Bingham Metals Co.

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This page was last updated on October 11, 2024.

Overview

Bingham Metals Company worked what was originally the Nast mine, and later the New England mine of the New England Gold and Copper Mining Company, organized in 1900 to take over the Nast property, which consisted of seven mining claims. The Nast property had originally been developed by the Nast Mining and Milling Company, with its original mining claims being patented in the 1881-1883 time period, but the paying vein, known as the Nast vein, had run out and the company was closed down in 1900 due to debts.

The Nast tunnel was at the upper part of the Muddy Gulch branch of Carr Fork.

The Nast Mining and Milling Company was reorganized as the New England Gold and Copper Mining Company, with a formal transfer date of April 13, 1901, and the corporation was filed in Utah on May 29, 1901. The Nast mine itself had been worked by leasers until June 1899 and during 1899 had taken over the Benton tunnel, 160 feet above, to get improved air circulation. Construction of a double-compartment hoisting shaft, having reached a 60-foot depth, was being stalled during 1899 by water problems.

The Nast tunnel was a major part of the properties transferred to the Bingham Metals company when it was reorganized in 1925 from the former New England company.

Bingham Metals Chronology

Nast Mining and Milling Company (1888-1900) (property worked as early as 1884)
New England Gold and Copper Mining Company (1900-1920)
Utah-Boston Development Company (1920-1925)
Bingham Metals Company (1925-1948; leased to USSR&M in 1936; purchased in 1948)

Bingham Metals Predecessor Companies

Nast Mining and Milling Company

New England Gold and Copper Company

The New England (Nast) mine was in Muddy Gulch, just uphill from the Boston Consolidated (Stewart) mine, and was adjacent to the Last Chance mine. The New England mine was working what was formerly known as the Nast property. The New England mine was one of the successful mines in Muddy Gulch in the 1901-1904 time period, taking $20,000 in ore in 1901 and 1902. In addition to the Nast, other mines in Muddy Gulch included the Last Chance and Stewart (Boston Consolidated) mines. The Nast vein very soon ran out of paying ore, but the tunnel extended over 900 feet to the southwest and along with the mine's shaft were used after 1904 to access the adjacent Ferguson vein.

The New England (Nast) property was active through 1910 when an illegal extraction law suit was filed by an adjacent mining company. From 1910 through 1912, with the mining company being sued, the mine was in the hands of leasers and individual owners who continued to remove valuable ore on an irregular basis. After 1912 the New England mine was idle because of litigation concerning illegal extraction, and concerning foreclosure proceedings between bondholders and stockholders. On October 6, 1913, all of the property and interests (mining claims, mill, buildings, etc.) were sold at a sheriff's sale following a suit brought by Bingham Coal & Lumber company that had been originally brought in August 1910, adding to the earlier extraction suit brought in February 1910.

A sheriff's sale was ordered to take place on April 24, 1922 to sell all of the property and assets, including mining claims, of the New England Gold and Copper Mining Company, as the result of a suit filed for non-payment of a mortgage dating from 1903. The sale was canceled without taking place after it was learned the property had been sold the previous month and the mortgage satisfied.

July 14, 1925
The New England mine, originally the Nast mine, and for a brief period the Utah-Boston Development mine, was sold to the newly organized Bingham Metals Company, which had been incorporated on July 14, 1925 for the purpose. This new company was listed on the Salt Lake Mining Exchange, whereas previous companies had been listed in Boston and other exchanges.

The following comes from the The Copper Handbook, Volume 11, 1914, page 648.

New England Gold & Copper Mining Co.

Office: 67 Milk St., Boston, Mass. Mine office: Bingham Canyon, Salt Lake Co., Utah. Jas. S. Williams, pres.; E. E. Abercrombie, vice pres. and managing director; Geo. F. Bradstreet, sec.-treas.; preceding officers, Woodford Yerxa, Thos. Kellough, Francis H. Dowse and Geo. Bancroft, directors; David Cook, gen. mgr.

Organized June, 1899, under laws of Colorado, capitalization $2,000,000 shares $10 par; issued, $1,294,467. Bonds, $500,000 authorized, at 6%; issued, $119,800. Paid a 10% stock dividend, Oct., 1908. Federal Trust Co., Boston, registrar; Geo. F. Bradstreet & Co., transfer agents. Annual meeting, first Monday in June.

Company owns the Bingham group of 9 fractional claims, 18 acres, in the Bingham, or West Mountain district, Utah, lying south of the Boston Consolidated, next to the Last Chance group and near the Utah Metals property.

