Fortuna Mining Co.

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This page last updated on May 14, 2025.

Overview

The Fortuna mine and mill were located at the top of Keystone Gulch, about one-half mile north of the Dalton & Lark mine, which was at the top of Copper Gulch. Both on the east side of the Oquirrh range, on the side facing the Salt Lake Valley.

(Using a USGS topographic map, the top of Keystone Gulch was approximately in the center of Section 25, T3S, R3W, approximately 1-1/4 mile southeast of the D&RGW depot in Bingham, which was adjacent to the portal of the Montana-Bingham tunnel.)

(Also, the Fortuna mine and mill were approximately 1-1/4 mile due west of the portal of the Mascotte tunnel in Lark.)

The following summary of the Fortuna Mill comes from Eva Hoffman's EPA report of 2005:

The Fortuna Mill was located on Keystone Gulch, west of Lark. The mill operated from 1900 to 1906, and again from 1916 to 1917.

The 1909 publication of the Bingham Commercial Club indicates that the Fortuna Mining Company owned claims between Ohio Copper and Utah Copper and had a 100 ton mill at the mine site. The mill was originally a lead mill and later may have extracted gold, silver and copper.

Boutwell, in 1905, reported that the Fortuna Mine, located in the middle portion of Keystone Gulch 6300 feet East-Southeast of the mouth of Carr Fork.

Billings, in 1952, reported that the Fortuna Mining Company was controlled by Simon Bamberger, a governor of Utah. About 1916, George Eccles, an Ogden industrialist, obtained an option on the property. A mill of about 100 tons capacity was constructed on the north slope of Keystone Gulch near the portal of the tunnel. The mill was constructed of wood covered with corrugated iron and "was equipped almost entirely of old second hand machinery except for the Wall corrugated rolls. The water for the mill was pumped from the Montana-Bingham tunnel through a four-inch pipe. The milling ore was not enough to justify mill construction, so the option on the property was turned over to the Montana-Bingham Company." (Oquirrh Mountains Mining and the Environment by Eva J. Hoffman, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Denver, April 21, 2005, page 126)

Timeline

(There was an earlier Fortuna Mining & Milling Co. in the Prescott Mining District in Arizona, circa 1893. The town was later referred to as Fortuna, Arizona.)

(There was a Fortuna Mining and Milling company incorporated on September 6, 1895, with incorporators and directors who were residents of Salt Lake City, but the mining claims was located in "Lower California, Mexico." It was later referred to as "La Fortuna," and still later as the Fortuna Gold Mining company. It was covered in the national press becsuse it was paying high profits. It changed its name to the Fortuna Milling Co. in November 1898.)

November 30, 1896
"The Fortune Mining & Milling company filed articles of incorporation in the County Clerk's office yesterday. The incorporators are Elmer Hall (sic: Hill), George Goss, R. Mackintosh, Fritz Miller and C. F. Loofbourow. The officers are Elmer Hall, president; C. F. Loofbourow, vice president; and George Goss , treasurer. The company owns the following property near Bingham in the West Mountain Mining District: The Contention and Fortune locations, inclusive of a tunnel on the Contention ground, together with the right acquired from the dalton & Lark company to extend the tunnel through the keystone, Freedom and Blaine locations. Also a lease of the Fredonia, Keystone and Blaine locations, which expires on February 24, 1898, together with certain personal property, tools and buildings situated upon the claims." (Salt Lake Tribune, December 1, 1896)

(In September 1899, Elmer Hill quit-claimed the deed to the patented Keystone lode to the Fortune Mining and Milling Co.)

1900
"The Fortune mill was running at intervals during the summer of 1900 on ores from the mines of that company." ("Economic Geology of the Bingham Mining District, Utah", USGS Professional Paper 38, 1905, page 95)

1901
"The old Fortune mine has been reopened as the Fortuna and is now being further developed." ("Economic Geology of the Bingham Mining District, Utah", USGS Professional Paper 38, 1905, page 383)

Development of the Fortune mine was through a system of tunnels which had been driven southeastward on the lower contact of what was known as the Fortune sill. The main tunnels (from lowest to highest, which is also the order of length, longest to shortest) are Contention, Keystone, Freedom, and Fortune.

