The state of South Dakota designated Black Hills gold as the official state jewelry in 1988. The designs use grapes, grape leaves and grape stems and are easily recognizable for their distinctive colors.
What is South Dakota gold?
Black Hills gold is a precious gold in South Dakota that is manufactured exclusively in the Black Hills of South Dakota; it is considered to be the South Dakota State Jewelry. Set next to the Rockies is a small mountain range called the Black Hills, South Dakota.
What is unique about Black Hills Gold?
What makes this Jewelry so unique is the yellow gold grapes with leaf designs in shades of pink and green gold. The colors are actually achieved by alloying gold and silver to produce green and alloying copper with gold to produce pink. The frosty appearance is achieved by wriggling, or engraving, the leaves.
Why is it called Black Hills Gold?
It’s named after the mountain range of the North American Great Plains that were once inhabited by Native American tribes. Back in 1874, the rush for gold was on after a scout for General George Armstrong Custer discovered it in the Black Hills.
What is the difference between Rose Gold and Black Hills Gold?
The 12 karat rose gold leaf is 12 parts copper and 12 parts gold to create the rose gold. The green leaf on Black Hills Gold is 12 karat green gold and is made with 12 parts silver and 12 parts gold. This is a process from the French, during the 1400’s they developed this gold alloying technique.
How do I get a gold claim in South Dakota?
Please contact the BLM at (406) 896-5004 if you wish to stake a mineral claim in South Dakota.
What karat gold is Black Hills gold?
24 Karat gold
Production. Pure 24 Karat gold bars, and stocks of pure silver and copper are the basic materials. These metals are not required to be mined in the Black Hills. The finished jewelry known as Black Hills Gold must be produced in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
How can you tell if Black Hills Gold is real?
It is required by law that all Black Hills Gold received a stamp of the Manufacture on every piece of Black Hills Gold. This stamp is very small, use a magnifying glass to best see the stamp.
Is Black Hills 14k gold?
Search Jewelry Black Hills Gold
We have a large selection of black hills gold wedding rings for both men and women in 14k Gold and . 925 Sterling Silver, even one with Diamonds.
Will Black Hills gold tarnish?
Will black hills gold tarnish? The answer is all jewelry will tarnish except for pure 24k gold.
Is white gold actually gold?
White gold is usually an alloy containing about 75% gold and about 25% nickel and zinc. If stamped 18 karat, it would be 75% pure gold.
Does real gold turn black?
Real gold jewelry can sometimes tarnish or become black and discolor. But usually the higher the percentage of gold in the alloy, it is less likely for the gold jewelry to discolor or become black.
What is rose gold?
Rose gold is an alloy made from a combination of pure gold and copper. The blend of the two metals changes the color of the final product and its karat. For example, the most common alloy of rose gold is 75 percent pure gold to 25 percent copper, which makes 18k rose gold.
What is green gold?
Definition of green gold
: an alloy of 14 to 18 karat gold that is greenish in color and employs either silver or silver plus cadmium or zinc as the alloying metal.
How do I clean my Black Hills Gold ring?
Caring for your Black Hills Gold
Thorough scrubbing with a soft brush and mild soap followed by a warm water rinse and drying with a soft towel should keep the jewelry bright and new-looking. Pearls and opals should be cleaned using warm water and a soft cloth. Avoid using any cleaning agents or excessive heat.
How much gold is in the Black Hills?
Silver, mica, feldspar, and tin were mined in the hills, but gold reigned. More than 50 million ounces of gold came from the Black Hills.
Can you find gold nuggets in South Dakota?
There is a plethora of surface tours covering several old lode mines across South Dakota that provide the opportunity to find panned gold, gold nuggets and grab a strand of history.
Can you live on mining claim?
A miner has the right only to the minerals; he may not live on the land without permission. If a cabin is located on a new claim, it belongs to the BLM and may not be used by the miner. A mining claim may also be staked on certain Forest Service (USFS) land, with much of the same requirements.
Can I pan for gold in South Dakota?
Gold prospecting in South Dakota is rather unrestricted. The use of a pan or a hand sluice does not require a permit. But the use of motorized equipment or a suction dredge requires a permit. The state’s forests are generally safe for panning.
Is rose gold more expensive?
When it comes to rose gold, the copper that’s used to create it costs less than other types of alloy metals. That means rose gold can be slightly less expensive than white or yellow gold. But remember, the price is based primarily on the amount of pure gold, not the alloy.
Is Black Hills gold still mined?
Only one major gold mine remains in operation in the northern Black Hills – the Wharf Mine, which operates an open-pit gold mine about four miles west of Lead. The mine, owned by Chicago-based Coeur Mining, employs about 215 people and produced more than 96,000 ounces of gold in 2017.