The old Nast mine of the Bingham group shows porphyritic country rock carrying 3 fissure veins, of 30" average width, opened by the 1,600' Nast tunnel and the 1,670' Benton tunnel, both in ore, and 2 shafts, one of 159', with a total of about 6,000' of workings. Veins are said to widen at depth and ores are said to give average assays of 30% lead, 10% zinc, 15 oz. silver and $4.50 gold per ton, with small and variable percentages of copper, some of the monzonite country rock carrying copper values that may prove workable at some later date. The mine produced milling silverlead ore, handled in a 50-ton concentrator, running one shift, yielding 150 tons high-grade concentrates per month in 1911.

Equipment includes a steam plant with 2 hoists, 1 of 30 h. p., good for 800' depth.

The concentrator has a 4x12" Sturtevant crusher, 2 rolls, 2 Hartz jigs and 1 Wilfley table, operated by commercial electric current. Production was 2,108 tons of lead concentrates and 165 tons of copper ore, 1907, but property was closed down, late 1907, and mine was worked on only a small scale, 1910, securing 936 tons of ore, giving net smelter returns of $29,013, an average of $30.98 per ton. In Feb., 1910, the Utah Metal Mining Co. sued this corporation for $700,000 damages, alleging trespass and illegal ore extraction. The company also owns a group of four claims at Goldfield, Nev.

The following comes from a 2005 report by the federal EPA:

The New England Gold and Copper Company was acquired before 1905 by the New England Company. The 50-ton lead concentrator was remodeled in 1907. The mill was built after 1901 by the New England Gold and Copper Mining Company to process lead-silver-gold ore. It was operated intermittently from 1904 to sometime after 1913. A 1909 publication of the Bingham Commercial Club indicates that the concentrating mill was equipped with a crusher, rolls, Huntington mill, jigs, tables, etc. At that time, the capacity of the mill was 50 tons/day and produced gold, silver, lead, and copper. The property was located between Highland Boy and Boston Consolidated. Mill operations appear to have ceased in 1913.

The property was acquired by the Utah Boston Development Company in 1920 and operations resumed. The property was purchased in 1925 by the Bingham Metals Company. After Bingham Metals purchased the mill in 1925, the mill is referred to as the Bingham-New England Mill. However there is no reference to milling after 1925.

In 1936, the United States Smelting, Refining and Mining Company (USSRM) began working the Bingham Metals properties under a 10 year lease; presumably the ores were then shipped to the USSRM mill at Midvale. The New England Gold and Copper Company Mill is shown in the 1907 and 1913 Sanborn maps. The mill was located close to the Last Chance Mine in the upper end of the main canyon, two and one quarter miles south of its intersection with Carr Fork (The location of the mill was one and three quarters miles south of the confluence). It appears that the mill was operated periodically from around 1900 to 1936. This may have also been the site of the Stewart Mill (1878 - 1895), the Bingham New England mill (1904-1913) and was also known as the Bingham M & M mill.

The same 2005 report included the following information about the New England mill:

The Bingham-New England Mill. The mill operated between 1905 - 1913 during which time it milled 60,000 tons of lead-silver-gold ore producing 48,000 tons of tailings, containing 1440 tons of lead. This may have been the New England Gold and Copper Mill, at the same site as the Stewart Mill, but the details are somewhat different. Kennecott gave further information about the various names of this mill. In 1878, the Egan and Bates 10 stamp mill was removed from the main Bingham Canyon and erected at the Stewart Mine. The mill was converted to mill lead-zinc ores. The mill burned in 1895. In 1901, the New England Gold and Copper Mining Company constructed another mill at the Stewart Mine which operated until 1913 to process lead-silver-gold ore. It operated intermittently from 1904 to sometime after 1913. Mining of the "old" New England Mine continued until after 1925. After Bingham Metals Company purchased the mill in 1925, the mill is referred to as the Bingham-New England mill. However, there is no reference to milling after 1925.

Utah-Boston Development Company

(1920-1925)

The former manager from the period between 1902 and 1908, who had retained the mining plans and geology data, convinced a group of investors as to the mine's viability and in May 1920 the New England mine was purchased by a new company called the Utah-Boston Development Company. The purchase was made largely after studying the testimony of the long drawn-out apex court battle between the adjacent Utah Apex and Utah Consolidated companies, suggesting that instead of the limitation of the New England ore veins as being set at a depth of 200 feet, as previously thought, these same veins likely extended downward to at least 1,500 feet, and possibly to 2,000 feet. The new company planned on extending a new shaft down 800 feet and using a hoist at a new surface plant, instead of continuing the use of the old Nast horizontal "adit" tunnel.

The following comes from The Mines Handbook, 1922, page 1596.

Utah-Boston Development Co.

Address: Robert M. Hampton, Tonopah, Nev. Henry M. Adkinson, mng. director, Walker Bros. Barik Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah.

