Yukon deploys 'dreamcatcher' to map territory's mineral deposits

The Yukon government is going high-tech in an effort to map some of the territory's mineral wealth.

Geologists hope an aerial surveynorth of Whitehorse, will direct them to the source of the region's placer gold.

On Wednesday, a Geotech Ltd.helicopter trailing what looks like a gigantic dreamcatcher made numerous test flights over Whitehorse. Geotechcrew chief GavinBoegedescribedthe 28-metre-wide device assomething like a sophisticated metal detector.

"It's a great system and if this can't find it then thereis probably none out there that can," said Boege.

TheOntario company has been hired to map the geology of 700 square kilometres aroundLivingstoneCreek, roughly 75kilometresnortheast of Whitehorse.

Over the years the region has produced some large placer nuggets, and Yukon geologists believe the device could pinpoint theLivingstonemotherlode.

"Gold hasn't got a magnetic signature, but it's looking for the structures that we think might host the faults that contain the gold," saidCarolyn Relf,director of the Yukon Geological Survey.

If theaerial survey is successful, the techniquecould be applied in other areas of the Yukon. Relf saidresults will be made public this summer inthe hope it will prompt more exploration at Livingstone Creek.