Mining Incidents
Search Operators Mines Alerts Research Controllers Fatalgrams About
Countries
Peru Chile
English Español
Abandoned mines › South Dakota
Abandoned mine inventory

Abandoned mines in Custer County, South Dakota

Custer County, South Dakota has 131 mine and prospect features on USGS topographic maps published 1950–1979, including 15 mine openings (shafts, adits and air shafts); 39 of the features carry a name on the map. MSHA's register carries 95 mines in the county with status Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed.

Every mine and prospect feature the USGS digitized from historical topographic maps covering Custer County, every OSMRE abandoned mine land problem in the county, and every MSHA-registered mine here with status Abandoned. Named features are listed below; unnamed ones are counted by type. Locations are deliberately not shown: this page says what abandoned workings are in the county, not where to find them. They are dangerous and should not be entered.

Mapped mine features (USGS)
131
Mine openings
15
OSMRE problems unreclaimed
0
MSHA mines marked abandoned
95
39 features carry a name0 prospect pits25 quadrangle maps, published 1950–1979 0 MSHA mines abandoned and sealed
What the features are
  1. Mine openings
    shafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings
    15 11.5%
  2. Mines and surface workings
    labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
    104 79.4%
  3. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits
    construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
    12 9.2%
Named features on the maps39 named · from the USGS compilation
Name on map Feature
Beecher No 2 Mine Open Pit Mine area
Crown Mine Open Pit Mine
Cuyahogo Mine Open Pit Mine
Gladys Nells Mine Open Pit Mine area
Helen Beryl Mine Open Pit Mine area
Highland Lode Open Pit Mine
Jasper Cave Adit
Jewel Cave Adit
King Tut Mine Adit
Linwood Mine Open Pit Mine area
Lucky Strike Mine Open Pit Mine area
Lucky Strike Mine Open Pit Mine area
Minnie May Mine Adit
Myrtle Ann Mine Open Pit Mine area
New York Mine Open Pit Mine
Old Bull Mine Mine Shaft
Old Mike Mine Open Pit Mine area
Onyx Cave Adit
Penobscott Mine Mine Shaft
Rainbow No 4 Mine Open Pit Mine area
Red Spar Mine Open Pit Mine
Reede Mine Open Pit Mine area
Rocky Ridge Mine Open Pit Mine area
Rose Quartz Mine Open Pit Mine area
Spokane Mine Open Pit Mine
St Louis Mine Open Pit Mine area
Stapp Quarry Quarry
Tin Mountain Mine Adit
Tiptop Mine Open Pit Mine area
Townsite Mine Open Pit Mine area
Triangle A Mine Open Pit Mine area
Victory Mine Mine Shaft
Wabash Mine Mine Shaft
Warren Draw Mine Open Pit Mine area
Western Star Mine Mine Shaft
White Elephant Mine Open Pit Mine area
White Spar Mine Open Pit Mine area
Wild Rose Mine Mine Shaft
Wind Cave Adit

A name is the label printed beside the symbol on the map. "First mapped" is the earliest topographic edition that shows the symbol, which bounds the feature's age from above; it is not the date it was worked. Unnamed features (most prospect pits, adits and shafts carry no label) are in the counts above but not this list.

