I think it was a year ago or a little more, when we cautioned
those interested in placer claims to get them now! We talked about a new gold rush to the Black
Hills and the fact that once a company or two figured out that Homestake didn’t
get all the gold, lode claims would again blanket the Black Hills like blizzard
snow cover.
So here’s what we’ve heard reported recently… 600 lode claims
filed in Pennington County from Rochford to Keystone. Just so there’s better
comprehension of that impact, that totals 12,000 acres. We’ve already heard
from multiple parties on this that they are overstaking placer claims and
private property… the intent to work all that out later.
So what is the impact to placer mining, you ask?
Well, existing placer claims are still in place but we
caution anyone holding a placer claim in these areas to maintain it! Paperwork comes due twice a year, with
maintenance waiver or fees by the end of August. Affidavit of assessment
deadline is approaching Dec. 31. Do not, and we cannot stress this enough,
allow any deadlines to pass or you have forfeited your claim. The only choice
then is to re-locate, which gives your claim a new location date.
So where does that leave the greenhorn prospector, looking
for their first placer claim? We get
mixed reviews on this… the old placer over lode, lode over placer
discussion. The bottom line is that
either way, you have to prove your case in a court of law. The county and BLM
are happy to file your location certificate but it comes back to you to prove
ownership!
We’ve spent many, many hours finding placer acreages that
were previously blanket claimed by Homestake and became available these past
few years. We’ve also got lucky and found some gaps between existing claims. Now
we see history repeating itself and we hope these lodes will be developed,
because it’s leaving the recreational prospector in the dust as far as
available acreage.
