Homestake

Plant in Lawrence county in South Dakota, United States with commodities Gold, Silver
Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Nearby scientific data
  9. Ore body information
  10. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  11. Mining district
  12. Mineral rights holdings
  13. Land status
  14. Ownership information
  15. Production statistics
  16. Reserves and resources
  17. Workings at the site
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10202280
MRDS ID W002489
MAS/MILS ID 0460810021
Record type Site
Current site name Homestake
Alternate or previous names Black Hills Consolidated Mines, Yates Shaft, Calhoon Mill, Homestake Cyanide Mill No. 1, Homestake & Open Cut, Ellison Shaft, Homestake Cyanide, Deadwood Mill, Highland Mill, Ross Shaft, Oro Hondo Shaft, Old Abe Shaft, Homestake Slime Plant, De Smet Mill, Terra Mill, Hidden Fortune Mining Co., Homestake Mill, Golden Star Mill, Homestake Ext. Shaft, Columbus Consol. Gold Mining Co.
Related records 10069099

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Plant
Geographic coordinates: -103.75337, 44.35496 (WGS84)
Elevation 1682
Location accuracy 10(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Lawrence(county)

South Dakota(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Lead(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Rapid City(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Rapid City(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Lower Belle Fourche(hydrologic unit)

Belle Fourche(hydrologic accounting unit)

Cheyenne(hydrologic subregion)

Missouri(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States South Dakota Lawrence

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Black Hills 005 N 003 E 33 NE South Dakota

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Silver Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Gold Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Plant (1) -103.75337, 44.35496

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N40E
    Dip 60S
    Length 7000M
    Depth to top 1525M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 SHEAR ZONE
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 STRATABOUND
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Secondary mode of Origin UNKNOWN
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 PROPYLITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 SILICIFICATION
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 PYRITIZATION
    Strike And Dip N40E:60S
    Minimum Depth to Top 600
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 890505
  • Strike N10E
    Dip 70W
    Length 1350M
    Depth to top 185M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 2
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 SHEAR ZONE
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 STRATABOUND
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Secondary mode of Origin UNKNOWN
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 PROPYLITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 SILICIFICATION
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 PYRITIZATION
    Strike And Dip N10E:70W
    Minimum Depth to Top 150
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 890505
  • Area 77HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 77
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface-Underground
Development status Plant
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1876
Mining method Combined Methods
Year of first production 1878
Plant type Leach
Plant subcategory Hydromet
Milling method Carbon-In-Pulp-Merrill-Crowe

Mining district

District name Lead District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Fee Ownership
Type of mineral rights Located Claim

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Homestake Mining Co.
    Interest 100
    Home office Delaware
    Year 1995

Production statistics

  • Year 1940
    Period 1878-1940
    Description 1878-1940, 466,000 Kg, Au; 135,000 Kg Ag
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 466000000g
    Trace Silver Silver 135000000g
  • Year 1965
    Period 1941-1965
    Description 1941-1965, 434,000 Kg, Au; 76,000 Kg, Ag 29921000 Mt Over Period 1941-1965
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 434000000g
    Trace Silver Silver 76000000g
  • Year 1972
    Period 1966-1972
    Description 1966-1972. 121,000 Kg Au; 24,000 Kg Ag 11741000 Mt Over Period 1966-1972
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 121000000g
    Trace Silver Silver 24000000g
  • Year 1973
    Description 11,123 Kg Au; Ag Not Reported 1428000 Mt/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 11123000g
  • Year 1974
    Description 10,690 Kg Au; Ag Not Reported 1415000 Mt/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 10690000g
  • Year 1975
    Description 9,483 Kg Au; Ag Not Reported 1337000 Mt/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 9483000g
  • Year 1976
    Description 9,906 Kg Au; Ag Not Reported 1504000 Mt/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 9906000g
  • Year 1977
    Description 9,480 Kg Au; Ag Not Reported 1432000 Mt/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 9480000g
  • Year 1978
    Description 8,880 Kg Au; Ag Not Reported 1443000 Mt/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 8880000g
  • Year 1979
    Description 7,648 Kg Au; Ag Not Reported 1297000 Mt/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 7648000g
  • Year 1980
    Description 8,323 Kg Au; 1,586 Kg Ag 1621000 Mt/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Silver Silver 1586000g
    Major Gold Gold 8323000g
  • Year 1981
    Description 8,647 Kg Au; 1,742 Kg Ag 1677000 Mt/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Silver Silver 1742000g
    Major Gold Gold 8647000g
  • Year 1982
    Description 5,754 Kg Au; 809 Kg Ag 1052000 Mt/Year;
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Silver Silver 809000g
    Major Gold Gold 5754000g
  • Year 1983
    Description 9636 Kg Au; 1928 Kg Ag 1609000 Mt/Year; 6% From Open Cut
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Silver Silver 1928000g
    Major Gold Gold 9636000g
  • Year 1984
    Description 9,206 Kg Au; 1,555 Kg Ag 1721000 Mt/Year;11% From Open Cut
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Silver Silver 1555000g
    Major Gold Gold 9206000g
  • Year 1985
    Description 10,671 Kg Au; 1,959 Kg Ag 2129000 Mt/Year;16% From Open Cut
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Silver Silver 1959000g
    Major Gold Gold 10671000g
  • Year 1986
    Description 10,625 Kg Au; Ag Not Reported 2090000 Mt/Year;16% From Open Cut
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 10625000g
  • Year 1987
    Description 10,127 Kg Au; Ag Not Reported 2129000 Mt/Year;20% From Open Cut
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 10127000g
  • Year 1988
    Description 12,135 Kg Au; 2,208 Kg Ag. 2227000 Mt/Year-24% From Open Cut
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Silver Silver 2208000g
    Major Gold Gold 12135000g
  • Year 1989
    Description 11,882 Kg Au 2292000 Mt/Year-27% From Open Cut
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 11822000g
  • Year 1990
    Description 12,068 Kg Au 2165000 Mt/Year-27% From Open Cut
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 12068000g
  • Year 1991
    Description 9,925 Kg Au 2233000 Mt/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 9925000g
  • Year 1992
    Description 12,336 Kg Au 2393000 Mt/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 12336000g
  • Year 1993
    Description 13,922 Kg Au 2500000 Mt/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 13922000g
  • Year 1995
    Description Gold Production 402867 Tr Oz/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 12530566.08g
  • Year 1995
    Description Ore Processed @ 0.171 Oz/T 2500000 St Ore
  • Year 1996
    Description Gold Production 407322 Tr Oz/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 12669132.08g
  • Year 1996
    Description Ore Processed @ 0.166 Oz/T 2600000 St Ore

