Montana DEQ Approves Gold Exploration in Upper Blackfoot River Area
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has granted an amended exploration license to Sentinel Metals, an Australian mining company, to explore gold deposits in the Columbia Gold Project near Lincoln, Montana. This project is located in the headwaters of the Blackfoot River. The exploration will involve core drilling to assess the area, with up to 21 drill holes planned, each potentially reaching depths of 2,300 feet. The exploration is expected to last six to eight weeks, with water for drilling sourced from a nearby domestic well. The DEQ has calculated a reclamation cost of $338,792, which Sentinel Metals has bonded. The exploration license does not authorize mining, and any future mining would require a new permit and environmental assessment. 
