The Black Hills of South Dakota hold a storied history of lithium mining that dates back to 1898, when lithium-bearing minerals like spodumene and amblygonite were first mined near the township of Custer. Today, IRIS Metals leads the way in reviving this historic mining district, leveraging its extensive landholdings and strategic projects to unlock the region’s vast untapped potential.
IRIS Metals controls an expansive footprint of 2,469 federal mineral lode claims, including 33Ha of patented claims and 22,300Ha of BLM claims, positioning the Company for growth in this prominent lithium province. Within this landholding, IRIS owns some of the most prospective ground in South Dakota, featuring abundant outcropping LCT pegmatite swarms and spodumene crystals, including some of the largest recorded globally.
Key project areas within the Black Hills include the Beecher Project (encompassing Longview and Black Diamond), Edison, Dewy, Custer, Ruby, Helen Beryl, Tinton, and Keystone Projects. These sites deliver a strong pipeline of brownfield lithium prospects united by their potential to become the next leading sources of battery-grade lithium in the United States.