Government of Yukon provides update on heap leach failure at Eagle Gold Mine

The court-appointed Receiver for Victoria Gold Corp. has informed the Government of Yukon that it has begun work to recover gold from the cyanide water stored at the Eagle Gold Mine. Proceeds from gold sales will be used to help fund ongoing work at the site and offset public funds being spent on remediation efforts.

The gold being recovered is found within cyanide water stored in ponds at the mine site. The recovery process will destroy some cyanide, assisting with water treatment activities. No additional cyanide is being introduced to the mine site and no new mining activity is occurring.

It is too early to say the value of the gold being recovered, but the Receiver will report on these results in upcoming reports to the court.

Remediation of the heap leach failure and its impacts to the environment remains the priority at the mine site. Gold recovery will continue as long as it does not negatively impact remediation efforts.

Work continues at the site to manage a large amount of additional water from spring melt. Water containing cyanide continues to be treated and discharged from the mine site.

Two new water storage ponds have been built, providing the site with additional water storage capacity. These ponds provide approximately 200,000 cubic metres of increased storage space.

Groundwater at the site is being intercepted for treatment through a series of wells installed to address contaminated groundwater. This is a critical milestone towards improvements to water quality conditions in Haggart Creek and also understanding impacts of the failure to groundwater on site.

Technical experts hired by the Government of Yukon and the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun meet on a regular basis with the Receiver’s technical team to help inform decisions on heap leach stabilization and on water management, treatment and discharge.

Daily water samples are being collected and a comprehensive environmental monitoring program is underway. Water quality results are available at Yukon.ca. The Government of Yukon will continue to provide information on the Receiver’s activities on site.

An independent review is also underway to determine the cause of the heap leach failure. The Independent Review Board will submit the final version of the report to the court-appointed Receiver on June 30, 2025. The report is expected to be published online soon after, as per the Terms of Reference for the Independent Review Board. The findings will help the government determine its next steps.