Nice to have a new video from you 2 questions 1 - Where in South Dakota is this facility and do they periodically allow public tours? 2 - While they are drilling and enlarging the caverns do the ever stumble upon small amounts of precious metals or ores?
Thanks! This is in Lead, South Dakota near the north end of the Black Hills. Interestingly, the gold ore of the Homestake Mine is really low grade and it’s simply the volume and ease of access (sturdy rock) that made the mine successful. While excavating the caverns, they are removing gold ore but there’s so little gold that it is not worth it to try and recover it.
Hello. We do not give public tours; however, we do have an amazing Visitor Center in Lead, South Dakota, that has exhibits and offers trolley tours of the surface facilities. The areas being excavated likely do not contain any precious metals. The excavation is taking place in the "Poor Man" formation, which is called that for a reason. Thank you for inquiring!
Andrew, nicely done and congratulations on your expanding interests in geology. My uncle lived in Deadwood and we've visited the area often. It is good to see this incredible hole in the ground put to good use.
Quick note: SURF is the deepest lab in the USA, but the SNOLab in Ontario is a little deeper. SURF is responsible for a Nobel Prize, however!
That "Please dont feed the scientists" sign is hilarious.
Nice to have a new video from you
2 questions
1 - Where in South Dakota is this facility and do they periodically allow public tours?
2 - While they are drilling and enlarging the caverns do the ever stumble upon small amounts of precious metals or ores?
Thanks! This is in Lead, South Dakota near the north end of the Black Hills. Interestingly, the gold ore of the Homestake Mine is really low grade and it’s simply the volume and ease of access (sturdy rock) that made the mine successful. While excavating the caverns, they are removing gold ore but there’s so little gold that it is not worth it to try and recover it.
Hello. We do not give public tours; however, we do have an amazing Visitor Center in Lead, South Dakota, that has exhibits and offers trolley tours of the surface facilities. The areas being excavated likely do not contain any precious metals. The excavation is taking place in the "Poor Man" formation, which is called that for a reason. Thank you for inquiring!
Andrew, nicely done and congratulations on your expanding interests in geology. My uncle lived in Deadwood and we've visited the area often. It is good to see this incredible hole in the ground put to good use.
Thank you! We had a lot of fun in that area.
So happy to see a new video!
Fascinating. Thank you. Cheers and thanks from England.
Glad you enjoyed!
No wonder you love geology as a career. Go Andrew!