June 8, 1901
Simon Bamberger sued to forclose on the Fortune Mining & Milling company for its unpaid $30,000 mortgage. (Salt Lake Tribune, June 8, 1901)

July 17, 1901
The property of the Fortune Mining & Milling company was sold at a Sheriff's sale on the steps of the Salt Lake County courthouse. The sale was the result of a suit initially filed on April 11, 1900 for non-payment of an installment the Fortune company failed to make on the $6000 purchase of an adjacent mining claim, known as the Evergreen claim. The case was worked its way through the legal system, with other claimants joining in for payment due on their separate but adjoining claims, as well as the Salt Lake Harware company for unpaid bills. There were also several claims for unpaid wages. Simon Bamberger became involved because he held the original $30,000 mortgage. Simon Bamberger purchased the property for $34,643 being the amount of the mortgage plus interest. The property consisted of six mining claims and a mill site. (Salt Lake Herald, July 16, 1901; Salt Lake Tribune, July 18, 1901; plus other newspaper items from the interim period)

(The two adjacent mining claims, the Evergreen and the Ruslers, were sold at a separate sheriff's sale on October 21, 1901)

1902
"Fortuna Mining & Milling Co. -- Mine office: Bingham Canyon, Salt Lake Co., Utah. Elmer Hill, superintendent. Has copper-gold-silver-lead ores, developed by shaft and tunnel. Is equipped with steam and electric power and has a 50-ton concentrator; employed about 50 men at last accounts." (The Copper Handbook, 1902, page 303)

January 24, 1902
The deed to certain property of the Fortune Mining and Milling company was transferred to Simon Bamberger as the result of his suit on June 8, 1901. The property consisted of the Contention, Keystone, Keystone No. 2, Blaine, Freedom and Fortune claims, the Contention tunnel, and the mill with improvements. The other property including certain real estate in Salt Lake City, was sold to other parties. (Salt Lake Herald, January 24, 1902)

(On July 9, 1902, the judge in the case denied several minor claims against the Fortune Mining and Milling company, including Elmer Hill's charge of $2,160 for guarding the mill during the period of litigation.)

(The Fortune mine was under the ownership of Simon Bamberger but idle throughout 1902 and 1903. During this time, Bamberger and his associates organized the Fortuna Mining company as a replacement of the previous Fortune Mining and MIlling company.)

March 11, 1904
The Fortuna Mining Company was incorporated in Utah, and articles of incorporation filed in Salt Lake County. Sidney Bamberger was assistant manager. Sidney Bamberger was one of Simon Bamberger's sons. (Salt Lake Tribune, March 12, 1904, "yesterday"; October 1, 1904)

(Read more about Simon Bamberger)

March 13, 1904
The Fortuna Mining company had just signed a contract to furnish 3,000 tons of copper-bearing ore monthly to the Bingham Consolidated smelter. The company was managed by Ernest Bamberger, who was also the manager of the Daly West mine in Park City. The Fortune group was comprised of the Enoch, Weazel, Anne Kempton, Superior, Portland, Paris Stake & Wanty, Keystone, Freedom, Fortune, Blaine, Calavarus, Contention, and Winnebago mining claims, encompassing 200 acres, embracing properties previously held by Elmer Hill, Davis and Mullet, and John Schneider, as well as Bamberger Exploration company. (Salt Lake Tribune, March 13, 1904)

(Note that the Keystone, Freedom, Fortune, Blaine, and Contention claims were originally held by the defunct Fortune Mining and MIlling company.)

April 17, 1904
The Fortuna Mining company was shipping 50 tons of ore per day to the Bingham Consolidated smelter in Midvale, with a goal of 3,000 tons per month [equal to 100 tons per day] as soon as facilities could be arranged(Salt Lake Tribune, April 17, 1904)

March 20, 1906
The Fortuna Mining company made final payment on the patented mining claims known as the Yukon, and the Abe Lincoln, comprising 40 acres. (Salt Lake Telegram, March 20, 1906)

October 15, 1906
The Fortuna mine was having an air compressor installed 2500 feet underground. This underground installation would prevent the reduced power of hot compressed being piped from the surface, and increase the drilling pacacity of the mine workings. (Salt Lake Mining Review, October 15, 1906)

January 29, 1907
Simon Bamberger, as president of the Fortuna Mining company, was in the planning stages of the company building its own 500-tons per day smelter. Bamberger was reported as saying, "Fifty per rent of our mining profits go to the smelters and the railroads. To offset this I have derided to complete a plan I have had in mind for years. This will insure our freedom from the treatment we have received from the smelting combine in Utah. Between the penalties and excessive charges we have always operated at a disadvantage. The time is now ripe for the change contemplated." (Salt Lake Herald, January 29, 1907)

(The Fortuna was closed in 1907 after Sidney Bamberger became too ill to tend to the daily affairs of his business interests, which included the Salt Lake & Ogden Railroad, as well as the Fortuna mine at Bingham.)

