WHITEHORSE, YK--(Marketwired - February 26, 2015) - According to the Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies, Yukon continues to rank in the top 10 in the world overall, coming in 1st in mineral potential for 2014. A regions mineral potential is based on their geologic attractiveness and Yukon moved from a score of 0.79 in 2013 to 0.87, up 8 points this year. Following an exploration boom in 2010-2012, 'Yukon's New Gold Rush' resulted in more than 7.3 million ounces of gold in new discoveries and 23 million ounces of gold, 50 million ounces of silver, and 10 million ounces of PGMs added to known deposits; and this is only among the Yukon Mining Alliance member companies.
Investors continued to recognize Yukon's potential as is evident by the fact that Wellgreen Platinum and Kaminak Gold Corporation were 2 of only 26 companies listed on the TSX - Venture Exchange* to have raised over $10 million in 2014, based on the recent Price Waterhouse Cooper Junior Mine report**. Today, there are more than 2,700 existing mineral occurrences covering only 12 per cent of Yukon's total land mass demonstrating the mineral potential in the long term for the jurisdiction.
Canada remains one of the top countries in the world for investment attraction with five jurisdictions -- Saskatchewan (2nd), Manitoba (4th), Quebec (6th), Newfoundland & Labrador (8th) and Yukon (9th) ranking in the top 10.
"Yukon remains one of the top jurisdictions in the world for mineral investment and has weathered the challenging markets faced by all junior explorers and developers," commented John McConnell, Chair of Yukon Mining Alliance, "The Yukon government works collaboratively with our member companies, industry representatives and First Nations to advance and improve opportunities in the minerals sector for our communities, our economy and our shareholders."
For a copy of the Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2014 visit:
http://www.fraserinstitute.org/uploadedFiles/fraser-ca/Content/research- news/research/publications/survey-of-mining-companies-2014.pdf
About YUKON MINING ALLIANCE
Yukon Mining Alliance (YMA) is dedicated to promoting Yukon's leaders in exploration, development and production as well as highlighting the benefits of a jurisdiction that has significant geological endowment, with opportunities for expansion and development, in one of the safest and most stable jurisdictions in the world. YMA member companies represent significant identified resources in gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, lead, zinc and nickel and all adhere to a corporate sustainability policy including community relations, environmental responsibility and opportunities for their shareholders and investors.
Yukon Mining Alliance Member Companies:
Alexco Resource Corp (AXR.TO) (NYSE MKT: AXU)
ATAC Resources Ltd (TSX VENTURE: ATC) Banyan Gold Corp (TSX VENTURE: BYN)
Kaminak Gold Corp (TSX VENTURE: KAM) Northern Freegold Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: NFR)
Wellgreen Platinum (WG.TO) (WGPLF)
Western Copper and Gold Corp (WRN.TO) (NYSE MKT: WRN)
Victoria Gold Corp (TSX VENTURE: VIT)
For more information visit us at www.yukonminingalliance.ca
* NOTE: Wellgreen Platinum is now listed on the TSX
**Source: Price Water Cooper Junior Mine Report: October 2014 www.pwc.com/ca/juniormine