High prices revive mining ambitions in a sacred landscape
With gold above $3,000 an ounce, mining firms are eyeing a return to South Dakota’s Black Hills—1.2 million acres of pine-covered peaks sacred to the Lakota Sioux and vital to a tourism economy anchored by Mount Rushmore and state parks. Supporters tout jobs and tax revenue; tribes and environmental groups warn that modern open-pit extraction and cyanide leaching could scar the region forever.
What’s driving the push
- Record prices: Gold has climbed roughly tenfold since the Homestake mine shut in 2002, intensifying exploration interest.
- Policy tailwind: A March executive order from President Donald Trump called for expedited permitting and reviews to boost U.S. mineral production.
- Industrial methods: Today’s operations rely on deep, multi-tiered pits, massive earthmovers, and chemical processing—techniques critics say permanently alter terrain and risk water contamination.
Projects on the table
Coeur Mining operates the region’s lone active mine. Dakota Gold has proposed an open-pit project targeted for 2029 and is evaluating an underground operation near the historic Homestake site. Company estimates cited locally put the deposits’ net present value between $1.6 billion and $2.1 billion, with up to 250 jobs and as much as $400 million in state taxes over the mine’s life. Some sites sit on private land, subject to state—not U.S. Forest Service—rules.
Tribal rights and environmental risk
The 1868 treaty recognizing Sioux Nation rights to the Black Hills was followed by U.S. seizure after a 19th-century gold rush; the Supreme Court later awarded compensation that the Sioux declined, maintaining claims to the land. Today, Lakota groups and environmental advocates oppose new mining near sacred areas, citing:
- Spill history: At Coeur’s Wharf mine, nearly 200 spills have been recorded; the company says each incident was investigated and mitigated with corrective actions.
- Legacy impacts: Homestake’s closure left a lasting footprint; its vast workings now host underground science facilities rather than reclamation to original conditions.
- Scale of interest: Active mining claims cover 271,000 acres—about 20% of the entire Black Hills—fueling fears of “exponential” activity growth.
Tourism vs. extraction
Opponents argue that industrial pits and haul roads could undermine a tourism and outdoor economy built on solitude and scenery. Proponents counter that modern mines can be engineered to protect waterways and deliver long-term regional income. As permitting advances and environmental studies begin, the Black Hills face a familiar crossroads—balancing near-term mineral wealth against cultural heritage and a landscape many consider irreplaceable.
