Gold Mining Resumes in the Black Hills of South Dakota

• Gold prices have exceeded $3000 per ounce.
• A new mine is planned to be opened, which will create 250 jobs.
• Ecologists and indigenous peoples are speaking out against new projects.

In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a new wave of gold miners is returning to the Black Hills, where, for more than 150 years, the first gold was discovered. Today, gold prices have exceeded $3000 per ounce, prompting companies to propose new types of projects. This cycle of resurgence suggests that modern gold mining could negatively impact ecology and tourism in the region.

The Black Hills occupy over 1.2 million acres and are a sacred place for the Lakota people. Currently, there is one gold mine operating in the region, but plans are already in place for new projects, including opening quarries and exploratory drilling.

Modern technologies for gold mining are significantly different from those used earlier. Today, large machines and chemical reagents are used for mining, which raises concerns among ecologists and indigenous peoples, who fear potential water contamination and destruction of sacred territories.

The Dakota Gold company plans to open a new mine, which, according to estimates, will create up to 250 jobs and generate up to $400 million in tax revenue. However, opponents of the project point to significant ecological risks and a history of contamination from previous mining operations in the region.

According to data, since the closure of the Homestake mine in 2002, when gold cost $300 per ounce, interest in gold mining in the Black Hills has significantly increased.

President Donald Trump also supported this sector, signing an order that allows streamlining the procedures for issuing licenses for mining precious metals.

Experts note that the increase in mining in the Black Hills could lead to significant changes in the landscape, which has already caused contamination among local residents and activists.

Tags: USA/Economy/Ecology