(From Todd Epp, Northern Plains News)
Dakota Gold Corp. plans to drill approximately 80,000 feet at its Richmond Hill gold project in 2025, according to a company announcement Tuesday. The exploration company also reported leadership changes and progress on feasibility studies as it advances two Black Hills mining projects.
The mining development represents a potentially significant economic boost for Lead-Deadwood, bringing dozens of jobs to the region while revitalizing historic mining areas that once defined the local economy.
The Richmond Hill Oxide Heap Leach Gold Project represents one of the largest undeveloped oxide gold resources in the United States being developed by a junior mining company, according to the company. With $47 million in cash reserves following March financing, Dakota Gold reports it’s fully funded through completion of feasibility studies expected in 2027.
“With our March financing, we are well funded for our planned activities in 2025 and well into 2026,” said Dr. Robert Quartermain, Co-Chair, Director, President and CEO of Dakota Gold. “We have enhanced the capacity of our corporate leadership with the requisite skillsets to advance our Richmond Hill and Maitland projects.”
The company has already completed 38 drill holes since work began on April 1, according to the announcement. Drilling focuses on collecting metallurgical samples for feasibility studies and expanding resources in the northeast corner of the project area, which company officials said contains higher-grade ore than the overall deposit.
Dakota Gold has engaged multiple consulting firms to develop an Initial Assessment with Cash Flow, expected by mid-2025. M3 Engineering will serve as the overall study manager and lead processing design, while RESPEC will manage mining and environmental aspects, the company said.
The company is also conducting exploration at its Maitland Gold Project, where high-grade gold has been discovered. According to Dakota Gold, the JB Gold Zone has yielded intersections averaging 10.76 grams per ton of gold over 4.0 meters, while the Unionville Zone averages 4 grams per ton over 6.4 meters.
Dakota Gold’s exploration projects are located on parcels adjacent to the former Homestake Mine but do not overlap with the Sanford Underground Research Facility, which occupies deeper portions of the original mine. Company officials confirmed that their operations occur at separate locations and depths, with no interaction with the underground lab.
Recent leadership additions include Jack Henris as President and COO and Amy Koenig as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, according to the announcement.
Dakota Gold’s exploration takes place on private land in the historic Homestake Mining District, which produced over 40 million ounces of gold before closing in 2002.
The project has already generated jobs in the Lead-Deadwood area, including geologists, drill crews, and support staff. Further development could bring additional employment opportunities as the project advances toward potential production.
While the company’s announcements have drawn investor interest, any future mining operations would require additional approval from the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources and federal agencies before commercial production could begin. Gold mining in the Black Hills remains a topic of interest to environmental groups and tribal nations with historical claims to the region.
The company highlighted its four-year safety record with no lost-time incidents, which Quartermain described as “a core value to Dakota Gold.”
According to the announcement, Dakota Gold expects to release initial drill results later this year and will continue drilling through fall 2025.
