Wharf is an open-pit heap leach operation, owned and operated by Wharf Resources (U.S.A.), Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coeur Mining, Inc. (“Coeur”). Wharf is located in the northern Black Hills, Lawrence County, South Dakota, approximately 10 kilometers south and west of the city of Lead. The Wharf Operation consists of the American Eagle, Green Mountain, Golden Reward, and Portland Ridgeline pits.

Wharf operates as a conventional truck-and-loader heap leach gold mine. The mine has been in continuous operation since 1983.

Several historic pits that were partially backfilled are being re-mined. The backfilled material is considered rehandle and does not require blasting. Mined ore is either placed in a stockpile or directly into the primary crusher and then conveyed to a final product stockpile. Crushed ore is picked up by loaders and placed in trucks to be dumped in 20-foot lifts on one of five heap leach pads. After leaching, ore is neutralized and de-nitrified.