GreenLight Metals asks for DNR approval to start exploratory drilling in December at Reef Deposit site near Wausau

A mining company will start exploratory drilling in December, pending approval from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, at a Marathon County site possibly containing gold and other minerals. 

GreenLight Metals, submitted to the DNR on Oct. 7 a letter of their intent to drill at the Reef Deposit, east of Wausau and near the Dells of the Eau Claire River. The site is believed to contain about 454,000 tons of gold reserves. 

The letter details plans for drilling at up to nine sites on a block of private properties. If approved, the drilling will take place when the ground is frozen this winter in two phases — three drilling areas focused on "identified targets" on the properties and up to six more areas to look for new targets. 

Most of the drill sites are located in wetlands. Should the ground start to thaw, all drilling operations will stop, according to the letter. 

More: Mining company seeks permission to start exploratory drilling near scenic site in Marathon County

The drilling is expected to take about 11 weeks. Restoration of the drill sites is anticipated to cost nearly $52,000.

GreenLight Metals is proposing new road extensions that they will construct and maintain to access the drilling sites, though the letter says existing drill roads and trails will be used "wherever possible." Small trees and shrubs cut down during construction will be scattered within 30 inches of the site, according to the letter, and cutting down trees that are larger than 3 inches around will be avoided "where possible." No profitable timber will be cut. 

An unnamed creek that runs near the proposed drilling sites will serve as a water source for the operations, according to the letter, though it also suggests pumping from the Eau Claire River and the Yellow River. Normal drilling conditions require about 1,000 gallons of water per day, the letter says. 

Community members expressed concern about the proposed drilling because of its proximity to the Dells of the Eau Claire River, an environmentally sensitive state natural area, and the Ice Age Trail. 

GreenLight Metals earlier this month submitted a letter of intent to drill in the Chequamegon National Forest at a site known as the Bend Deposit, which contains an estimated 4 million tons of copper, gold and silver. 

Madeline Heim is a Report for America corps reporter who writes about environmental issues in the Mississippi River watershed and across Wisconsin. Contact her at 920-996-7266 or mheim@gannett.com.

Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to this reporting effort at jsonline.com/RFA.