MSHA-registered mines with status Abandoned95 on register
  1. 341 Sandvik
    Surface metal/non-metal · Moss Rock Landscaping Inc · MSHA ID 3901680
    Abandoned
  2. 4g 21-21 Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Custer County Highway Department · MSHA ID 3901094
    Abandoned
  3. Agnew Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Charles L Stiles-Opr · MSHA ID 3901167
    Abandoned
  4. Arcade
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ventling Enterprises · MSHA ID 3901365
    Abandoned
  5. Bald #4
    Surface metal/non-metal · William Boggs Mining · MSHA ID 3901252
    Abandoned
  6. Big Spar
    Surface metal/non-metal · Brazell Mining · MSHA ID 3901230
    Abandoned
  7. Bland Bull Moose
    Surface metal/non-metal · Bland Mining · MSHA ID 3900404
    Abandoned
  8. Brite-X Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacer Corp · MSHA ID 3901157
    Abandoned
  9. Cliff #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Sandman Products · MSHA ID 3901536
    Abandoned
  10. Crusher #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · North American Accounts · MSHA ID 3901338
    Abandoned
  11. Custer Gravel By-Products Incorporated
    Surface metal/non-metal · Custer Gravel By-Products Inc · MSHA ID 3901285
    Abandoned
  12. Custer Mill
    Facility metal/non-metal · Pacer Corporation · MSHA ID 3900428
    Abandoned
  13. Custer Mountain Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Melvin Hiermeier Construction · MSHA ID 3900822
    Abandoned
  14. D & R
    Underground metal/non-metal · Montana Dakota Mining & Mineral Inc · MSHA ID 3901270
    Abandoned
  15. Dakota Quartz Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Nu Tec Mineral & Chemical Company · MSHA ID 3901394
    Abandoned
  16. Dean Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Dean Mining · MSHA ID 3900801
    Abandoned
  17. Debra J
    Surface metal/non-metal · Montana Dakota Mining & Mineral Inc · MSHA ID 3901255
    Abandoned
  18. Diggins
    Surface metal/non-metal · Montana Dakota Mining & Mineral Inc · MSHA ID 3901291
    Abandoned
  19. Eggers Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Concepts West Inc · MSHA ID 3901238
    Abandoned
  20. G4-21 #23 Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Custer County Highway Department · MSHA ID 3901098
    Abandoned
  21. George C Bland
    Surface metal/non-metal · Bland Mining · MSHA ID 3901341
    Abandoned
  22. Glenwood Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Concepts West Inc · MSHA ID 3901239
    Abandoned
  23. Gold Bug
    Surface metal/non-metal · Glitter Enterprises · MSHA ID 3901595
    Abandoned
  24. Golden Dawn Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Gilbert C Swanson Foundation Incorp · MSHA ID 3901236
    Abandoned
  25. Grace Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Grace Mine · MSHA ID 3901593
    Abandoned
  26. Happy Jack
    Surface metal/non-metal · A & H Mining & Contracting · MSHA ID 3900752
    Abandoned
  27. Happy Jack
    Surface metal/non-metal · D & D Mining · MSHA ID 3901182
    Abandoned
  28. Helicopter Ii
    Underground metal/non-metal · Wagner Mining · MSHA ID 3901385
    Abandoned
  29. Henwood
    Surface metal/non-metal · Kapitol K Mining · MSHA ID 3901384
    Abandoned
  30. Henwood Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Scherer & Son Mining · MSHA ID 3900783
    Abandoned
  31. Hermosa 3a
    Surface metal/non-metal · Hills Materials Company · MSHA ID 3901298
    Abandoned
  32. HIGH POINT
    Surface metal/non-metal · High Point Mining · MSHA ID 3901449
    Abandoned
  33. High Star
    Surface metal/non-metal · High Star Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 3901344
    Abandoned
  34. Holy Terror
    Underground metal/non-metal · Mineral Mountain Resources · MSHA ID 3901594
    Abandoned
  35. Hope Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Concepts West Inc · MSHA ID 3901240
    Abandoned
  36. Hugo Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Warren Alexander · MSHA ID 3901168
    Abandoned
  37. Kaliko #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Kapitol K Mining · MSHA ID 3901383
    Abandoned
  38. Last Chance
    Surface metal/non-metal · Montana Dakota Mining & Mineral Inc · MSHA ID 3901258
    Abandoned
  39. Loring Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Hills Materials Company · MSHA ID 3901262
    Abandoned
  40. Lucky Tiger
    Surface metal/non-metal · Kapitol K Mining · MSHA ID 3901375
    Abandoned
  41. Mica Plant
    Facility metal/non-metal · Pacer Corp · MSHA ID 3900956
    Abandoned
  42. Mon-Dak #12
    Surface metal/non-metal · Montana Dakota Mining & Mineral Inc · MSHA ID 3901277
    Abandoned
  43. Mon-Dak #13
    Surface metal/non-metal · Montana Dakota Mining & Mineral Inc · MSHA ID 3901278
    Abandoned
  44. Mon-Dak #14
    Surface metal/non-metal · Montana Dakota Mining & Mineral Inc · MSHA ID 3901290
    Abandoned
  45. Mon-Oak #7
    Surface metal/non-metal · Montana Dakota Mining & Mineral Inc · MSHA ID 3901272
    Abandoned
  46. MYRTLE ANN #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · L M Company · MSHA ID 3901342
    Abandoned
  47. Napa Zip
    Surface metal/non-metal · Montana Dakota Mining & Mineral Inc · MSHA ID 3901269
    Abandoned
  48. Nelen Mica #2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacer Corp · MSHA ID 3901353
