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Homestake Geology Department Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 5035

Scope and Contents

The Homestake Geology Department Papers consist of 63 boxes of papers, 34 boxes and 2 cabinets of rock specimens, and two boxes and two cabinets of thin sections from the Geology Department at the Homestake Mining Company from 1903 to 2005.

Series 1 James Noble Map Collection was started in 1926 by Dr. Donald H. McLaughlin and James Noble. These maps record the surface geology of the Black Hills down to the 8000 foot level of the mine. The maps cover locations such as the Amicus, B&M, Callendoina, Crown, Ellison, Hidden Fortune, Independence, Lone Stare, Millikan, Old Abe, Oro Hondo, Pierce, Ross, and Yates shafts. The geology maps mark in detail all available drifts and crosscuts. These maps were used to update larger maps found in the Homestake Mining Company Map Collection.

Series 2 Noble and Harder Research and Notes contains research, notes, reports, and data on the rock samples collected during the 1930s and 1940s.

Series 3 Files from the Chief Geologist Office contains various papers such as reports, correspondence, and notes that were filed in the Chief Geologists Office from 1903 to 2000. These documents represent all of the operations that occurred in the Geology Department.

Series 4 Exploration Division Papers contain geochemical data such as assay results, petrography reports, photographs, negatives, slides, reports, and other documents related to the projects done by the Exploration Division to find more ore to mine from 1945 to 1999.

Series 5 Diamond Drilling Documentation contains reports, priorities, schedules, drawings, indexes, logs, and other documents related to Diamond Drilling from 1918 to 2001.

Series 6 Back Sample Stope Sections contain stope section drawings, with sample locations marked which were then provided to the Mine Department for use, guidance, and to prepare other maps in the Mine Department from the 1940s to 1992.

Series 7 Estimated Inventory Ledgers contain changes to Stope Master File Forms, Ore Block Estimate Forms, copies of maps where the samples are from, and calculation notes used to calculate the ore reserves of the Homestake Mining Company from 1974 to 1995.

Series 8 Geology Samples contain specimen indexes, identification cards, and rock samples for the Northern Black Hills Collection, the Southern Black Hills Collection, Rochford Specimen Collection, the Homestake Specimen Collection (New Series), the first Homestake Specimen Collection (Old) collected by Donald McLaughin and two others is noted to be at Harvard University, and other various rock samples. Some of the samples from the listed collections can be found in the 5029 Tom and Melissa Campbell Collection.

Series 9 Thin Sections contain thin and polished sections that are related to the rock samples from series 8. There is a printout of the Thin Section Library in the Research Library file cabinet drawer 1 with two floppy disks.

Dates

  • 1903 - 2005

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed at the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center with no restrictions to access. The collection may be utilized during normal operating hours or by appointment.

Biographical / Historical

The Homestake Mining Claim was founded on April 9, 1876, by Fred and Moses Manuel and Hank Harney. They soon sold their interests to a group of men, led by George Hearst. Under Hearst’s direction, the Homestake Mining Company was incorporated in November 1877 and grew into the major economic driving force of the Black Hills area.

The Geology Department was founded in 1920 when Homestake Mining Company feared closing due to insufficient ore reserves. Dr. Donald H. McLaughlin (president of the Homestake Mining Company from 1944 until 1961) was hired to study the Homestake ore bodies and to organize the Geology Department. In 1927, McLaughlin’s report was finished and he recommended selective mining by following the ore vein to save time, money, and machinery. By 1932, his selective mining method increased the grade (value) of ore milled.

In 1931, James Noble became the second chief geologist. Noble furthered the expanded knowledge of the Homestake Formation and the application of very detailed structural geology in understanding ore controls and expanding reserves. Noble left Homestake in 1947 to teach at the California Institute of Technology and was a consulting geologist for the company until 1953.

James O. Harder was promoted to chief geologist in 1947. He received a B.S. in mine engineering with a geology focus from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and a Masters from Harvard University. He started working for Homestake in 1932. He worked with the United States Geological Survey as a geologist in charge of the Trace Elements Unit for the Manhattan District project from 1944 to 1945. He then returned to Homestake. From 1957 until his retirement in 1972 he served as manager of Black Hills Operations and as Vice President for Homestake.

In 1957, Archie L. Slaughter became the fourth chief geologist and the manager of exploration (a division of the Geology Department). It was during this time the Exploration Division of the department began creating exploration projects in the Black Hills, the greater United States, and various countries around the world.

