Homestake Mine

The Homestake Mine is a gold mine located in Lawrence county, South Dakota at an elevation of 5,600 feet.

About the MRDS Data:

All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.

Mine Info

Name: Homestake Mine  

State:  South Dakota

County:  Lawrence

Elevation: 5,600 Feet (1,707 Meters)

Commodity: Gold

Lat, Long: 44.35611, -103.76444

Map: View on Google Maps

Satelite View

MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.


Satelite image of the Homestake Mine

Homestake Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Homestake Mine


Commodity

Primary: Gold
Secondary: Silver


Location

State: South Dakota
County: Lawrence


Land Status

Not available


Holdings

Not available


Workings

Type: Underground


Ownership

Owner Name: Homestake Mining Co.


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Deposit Type: Stratabound
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1875
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral Not In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Interior Plains
Physiographic Province: Great Plains Province
Physiographic Section: Black Hills


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Form: ORE BODIES ARE IRREGULAR PIPELIKE STRUCTURES


Structure

Type: R
Description: Black Hills

Type: L
Description: The Rocks Are In A Set Of Large Isoclina Folds That Have Been Refolded By Two Sets Of Smaller Folds, Which Result In Extremely Complex Configurations. Also Warping Is Caused By Tertiary Igneous Rocks And The Dome Formed Around The Cutting Stock, Exposed West Of Lead. Ore Bodies Are Located In The Younger Set Of Crossfolds.


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Plutonic Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Plutonic Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Gold
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Chlorite
Gangue: Pyrrhotite


Comments

Comment (Development): ORIGINAL HOMESTAKE CLAIM, APRIL, 1876 ; ECON.COM: AMALGAMATION-CYANIDATION PLANT AT LEAD, SOUTH DAKOTA

Comment (Workings): 1968 DEPTH

Comment (Geology): ORE FROM THE HOMESTAKE USUALLY CONSISTS OF MASSES OF CHLORITE AND QUARTZ WITH LEAVES, RODS OF IRREGULAR MASSES OF FREE GOLD ATTACHED WHICH IS SELDOM MORE THAN 2 CM IN LARGEST DIMENSION AND USUALLY MUCH SMALLER. EXCEPTIONAL SPECIMENS CONSISTING OF WELL-DEVELOPED ARSENOPYRITE CRYSTALS ENCLOSING OR INCRUSTED WITH NATIVE GOLD, AND OCCASIONAL OCTAHEDRAL CRYSTALS OF GOLD UP TO 2 MM IN SIZE HAVE BEEN COLLECTED.


References

Reference (Deposit): U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, U. S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, AND SOUTH DAKOTA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 1975 , MINERAL AND WATER RESOURCES OF SOUTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 16

Reference (Deposit): ROBERTS, W. L., AND RAPP, GEORGE, 1965 , MINERALOGY OF THE BLACK HILLS, SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY BULLETIN 18


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