UPDATE – It’s a BIG One!

(7/23/26) – Dakota Gold has been very busy in the northern Black Hills for some time. Their website proclaims that they control over 48,000 acres in the area of the old Homestake Mine (most of which has not been reclaimed) in Lawrence County. As of a couple years ago, they and their subsidiary, DTRC, had received state exploration drilling “permits” for as many as 1600 drill holes. That number has gone up since then — and an announcement this week vastly increased their activities. We’ll get to that in a minute.

It should be noted that, in South Dakota, companies don’t really need “permits” to drill, except for uranium. Rather, a company simply notifies the state that they will be drilling under what is called an EXNI, or Exploration Notice of Intent. The state can set some conditions on the drilling and there are a bond and a fee, but there really is no permit, no opportunity for public involvement, no hearing. Just Notice.

The Notice that came out this week is for a project that is bigger in several ways than other recent projects in the Black Hills. It is “Exploration Drilling on Steroids.”

According to the Notice, “The exploration project will consist of developing 31 new drill pads with up to 620 new holes (20 holes per pad) drilled to a maximum vertical depth of 10,000 feet. Pads will measure approximately 200 feet by 200 feet. DTRC will access the sites utilizing approximately 5,529 feet of existing roads, trails, or previously approved roads or trails from prior EXNIs and developing approximately 6,846 feet of new roads and trails.”

They are really going for it. Over a mile of new roads and trails. Drilling as much as 10,000 feet deep. That’s 1.5 miles and would be one of the dozen or so deepest mining ventures in history. (Those who worked in the old Homestake mine shaft reported that the mine walls were too hot to touch, and water dripped constantly. And it was “only” 8,000 feet deep.) Now Dakota Gold wants to drill 20 holes per super-sized pad — double the usual number.

We REALLY need to change the state laws on this (we’ve tried twice, but need a push from East River legislators). Some damage has already been done, but watch for new efforts to change that during the 2027 legislative session.

Dakota Gold plans to apply for a large-scale mining permit at Richmond Hill, an old gold mine site that cannot be fully reclaimed, according to a Barrick Mining spokesperson. Nonetheless, they plan to dig it up again/some more. Richmond Hill drains into Spearfish Creek at Rubicon Creek and at Cleopatra Creek, which are known because they supply water to Bridal Veil Falls and the Devil’s Bathtub — both major tourist draws. The drilling has started again in the Maitland area.

Keep an eye out for more information on this. There are opportunities for a hearing and public input on large-scale mining permits!

While Dakota Gold calls Lead, SD, their “main office,” the company has an office in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where there are lax mining laws. It is partly owned by a large international company, Barrick Mining Corp., which is based in Toronto, Ontario.

Note: According to Dakota Gold’s website they list nine “Gold Projects” and one “Option.” These projects are: Maitland Gold Project, Richmond Hill Gold Project, City Creek Gold Project, Blind Gold Project, Tinton Gold Project, Cambrian Unconformity Project, West Corridor Gold Project, Ragged Top Gold Project, South Lead/Whistler Gulch Gold Project, Poorman Anticline Gold Project, and Homestake Barrick Option. Dakota Gold also states that they are focused on heap leachable material at the Richmond Hill Oxide Heap Leach Gold Project.

Read our recent blog post below to find out more about Dakota Gold and their projects included on the map. (4/13/26)

ATTENTION: DAKOTA GOLD’s BUSY IN THE NORTHERN BLACK HILLS – NEW MAP OF THEIR TEN PROJECTS!

DTRC IS AT IT AGAIN!

Update: 10/18/2023

DTRC LCC, also known as Dakota Territories Resource Corporation and working under an arrangement with Dakota Gold, has filed a “Notice of Intent” for yet another gold exploration project in Lawrence County. This project would consist of “drilling up to 260 holes to a maximum depth of 6,000 feet.” The State of South Dakota allows mining exploratory drilling without a process that involves the public — we are merely notified that a “Notice of Intent” has been filed.

Dakota Gold and DRTC projects have now requested and/or received permission to drill as many as 1800 exploration holes in the northern Black Hills.

In October, 2023, BHCWA had the opportunity to tour the Maitland area and DTRC’s new proposed exploration location. As is the case with most mining and exploring in the Black Hills, the location has beautiful scenery, is surrounded by multiple residential homes and cabins, and contains wildlife on the ground and in the air. Most importantly, this proposed drilling is less than 150 feet from False Bottom Creek, a low-flowing creek in the autumn, but a high and quickly moving one come the end of winter, spring, and into summer. You can easily find the location of the new proposed exploration, which begins across the road from the Paradise Gulch/Maitland Road intersection and runs along the Creek. Click HERE for the Map PDF, or see below.

Maitland – Paradise Gulch.
*Photo by Alex Massa*

We have recently received information that False Bottom Creek more than likely drains into an aquifer — and therefore likely into people’s wells. The residents of Maitland and the greater Black Hills care about clean water, and the damage that can be done by a mistake in drilling can take years to reclaim — when reclamation is possible. This exploration project demands much more information to be considered. State laws need to be changed so that consideration of all exploration projects includes the opportunity for public involvement. We must protect False Bottom Creek and other waterways in the Black Hills.

Side Note: The East Branch of False Bottom Creek, which is upstream from Dakota Gold’s proposed drilling site, has selenium contamination, which Wharf Resources is currently in violation of South Dakota State surface water selenium standards and surface water quality standards. They are required to monitor the creek monthly, report, and develop water treatment by 2025.

Update: 4/3/2022

Dakota Gold, formerly Dakota Territory Resource Corp.,

Dakota Gold, formerly Dakota Territory Resource Corp., has two gold exploration projects in the Maitland area, north of Central City and Lead and east of Spearfish Canyon. In South Dakota, a company or person must only pay a fee and file a piece of paperwork to receive a mineral exploration permit. The public is given notice, but has no opportunity to oppose a permit. Dakota Gold is based in Lead and is linked to Barrick Gold.

One Dakota Gold project has received its permit and is already underway immediately around Maitland. [Links to the 2021 App and Restrictions]. This project will include as many as 70 drill holes. The photo below is from the company and shows a beautiful Black Hills scenery, marred by drilling equipment. This area is threatened with becoming an open pit gold mine.

The second project is just to the west and within 2 miles of Spearfish Canyon in the Cleopatra Creek and Richmond Hill area. The application was filed in January 2022, and the state has not yet posted the final permit as of early April. [Link to the 2022 App] This project would involve 80 exploration holes.

These projects are part of a larger gold rush in the northern Black Hills. According to US Forest Service staff in March 2022, there are no public lands still available for mining claims in the northern Black Hills. The entire area has already been claimed by gold companies. This includes areas immediately around Lead and Deadwood and along both sides of Spearfish Canyon.

People need to get involved to stop gold projects from becoming a series of gold mines, if they value the beauty, recreation opportunities, and tourism economy of the area. To find out more, contact us and follow us on our social media at: