Lawrence County South Dakota

Deadwood District

In the east central part of the county, including old camps on Deadwood , Two bit, Strawberry, and Elk Creeks produced 284,000 ounces of lode and placer gold. Along Deadwood, Whitewood, Gold Run, Bobtail, and Blacktail Gulches were some very rich placer workings. Along Spearfish Creek, there is rich placer gold. In spring Gulch, is the location of the Hidden Treasure Mine, which was a major producer of lode gold. On the west edge of town on US 14A is the location of the Broken Butte Mine which produced lode gold in pyrite and sphalerite. East of town 3.5 miles is the Mascot Mine, discovered in 1892, earliest records of gold production in the district. Southeast of town by 4 miles in Strawberry Gulch, is the Oro Fino Mine, discovered in 1893, for lode gold. Southeast of town 8 miles, near Roubaix on Elk Creek, is the Cloverleaf Mine. It had a total production of 43,885 when it closed in 1937.

Garden District

Northwest of Lead by 3 miles in Blacktail and Sheeptail gulches and False Bottom Creek, is the Garden (Maitland) district. Here you will find the Maitland Mine, discovered in 1902 and had a total production of 137,000 ounces of lode gold form 1902-1959. Other small mines bring total production of the Garden District to 176,000 ounces. West of Lead by 3 miles, in the Bald Mountain area, on the west slope of Bald Mountain is the Trojan Mine.

Lead District

The Lead District includes Yellow Creek in the central part of the county. On the south side of Lead on US 14A and US 85 is the Homestake Gold Mine, which is the largest gold producer in North America, with a total production of 24,450,000 ounces of lode gold from 1875-1959. It has an average annual output of 500,000 ounces of gold, with a lot silver as a by product. The Homestake consist of 654 mining claims covering 5,639 acres. Visitor tours are available. There are other smaller lode mines with lesser output.

Nigger Hill District

Near Tinton, in the Nigger Hill District, there were many area mines for lode gold. Along Bear, Potato, Nigger, Poplar and Mallory gulches were rich productive placers. Along Sand and Beaver Creeks you can find many old placer workings.

Ragged Top Mountain District

Near Savoy, is the Ragged Top Mountain District, it is about 5 miles long, lying west of Spearfish Creek, in the large bend of Spearfish Canyon. The first mines opened .5 miles north of Ragged Top Mountain 2 miles northeast of town, at Dacy.

Squaw Creek District

The Squaw Creek district includes the Ragged Top, Elk Mountain and Carbonate areas, had a total production of 75,800 ounces of lode gold. West and South of Ragged Top Mountain, many area mines produced lode gold. In Squaw Creek and Annie Creek, numerous mines, active before 1914 for lode gold. all regional stream, bench and terrace gravels contain placer gold.