09/12/2026
Glaciers, tectonic forces and rocks from ancient seafloors — all of these and more formed the peaks and valleys of what is now part of Tombstone Territorial Park (Ddhäl Ch'èl Cha Nän). Yukon Geological Survey geologists were at the park August 21–23 teaching the public about the area’s geologic history.
The YGS set up in the Tombstone Interpretive Centre with a variety of hands-on educational activities, as well as some representative rock samples from the Tombstone area. Those visiting the centre could learn how to identify rocks found in the park and learn about the geologic history of the area.
The centre also played host to well-attended talks by YGS geologists Rosie Cobbett and Panya Lipovsky.
Cobbett’s talk dealt with the bedrock geology of the park and the tectonic forces that created its many outcrops and stunning mountain peaks.
Outreach geologists Leyla Weston and Amanda O’Connor expanded on the topic with fun demonstrations helping the audience better understand faulting and deformation resulting from tectonic forces. Weston used a clear box of layered baking supplies including flour and Jello powder and by applying some force, created a cross section demonstrating folds and thrust faults. This can be seen on a large scale in the rock layers on many of the park’s mountainsides.
O’Connor finished off the evening with a little treat and passed out Oreo cookies and instructed the audience on how to use them to simulate convergent, divergent and transform (strike/slip) tectonic plate boundaries. No premature consumption of the important scientific materials was observed but everyone enjoyed their faulted Oreos after the demonstration!
The following evening, Lipovsky spoke about the park’s surficial geology and glacial history including the many interesting glacial and permafrost landforms that are still visible today. Lipovsky also touched on how thawing permafrost is impacting water quality in the park, and creating a shift in water chemistry in some of the streams and lakes. As permafrost thaws, groundwater is reaching sulfide minerals in the rock which was previously frozen. These minerals, when exposed to water and oxygen, can generate acid, sulfate and dissolved metals in the water resulting in the discolouration of some of the streams to a rusty orange and milky white, a phenomenon commonly known as acid rock drainage.
The Yukon Geological Survey would like to extend our thanks to everyone who participated and especially to the Tombstone Territorial Park staff.
Watch this space for more photos and information on the guided hikes the YGS led in the park.
