K2 Gold Begins Mining Exploration on Conglomerate Mesa

News Staff2 weeks ago

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 20, 2026

K2 Gold Begins Mining Exploration on Conglomerate Mesa

LONE PINE, CA — On Monday, May 18th, 2026, Canadian company, K2 Gold, officially began its recently approved 2nd phase of gold exploration on Conglomerate Mesa. Conglomerate Mesa is the traditional homeland of the Lone Pine Paiute Shoshone and Timbisha Shoshone Tribal Nations, both of whom oppose mining on Conglomerate Mesa. 11 tribes were consulted about the project, and their view was that K2 Gold’s proposed mining activities would cause permanent adverse impacts on Conglomerate Mesa.

“There is an impalpable merit out there that can’t be reclaimed or redeemed once it’s desecrated. This area doesn’t hold enough wealth to fulfill the debt and void within the hearts of greedy individuals, “ said Jeremiah Joseph, Lone Pine Paiute Shoshone Cultural Resources Protection Committee. “Our resistance towards the end goal of an open pit mine will never cease to exist.”

Over 14,000 people submitted comments to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), voicing their concerns and opposition. As a result of this public input, the BLM is requiring K2 Gold to access Conglomerate Mesa by helicopter only, to reduce the number of drill sites, and to build timber-frame pads to minimize ground disturbance. Despite these changes, the project’s impact remains high, with 6 months of 24/7 drilling, 555 helicopter flights from Lone Pine Airport, and over 10,000 gallons of water usage. In addition, K2 Gold has already announced plans for a 3rd phase of exploration.

k2 conglomerate mesa — Helicopter transports personnel and materials to Conglomerate Mesa for K2 Gold’s exploration project. Photo: Jaime Lopez Wolters

“We remain very concerned about the likely negative impacts to species and the fragile desert ecosystem of this very special landscape,” said Wendy Schneider, Executive Director, Friends of the Inyo, “Conglomerate Mesa is no place for mining.”

Local conservation groups and citizens are carefully monitoring all activities related to K2 Gold’s exploration project and are dedicated to protecting this desert gem.