    Abandoned
  49. Nick Leveque Pit Or Portable Crusher No
    Surface metal/non-metal · W & D Morris Construction Company Inc · MSHA ID 3901112
    Abandoned
  50. Old Jake
    Surface metal/non-metal · W J Berkemeier-Opr · MSHA ID 3901164
    Abandoned
  51. Oreville Mill
    Facility metal/non-metal · Concepts West Inc · MSHA ID 3901251
    Abandoned
  52. PACER FELDSPAR #2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacer Minerals, LLC · MSHA ID 3901400
    Abandoned
  53. PACER MICA
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacer Corp · MSHA ID 3901380
    Abandoned
  54. Pacer Portable
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacer Minerals, LLC · MSHA ID 3900800
    Abandoned
  55. Phillip'S Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacer Corp · MSHA ID 3901327
    Abandoned
  56. Pine Tree
    Surface metal/non-metal · Montana Dakota Mining & Mineral Inc · MSHA ID 3901271
    Abandoned
  57. Pink Monster Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacer Minerals · MSHA ID 3901653
    Abandoned
  58. PORTABLE #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · BADLANDS SAND & GRAVEL · MSHA ID 3901458
    Abandoned
  59. Portable 1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Howe Well Drilling & Excavating Inc. · MSHA ID 3901575
    Abandoned
  60. Pringle Plant
    Facility metal/non-metal · Mineral Technology Corporation · MSHA ID 3901579
    Abandoned
  61. Pringle Sand Plant
    Facility metal/non-metal · Agsco Dakota Corp · MSHA ID 3900957
    Abandoned
  62. Red Deer Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacer Corp · MSHA ID 3901325
    Abandoned
  63. Red Deer Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Fechner Mining Company · MSHA ID 3901326
    Abandoned
  64. Red Indian Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · William Boggs Mining · MSHA ID 3901243
    Abandoned
  65. Rock Garden Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Scherer - Bornong · MSHA ID 3901354
    Abandoned
  66. Sally Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · S & M Mining Company · MSHA ID 3901264
    Abandoned
  67. SANTA ANN
    Surface metal/non-metal · Alvin Bland Mining · MSHA ID 3901453
    Abandoned
  68. Scotts Rose Quartz Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Scotts Rose Quartz · MSHA ID 3901481
    Abandoned
  69. Screener1
    Surface metal/non-metal · True Grit Construction · MSHA ID 3201004
    Abandoned
  70. Shamrock
    Surface metal/non-metal · Lee Wagner · MSHA ID 3901388
    Abandoned
  71. Smith Bin
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacer Corp · MSHA ID 3900509
    Abandoned
  72. Smith Bin
    Surface metal/non-metal · North American Accounts · MSHA ID 3901355
    Abandoned
  73. Smith Mine
    Facility metal/non-metal · Bland Mining · MSHA ID 3900170
    Abandoned
  74. Smith Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Komatz Construction Inc · MSHA ID 3901142
    Abandoned
  75. Smoky Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Bush Mining Company · MSHA ID 3901064
    Abandoned
  76. Southern Hills Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Southern Hills Rock & Gravel · MSHA ID 3901351
    Abandoned
  77. Spokane Mine & Mill
    Surface metal/non-metal · Spokane Mining & Mill · MSHA ID 3901275
    Abandoned
  78. Stratton Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · North American Accounts · MSHA ID 3901165
    Abandoned
  79. Sunshine Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Collingwood Brothers · MSHA ID 3901188
    Abandoned
  80. Tin Crown Mill
    Facility metal/non-metal · Concepts West Inc · MSHA ID 3901235
    Abandoned
  81. Tin Crown Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Concepts West Inc · MSHA ID 3901234
    Abandoned
  82. Town Site
    Surface metal/non-metal · William Boggs Mining · MSHA ID 3901163
    Abandoned
  83. Townsite Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Merle Boggs Company · MSHA ID 3900898
    Abandoned
  84. Townsite Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · William Boggs Mining · MSHA ID 3901247
    Abandoned
  85. Valley View Feldspar Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Merle Boggs Company · MSHA ID 3900433
    Abandoned
  86. Virginia
    Surface metal/non-metal · Benchmark Enterprises LLC · MSHA ID 3901504
    Abandoned
  87. Virginia Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · North American Mining Company · MSHA ID 3901501
    Abandoned
  88. Wade Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Leslie L Wade · MSHA ID 3901274
    Abandoned
  89. WAGNER MINE
    Surface metal/non-metal · Wagner Mining · MSHA ID 3901369
    Abandoned
  90. Wells Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Hills Materials Company · MSHA ID 3901306
    Abandoned
  91. West Screen Plant #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Croell, Inc. · MSHA ID 3901488
    Abandoned
  92. Wheeler Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Wheeler Mining · MSHA ID 3901356
    Abandoned
  93. White Bear Mica Plant
    Facility metal/non-metal · Pacer Minerals, LLC · MSHA ID 3901158
    Abandoned
  94. White Elephant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacer Corp · MSHA ID 3901141
    Abandoned
  95. White Elephant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Miller Mining · MSHA ID 3901603
    Abandoned

