It was one of the deepest and largest #GoldMines in #NorthAmerica, and it operated for over a century, from 1876 to 2002. The #HomestakeMine produced over 40 million ounces of #gold during its lifetime. While gold was the primary focus of early mining in the #BlackHills, other #minerals were also extracted from the region over time, including silver, copper, lead, zinc, tin, mica, and various #gemstones.

As the most accessible and easily extracted deposits were depleted,

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This last fact mattered little to Custer or any other non-Natives. The influx of settlers trespassing in search of gold quickly led to the #GreatSiouxWar of 1876 — and eventually, happily, to Custer's death at #TheBattleOfGreasyGrass (or #LittleBighorn , as it’s known in settler parlance).

One of the most famous and productive gold mines in the Black Hills was the #HomestakeMine , located near the town of #Lead.

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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestake_Mine_(South_Dakota)