Inc. 1920, in Maine. Cap. $500,000 ; par $1.

Property: 50 acres, includes the old Nast mine, in West Mtn. district, Salt Lake county, adjoining Utah Copper Co. on the S. W. Was formerly owned by the New England G. & C. Mng. Co .. now dead. A porphyritic rock is cut by 3 fissure veins of 30" average width, showing ores carrying 30% lead. 10% zinc. 15 oz. silver and $4.50 gold, with a small copper content.

Development: by 1,600' Nast and 1,670' Benton tunnels, and two shafts, with 6,000' total workings. Prior to 1907, property was a considerable producer, and on the active list up to 1912, when operations ceased. Working a few men, 1922.

Equipment: includes a steam plant with 2 hoists, and a concentrating plant.

Having only reached 550 feet of depth with the new shaft, in March 1922, the Utah-Boston company opened up the mine to leasers above its current 550 level. The ore taken in development work was not in sufficient quantities to justify full production. Hoping to hit larger quantities, the company began a new inclined shaft (known as a winze) down to the 750 level, with "drift" tunnels following along the course of the Nast vein, hoping to hit a larger vein of high quality ore.

The extensive plans of the Utah-Boston company went flat and in October 1923 the company was in the hands of a receiver, and on May 1, 1924, the entire mining property, including mining claims and buildings and improvements were sold to satisfy an unpaid mortgage.

Bingham Metals Organized

In a deal made in 1925, the United States Smelting Refining and Mining company agreed to extend its Niagara tunnel to connect with the Bingham Metals property, and that connection was completed in December 1926. This gave Bingham Metals two outlets for its ore, through the Armstrong portal in Carr Fork, or the Niagara portal in Copperfield. Both required almost two miles of underground haulage.

1926
"The Bingham Metals Co. worked the New England mine and shipped nearly 2,000 tons of first-class lead ore, as well as lead-zinc ore for concentration and separation at a custom flotation plant. More than 2,000 feet of development was done, mainly in crosscuts and drifts. During the year a connection was made with the Niagara tunnel level of the United States Smelting, Refining & Mining Co., which serves to drain the mine and reduce the cost of transportation; pumping of water and hauling of ore by wagons have thus been eliminated." (USGS 1926 Mineral Resources, page 502)

December 21, 1926
As early as August 1925, Bingham Metals had made an agreement with United States Smelting Refining and Mining to extend its Niagara tunnel into the Bingham Metals ground. This would be 1000 feet below the surface, and 300 feet below the present tunnel. Work to extend the mine's shaft down to the Niagara level was to be complete within six weeks. The Niagara was to be run to the "sideline" (property line) of the two properties, the U. S. company's mine, and the Bingham Metals mine. The Bingham Metals company would then finish a crosscut tunnel 400 feet to meet the Niagara tunnel, which was 220 feet below the lowest Bingham Metals tunnel. The connection was "holed-through" on December 21, 1926. The centerlines of the two tunnels was 10 feet off on the lateral, and 10 feet off on the vertical, with the Niagara tunnel being lower and therefore situated to successfully drain the Bingham Metals ground.

1927
"A considerably increased output of ore was mined from the New England property owned by the Bingham Metals Co. Most of the material was first-class silver-lead ore and siliceous gold ore; the remainder was lead-zinc ore that was treated by flotation at Midvale. The mine is opened by an inclined shaft and six levels, and in 1927 more than 2,400 feet of work was done in drifts, crosscuts, raises, and winzes. The ore is either hauled (underground) 1-1/2 miles to the railroad siding at the Utah-Apex mine [sic: Armstrong tunnel] or 2 miles through the Niagara tunnel to the ore bins of the United States Smelting, Refining & Mining Co. at Copperfield." (USGS 1927 Mineral Resources, page 666)

1928
"The output of ore from the New England property, owned by the Bingham Metals Co., increased slightly. Most of the material was first-class sulphide iron ore containing gold, silver, and copper ; the remainder was lead-zinc ore and silver-lead ore. The mine is opened by an inclined shaft and six levels ; in 1928 nearly 2,600 feet of work was done in drifts and crosscuts, and the inclined shaft was sunk an additional 100 feet to the 900-foot level. The ore is hauled (underground) 3 miles to the siding of the Bingham & Garfield Railroad (being the ore bins of the Armstrong tunnel). The company's report to the industrial commission gave 3,800 tons of ore, including both milling ore and first-class smelting ore." (USGS 1928 Mineral Resources, page 515)

1929
"The output of ore from the New England property, owned by the Bingham Metals Co., decreased from 3,800 tons in 1928 to 1,573 tons in 1929. Most of the material in 1929 was first-class sulphide lead ore; the remainder was lead-zinc ore and siliceous gold ore. The mine is opened by an inclined shaft and six levels; in 1929 more than 1,700 feet of work was done in drifts, crosscuts, and raises. The company's report to the industrial commission gave 1,573 tons of ore, including both milling ore and first-class smelting ore." (USGS 1929 Mineral Resources, page 623)

By the late 1920s Utah Copper was in need of additional dumping ground, and made an agreement with Bingham Metals company which owned a small plot (about 16 acres on the surface) in the Muddy Gulch branch of Carr Fork. The Bingham Metals ground was surrounded by Utah Copper on the southeast, the United States company on the south, the Utah Apex on the north, and the Utah Delaware on the northwest.

