by the Earth First! Journal
Two sand mining companies are planning to extract silica sand used in hydraulic fracturing from the Black Hills region of Western South Dakota.
Sandman Products (374 Burlington ST. Pringle, SD 57773) and Cambrian Enterprises (3220 West Main Street, Rapid City, SD 57702) have obtained exploration permits to collect and test the sand deposits.
David Ganje, owner of Cambrian Enterprises, says the sand is in a prime location to serve oil and gas fields in the region.
“All the consultants I’ve spoken with said this would put us in a unique situation,” he said. “This is a specialized mineral sand.”
Frack sand mining poses threats to the environment as well as human health from exposure to silica dust. The process is currently being challenged in Minnesota.
