Federal land officials approved the Black Hills Bentonite mine project in Wyoming on May 15, clearing the way for an open-pit operation to mine massive amounts of clay for industrial and consumer products.
Approval of the project, located in east-central Wyoming in Natrona County, will allow Casper-based Black Hills Bentonite to begin developing the site on 227 acres of public land. The mine is expected to operate for 20 years, and the clay produced will be sold to other industrial companies for use in cat litter, drilling fluids, binder in foundry molds, iron ore pelletizing, and other applications.
