, potentially leading to inconsistencies in original methodology.
• The specific row count and column structure for the underlying GIS data are unknown.

Provenance

Source

Yukon Geological Survey, compiled from maps by the Geological Survey of Canada, YGS, Yukon Government, universities, and the City of Whitehorse.

Collection Method

Compilation and standardization of existing surficial geology maps into a unified GIS format.

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated March 2026.

Geography

Yukon territory, Canada.