The agreement between Utah Copper and Bingham Metals, first proposed in March 1930, gave Utah Copper surface dumping rights and trackage rights on and across the 16 acres of Bingham Metals property. The agreement and settlement included a cash payment, with Utah Copper agreeing to extend its Armstrong tunnel to connect with the underground workings of the Bingham Metals company. In addition, Utah Copper agreed to move the Bingham Metals plant and buildings from the Nast tunnel (higher in Muddy Gulch), down to the mouth of the Armstrong tunnel, which was 650 feet lower than the Nast tunnel. These improvements for the Bingham Metals company included a modern change room and shop to be erected at the Armstrong tunnel portal.

1930
"The output of ore from the New England property owned by the Bingham Metals Co. was nearly the same as in 1929. The output in 1930 consisted of 1,545 tons of siliceous gold ore, first-class sulphide lead ore, and lead-zinc ore. The company's report to the industrial commission gave 1,545 tons of ore, including both milling ore and first-class smelting ore. The mine was formerly operated through the Nash inclined shaft and the Bingham Metals vertical shaft. During 1930 the Utah Copper Co., in exchange for certain dumping rights on the Bingham Metals ground, advanced the Armstrong tunnel to a point 4,400 feet from the portal where a connection was made with the 710-foot level of the shaft of the Bingham Metals Co. When the work was completed the New England mine was operated through the Armstrong tunnel, and the Nash inclined shaft was abandoned. The old shaft was deepened 190 feet to the 1,100-foot level; and most of the development during the year, consisting of 672 feet of drifts and crosscuts and 136 feet of raises and winzes in addition to the shaft sinking, was done on the new level." (USGS 1930 Mineral Resources, page 596)

February 1, 1931
"The Armstrong tunnel is now connected with the Bingham Metals shaft, now put up from the 900 to the 700 level. The distance from the portal of the Armstrong tunnel to new 700 station is 4400 feet. It is planned to carry on all operations from the tunnel portal and the Utah Copper is now moving the Bingham Metals hoist from the Nast incline shaft to the collar of the vertical shaft on the 710, or Armstrong tunnel level. It is expected that the camp will be moved to the center of new operations by March 1." (Salt Lake Tribune, February 1, 1931)

May 19, 1936
"The United States Smelting, Refining and Mining company has taken a 10-year lease on the Bingham Metals company property at Bingham, it was learned Tuesday, subject to ratification by stockholders of Bingham Metals company. The Bingham Metals property consists of eight patented claims containing 25 acres, adjoining the smelting company's Bingham holdings on the west. The lowest level in the Bingham Metals property is the 1100, at an elevation of 6412 feet, whereas the smelting company is mining in the adjoining Niagara at an elevation of 4080 feet. The smelting company will develop the Bingham Metals property at depth by extending drifts from the Niagara shaft and also by extending the Bingham Metals shaft. Bingham Metals company will receive 50 per cent of the net profits from all ore produced, after costs of mining and operating." (Salt Lake Telegram, May 19, 1936)

November 12, 1947
United States Smelting Refining and Mining sued Bingham Metals to foreclose on the mortgage held by the Bingham Metals company from the U. S. company. (Ogden Standard Examiner, November 13, 1947, "yesterday")

July 19, 1948
USSR&M bought the property and assets of Bingham Metals Company at a court-ordered sale, on the steps of the Salt Lake city and county building. USSR&M bid the amount of the judgment against the Bingham Metals company ($18,000), and gave the Bingham Metals company six months to raise the funds to satisfy the mortgage. (Salt Lake Telegram, July 20, 1948)

February 3, 1949
The sale of stock in Bingham Metals Company was suspended after the assessment failed to cover the mortgage from USSR&M. The judgment to collect the mortgage had been for $18,000, but the Bingham Metals company had offered only $10,000. (Provo Daily Herald, February 3, 1949, "today")

(This date in February 1949 was apparently when USSR&M took full possession of the Bingham Metals property.)

Sources

Online newspaper accounts

An internal history of Utah Copper, completed in 1939

T. P. Billings papers

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