F3 Gold

The Newark Exploratory Drilling Project was a proposal by Canadian-owned mining company F3 Gold to conduct exploratory mineral drilling in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota, near Pactola Reservoir and Silver City. The project faced significant opposition primarily due to concerns about potential environmental contamination and the long-term impact on the region's vital water sources. 

Newark Exploratory Drilling Project Custer, South Dakota 

Location Summary

West of Custer city, Custer County, South Dakota.

District: Hell Canyon Ranger District

What the maps show

• You can clearly see drill‐pad clusters west of Custer in the proposed project area (about 4 miles west of Custer). South Dakota Searchlight+2Y94+2
  
  

• Some overlays show residential and commercial well locations in the broader area around Custer, as referenced by the Black Hills Preservation Project site. blackhillspreservationproject.org
  
  

• The legal description of the project area: Sections 29–33 of Township 03 S., Range 04 E. and Sections 24–25 T.03 S., R.03 E. in Custer County. US Forest Service+2US Forest Service+2
  
  

⚠️ Important caveats

• The available maps do not appear to show a fully detailed publicly‐accessible point‐by‐point well‐log database for every well in the immediate impact zone.
  
  

• Drill site maps show the proposed drill holes/pads for exploration, but not all subsequent operations or potential future mining—which would have far higher risk.
  
  

• Well vulnerability mapping ideally needs: exact well locations, depths, aquifer connection information, water use records, hydrogeologic cross‐sections. Many of these are not publicly visible for the specific project zone at this time.
  
  

• “Nearby wells” may draw from different aquifers/flow systems—so location alone is not a guarantee of risk, but proximity + hydrogeologic connectivity raise flags.

F3 Gold Mining in Custer Are YOU interested in a story of water usage, the lack of water and possible water contamination in Custer and Hill City? 

There are mining operations on public land that will suck up the available water and use it for outside companies that may leave a mess of the Black Hills Forest.

There is a project in Custer called Newark Exploratory Drilling Project - GO CHECK IT OUT! 

Hill City said No. Rapid City said No.

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Custer City said maybe, they “are thinking about it.”

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Contact your City Council person.!!

Urge them to say NO Custer City Water to F3!

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F3 Gold Mining has been approved by USFS to drill 360

holes in the Black Hills National Forest just west of Custer.

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EACH HOLE will use 10,000 GALLONS of WATER PER DAY

And, they MUST use municipal water.

WHERE WILL THE WATER COME FROM?????

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Protect the Black Hills Forest & our Water Supply.

Join us in working to prevent commercial mining on public lands in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Help us preserve our land and drinking water and the natural beauty of the Black Hills by signing our petition.  Join the List 

Copyright © 2025 Black Hills Preservation Project 

Custer, South Dakota 

Black Hills Preservation Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible. 

©2025 Black Hills Preservation Project. All rights reserved.

Black Hills Preservation Project

PO Box 9

Custer, SD 57730 

Contact Email:  blackhills@myyahoo.com

www.blackhillspreservationproject.org