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Indicated 18500000mt ore
    Demonstrated 18500000mt ore
    Total resources 18500000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 6.96 g/mt Gold Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 18500000mt ore
    Total resources 18500000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 6.96 g/mt Gold Major 1995
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 24600000mt ore
    Total resources 24600000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 5.38 g/mt Gold Major 1995
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 23586800mt ore
    Total resources 23586800mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 6.75 g/mt Gold Major 1996
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 21550000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 6.72 g/mt Gold Major 1996
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1997
    Demonstrated 22000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 5.93 g/mt Gold Major 1997
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1997
    Total resources 43555000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 6.32 g/mt Gold Major 1997

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • COMBINED 1996 PROVEN & PROBABLE ORE RESERVES: UNDRGD ORE: 19,764,000 ST @ 0.22 OZ/T: OPEN CUT: 3,990,000 ST @ 0.079 OZ/T: MINERALIZED MATERIAL IS NOT INCLUDED IN TOTAL: PRODUCTION; 1996: 2,566,000 ST @ 0.166 OZ/T: SILVER GRADE IS DATA FROM 1995 ADIT UPDATE; COULD NOT FIND 1996 DATA TO UPDATE VALUE.
  • M1C1 = M9C4 (UNDERGROUND). M1C2 = M9C5 (OPEN CUT). MINE RESERVES ARE STATED AS RECOVERABLE. MINE DILUTION IS 26%. AVERAGE MINE RECOVERY IS 96%.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 264HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .65
    Percent Waste Rock 97
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Primary Material Cover HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 6.1
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 48
    Capacity 3233
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 43536
    Unit Production Cost 12.15
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 365
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1994
  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 2439M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method OTHER OPEN STOPE METHODS
    Swell Factor .65
    Percent Waste Rock 4
    Percent Recovery 95
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK WITH LITTLE WATER
    Rock Characteristics MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING
    Mine Support Chars. POST, HEADBOARD, CAPS, ROOF BOLTS
    Number of Shafts 2
    Capacity 3479
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 58.58
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 365
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1994

Comments on the workings information

  • THE HOMESTAKE MINE HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR 114 YEARS; TOTAL MINE LIFE IS UNKNOWN. THE MINE IS BOTH AN UNDERGROUND AND SURFACE OPERATION. PROCESS WATER IS RECYCLED.
  • MINING METHODS INCLUDE OPEN PIT AND UNDERGROUND.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Production

    HOMESTAKE MINING CO., 1996 ANNUAL REPORT PP. 18-19, & FORM

  • Production

    10-K, P7.

  • Reserve-Resource

    HOMESTAKE MINING CO., 1988 ANNUAL REPORT, P13.

  • Reserve-Resource

    HOMESTAKE MINING CO., 1992 ANNUAL REPORP, P18.

  • Reserve-Resource

    HOMESTAKE MINING CO., 1994 ANNUAL REPORT, PP. 20-22.

  • Reserve-Resource

    HOMESTAKE MINING COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL REPORT, P19.

  • Reserve-Resource

    HOMESTAKE MINING COMPANY 1995 10K, P4.

  • Reserve-Resource

    HOMESTAKE MINING CO., 1996 ANNUAL REPORT, PP. 18-19, AND

  • Reserve-Resource

    FORM 10-K REPORT, P7.

  • Deposit

    DATAQUEST, INC., 1988, COST REFERENCE GUIDE FOR CONSTRUC-

  • Deposit

    TION EQUIPMENT. SAN JOSE, CA

  • Deposit

    NORTHERN MINER, V 79/N 37, 11/15/93, P.14.

  • Deposit

    HOMESTAKE MINING CO., PROSPECTUS - OFFER TO PURCHASE

  • Deposit

    INTERNATIONAL CORONA CORP., 6/15/92, P.68-70.

  • Deposit

    PAY DIRT, 5-93, P.18B.

  • Deposit

    PAY DIRT, 6-94, P.20B.

  • Deposit

    PAY DIRT, 11-93, P.12A.

  • Deposit

    RANDAL MINING DIRECTORIES, 1994-1996.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 22-SEP-97 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

Operator history (post-MRDS)

MRDS records operators as of each record's last update (≤ 2019). Some of the operators listed here have since changed hands or dissolved:

Curated by qvyshift.com from publicly-reported M&A activity (SEC filings, press releases, USGS Mineral Yearbooks). Not authoritative — verify against primary sources before relying on it. The MSHA panel above is the current authoritative source for actively-permitted mines.

External references