Prospect for Gold Might Transform South Dakota's Black Hills, Sparking Concerns

Approximately 150 years ago, the allure of gold attracted many to the Black Hills of South Dakota, a migration that resulted in the displacement of Native American communities.

Today's miners, motivated by the soaring price of gold that's now over $3,000 an ounce, are considering a return to this treasured landscape. While promising economic benefits, there's an undercurrent of concern about how contemporary mining methods could alter the region permanently.

"The impacts from these activities can be long-lasting, affecting tourism and outdoor activities negatively," noted Lilias Jarding, leading the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance. "It disrupts the peaceful and sacred atmosphere of the Black Hills."

Modern Mining: The Reshaping of a Sacred Landscape

Although there is currently one operational gold mine in the Black Hills, there are proposals for additional operations as well as exploratory drilling. These developments are causing unrest among Indigenous tribes and environmental groups who argue that these areas, being close to sacred places, could face irreversible environmental damage and spoil the natural scenery.

Today’s gold extraction processes have evolved significantly since the early days of panning in the Black Hills, now involving massive machinery that forms extensive pits, and often relies on chemical agents such as cyanide to retrieve gold.

Once mining operations are complete, the land is often unable to return to its previous state, as exemplified by the Homestake mine. Once a dominant gold mine in the Western Hemisphere, it now stands desolate and repurposed for scientific investigations in Lead, South Dakota.

Economic Opportunities Raise Old Conflicts

With the price of gold climbing, interest in reviving mining efforts in the Black Hills has surged. Back in 2002, at the closure of the Homestake mine, the metal was valued around $300 an ounce, a fraction of today’s pricing.

Joseph Cavatoni, a senior strategist for the World Gold Council, attributed the rising value to global economic instability. "Gold holds its ground as a stable investment, particularly during inflation or recession," he commented.

The mining sector received a further boost from political initiatives when former President Donald Trump issued an order to ramp up American mineral production, streamlining the approval for mining operations.

Colin Paterson, a former professor of geological engineering, explained that Black Hills gold is trapped within rocks. It involves crushing the rocks and using chemicals to separate the gold.

While Coeur Mining currently operates the region's only active mine, Dakota Gold is preparing to initiate an open-pit mine by 2029. This involves constructing a new underground facility near the historic Homestake location, where future miners would work at staggering depths.

Dilemma: Wealth Generation Versus Environmental Integrity

Dakota Gold estimates that their mining operations could generate a net value between $1.6 billion and $2.1 billion. Jack Henris, Dakota Gold's president, suggested their planned open-pit mine might employ 250 people while contributing $400 million in state taxes over its lifetime.

"Our workforce is primarily from this area, and they cherish living here," Henris mentions. "We are deeply integrated into the community and share a love for Hills."

Gold exploitation has been a cornerstone in developing the contemporary Black Hills landscape.

The government’s treaty in 1868 granted the Sioux Nation rights to the Black Hills, subsequently violated by gold discoveries, leading to government-sanctioned settlements. Despite a Supreme Court decision entitling Sioux to compensation, they have declined those offers, maintaining their claim to the land.

Largely opposing the mining activities, many tribes advocate for the preservation of the landscape.

"The Black Hills have never been the top in mineral wealth," Taylor Gunhammer, linked with Indigenous advocacy, emphasized. "It's not about mineral richness but about the lenient governance enabling these ventures."

Furthermore, some projects like Dakota Gold’s are set on private lands, requiring adherence only to state laws, bypassing federal regulations.

Concerns from environmentalists pivot around the risks of chemical spills, highlighting Coeur’s Wharf mine history of leaks and the environmental breaches at the former Homestake site.

Coeur’s environmental manager, Jasmine McCauley, reassured that past spills were thoroughly managed and that preventative measures continue to be updated to avert future incidents.

Local opposition extends beyond environmental sectors to community groups disputing the extension of drilling and mining activities reported by KELO-TV.

Jarding remarked on the noticeable rise in mining actions in the last few years in the Black Hills, signaling a growing concern. "About 20% of the Black Hills is potentially targeted for mining," she cautioned.