The main duties of the Geology Department were to study, sample, map, and explore the mines owned by Homestake to find ore-bearing formations so they could be mined effectively. The chief geologist was responsible for all phases of geologic work, focusing primarily on exploration. The assistant chief geologist was responsible for supporting the gold mine operation, ore reserves, and worked with geophysical and geochemical consultants (geologic and assay data). Other geologists day-to-day work included underground studies and mapping, programming and directing diamond drilling, and grade studies in the stoping. The Geology Department was operating until the Homestake Mining Company closed in 2001.

Extent

104.38 Linear feet (100 Boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Homestake Geology Department Papers consist of documents, rock samples, and thin sections from 1903 to 2005. Materials include geologic, stope, diamond drilling maps and drawings; reports, correspondence, ledgers, and indexes that represent the functions and activities of the Geology Department.

Arrangement

This collection has been arranged into nine series. Documents originally housed in binders have been rehoused for preservation purposes but retain their original labels. Whenever possible original order was maintained. Oversize items have been housed separately in boxes 5-7 and are described by separation notes.

Some items do not follow the arrangement list below, due to the sizes of the documents. For example, something might skip from Box 8 and Box 14 because Box 8 holds letter-size documents and Box 14 holds legal-size documents.

Series 1 James Noble Map Collection begins with surface-level maps followed by underground geology maps that are arranged by level then by ledge, such as Main Ledge and Ledges 5 through 21.

Series 2 Noble and Harder Research and Notes are arranged by binder. If the binder was numbered they are in numeral order, unnumbered binders are at the end.

Series 3 Files from the Chief Geologist Office are arranged chronologically.

Series 4 Exploration Division Papers are arranged into sub-series for ease of description.

Subseries A Exploration Division Data are arranged alphabetically as no original order could be identified. These materials were found in the unidentified series of boxes, yet to be processed.

Subseries B Exploration Division Reports are arranged chronologically as no original order could be identified. These materials were found in the unidentified series of boxes, yet to be processed.

Subseries C Surface and Drilling Logs are arranged alphabetically with drill hole date first, reports second, and the Down Hole Camera Samples at the end.

Series 5 Diamond Drilling Documentation is arranged by having the general diamond drilling documents at the beginning and arranged alphabetically. The diamond drill hole drawings and indexes were housed in binders and were arranged by level. The diamond drilling field notebooks are arranged chronologically. The diamond drill logs were housed in binders and were arranged by their diamond drill number. Other diamond drill logs from samples taken by the Exploration Division are found at the end and arranged in alphabetical order.

Series 6 Back Sample Stope Sections are arranged by year and then by level.

Series 7 Estimated Inventory Ledgers are arranged by the first section of folders with general documents about Ore Reserves and are arranged chronologically. The ore estimate files were originally housed in large binders by division and level. Inside the binders, it was arranged by level, then by ledge.

Series 8 Geology Samples are arranged by collection and sample number when possible.

Series 9 Thin sections are arranged by sample box number when possible.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These materials were transferred as a portion of one donation, accession number 2005.001, from Homestake Mining Company on May 26, 2005.

Related Materials

Additional archival materials related to the Homestake Geology Department can be found in the Homestake Mining Company Collection including the following: Homestake Map Collection, 5001 Homestake Mine Engineer Files, 5019 Homestake Survey Records, 5025 Periodicals and Published Works, 5027 United States Geologic Survey Publications, 5029 Tom and Melissa Campbell Collection, 5030 Assays and Ore Reserve Records, and 5032 Homestake Reports and Courses Collection.

Processing Information

This collection was processed August 2021-December 2021 by Tia Stenson. Assistance provided by Stacy Deaver, Claudia Howell, Jim Petersen, Randi Sue Smith, and Mark Zwaschka. During February and March, 2023 files originally in boxes labeled "Surface and Drilling Logs" were refoldered and scanned for Dakota Gold Corp. In October to November 2023, the rest of the files in the "Surface and Drilling Log" boxes were refoldered and added to the collection as a new subseries under Series 4: Exploration Division Papers by Tia Stenson with assistance from Randi Sue Smith and Claudia Howell.

Subjects

Record Groups

Related Names

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Homestake Geology Department Papers, 1903-2005
Author
Finding aid prepared by Tia Stenson
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • [February, March, October, and November 2023]: During February and March, 2023 files originally in boxes labeled "Surface and Drilling Logs" were refoldered and scanned for Dakota Gold Corp. In October to November 2023, the rest of the files in the "Surface and Drilling Log" boxes were refoldered and added to the collection as a new subseries under Series 4: Exploration Division Papers by Tia Stenson with assistance from Randi Sue Smith and Claudia Howell. Due to this addition of materials box and folder information changed for Series 5 through Series 9.

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center Repository

https://www.deadwoodhistory.com/
Contact:
PO Box 252
150 Sherman St
Deadwood South Dakota 57732
605-722-4800

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