Status and date are as reported to MSHA by the operator. Each mine's own page carries its accident, citation and inspection record.

By source vocabularythe publishers' own terms
Feature type Features
Open Pit Mine 52
Open Pit Mine or Quarry 16
Open Pit Mine 16
Open Pit Mine or Quarry 15
Adit 8
Mine Shaft 7
Gravel Pit 5
Disturbed Surface - Pit 5
Gravel Pit 4
Quarry 2
Quarry - Rock 1
Other counties in South DakotaAll counties →
How to read these numbers

A USGS feature is a symbol on a historical topographic map, there when the map was surveyed; it may since have been sealed, reclaimed, built over or reopened as a working mine, and the map does not say which. An OSMRE row is a problem the abandoned mine land program tracks, not a mine. An MSHA mine is a registered operation whose operator reported abandonment, a record that starts in the 1970s. The three overlap and are never added together. The county is assigned from each feature's coordinates against the Census 2023 county boundaries. The full method is on the national page.

Sources
  1. USGS, Consolidated Prospect- and Mine-Related Features from 7.5- and 15-Minute Topographic Quadrangle Maps of the United States (USMIN)
    597,612 point and area features digitized from about 106,350 historical topographic maps published 1886–2006; public domain (CC0). A feature is a map symbol, not a field-verified site, and the map does not say whether it was still worked.
  2. USGS Fact Sheet 2025–3003, The Abandoned Mine Inventory of the United States
    States that as of 2025 there is no comprehensive national inventory of abandoned mine features, and that the detailed national database now being built will not be published.
  3. OSMRE, Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (e-AMLIS), public Problems layer
    One row per abandoned mine land problem in a problem area, with its type, funding program and reclamation status; mostly coal mined before the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. Coordinates are the problem area's.
  4. MSHA, Mines dataset (Mine Data Retrieval System)
    Every mine registered with MSHA since the 1970s; a mine reads Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed when its operator reported that status. Refreshed weekly.
  5. US Census Bureau, 2023 cartographic county boundaries (1:500,000)
    Each feature's county is assigned by its coordinates against these boundaries, not copied from the source file.
  6. GAO-20-238, Abandoned Hardrock Mines (March 2020)
    Federal agencies had identified at least 140,000 abandoned hardrock mine features on federal land and estimated more than 390,000 more not yet captured in their databases.
  7. Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) Program, US Department of the Interior
    The program the USGS inventory is compiled for. Its appropriations and the 674,000 field-confirmed feature count on this page were provided by the program manager, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, and are cited with permission (2026-09-08).
  8. IMCC-NAAMLP Hardrock AML Report
    Page 48 carries the two figures this page leans on: USGS estimates 633,181 of the 725,690 mine features it recorded from historic topographic maps, 87 percent, are hardrock; and state and federal agencies have submitted more than 724,000 AML features to the national database being built, already more than the historic maps hold. Year-by-year AHMR funding is on page 35.