April 7, 1907
"Manager Sidney Bamberger stated yesterday that he had placed an order for a fifty-horsepower electrical hoist for the Fortuna company, and that with this equipment the management will drop the main shaft to the 1000 level without delay." (Salt Lake Tribune, April 7, 1907)

June 15, 1907
"Report coming from the Bingham-Mary and Fortuna mines in Bingham, over which Mr. Bamberger also presides as manager, are of a most gratifying character. Development of the ore body encountered on the 300-foot level sometime ago, is progressing with favorable results, while the vein as far as explored does not exceed 18 inches in width, the chances are that it will lead to something better. This is the vein from which the initial shipment of ore was made recently and carries copper values of about 12 per cent. While the shaft is being pushed on to the deep, a force of men is engaged in drifting on ore on the 500 level. A fissure is being followed, which Mr. Bamberger is sanguine will lead the way to open on that level, the vein exposed on the 300. A car of sulphide ore is being shipped from the Fortuna mine dally. Arrangements were made with the management of the Bingham Consolidated Mining & Smelting company recently for the use of the tramway belonging to that company, so the Fortuna company has been spared the expense of installing its own tramway equipment as had been planned." (Deseret News, June 15, 1907)

September 25, 1907
"Manager Sidney M. Bamberger of the Fortuna Mining company has expressed himself as being well pleased with the progress being made with development in Bingham. The new double compartment shaft is down about 100 feet and exposed in the bottom is a mass of copper impregnated porphyry characteristic of some of the other big mines in the district. The Fortuna is very favorably situated in he district and is rapidly developing into one of the big mines of the camp. Mr. Bamberger says about 50 tons of sulphide ores are being sent to market daily at present time." (Deseret News, September 25, 1907)

1908
"Fortuna Mining Co. -- Office: care of George F. Richards, Jr., secretary and treasurer, Salt Lake City, Utah. Mine office: Lark, Salt Lake Co., Utah. Employs 45 men. Simon Bamberger, president; Sidney M. Bamberger, general manager; W. H. Rossberg, superintendent. Organized March 10, 1904, with capitalization $300,000. Lands, circa 200 acres, adjoining the Ohio Copper Co., showing considerable development. A blind shaft, starting from a tunnel, is planned to be deepened, on the vein. Property is said to show a 4' vein averaging 35% lead, 8 oz. silver and 0.08 oz. gold per ton, also a 7' vein averaging about 15% copper, but these estimates are too high. Has a gasoline hoist and an old mill, which it is planned to equip with new concentrating tables. Property considered promising." (The Copper Handbook, 1908, page 691)

1908
"Fortuna Mining & Milling Co. -- Mine office: Bingham Canyon, Salt Lake Co., Utah. Property was under lease to the Bingham Consolidated Mining & Smelting Co., and was operated by that corporation, hence presumably will be taken over by its successor, the Bingham Mines Co. The mine has silver-lead ores in the upper workings, with argentiferous and auriferous copper sulphides at depth, latter giving average assays of about 3.5% copper, 8 to 10 oz. Silver and $1.50 gold per ton. Mine carries a little native copper also. Equipment includes electric power and a 100-ton concentrator. About 40 men are employed, when working." (The Copper Handbook, 1908, page 691)

October 7, 1908
The Fortuna announced that the company would try "the leasing system" of mine management, meaning that to reduce costs, portions of the mine would be leased to private persons in return for a percentage of the returns of ore that is shipped. The mine was still controlled by Simon Bamberger. (The Philadelphia Enquirer, October 7, 1908)

1909
"The Fortuna Mining Company owns a group of claims, adjoining the Utah Copper and Ohio Copper properties, comprising an area of about 195 acres. The officers of the company are Simon Bamberger, president; Sidney Bamberger, manager; J. B. Bean, secretary, and James Start, mine superintendent. The ore in the mine is a sulphide, a considerable body of which is already blocked. This ore is of the same character as that which has made the Ohio and Utah Copper big propositions. The company has about four miles of underground workings, including two shafts which at present are being sunk below the 800 foot level. The equipment includes a 100-ton mill, an electric hoist and compressor and a gasoline hoist in use in the Mayflower shaft on the 800-foot level. Considerable ore has already been shipped from this property." (1909 Souvenir Book Of Bingham)

1911
"Fortuna Mining Co. -- Office: 161 South Main St., Salt Lake City, Utah. Mine office: Bingham Canyon, Salt Lake Co., Utah. Simon Bamberger, president; J. B. Bean, secretary; Sidney M. Bamberger, general manager; Jas. Start, superintendent. Organized March 10, 1904, under laws of Utah, with capitalization $300,000, shares $1 par, nonassessable; fully issued. Lands, 23 claims, mainly fractional, area 175 acres, adjoining the Ohio, in Keystone Gulch. Property shows monzonite-porphyry, quartzite and limestone, with a series of 4 nearly parallel veins following the strike and dip of the quartzite bedding, occasionally cutting across, and with some fracturing and crushing. The veins, of 2' to 5' width, carry films and veinlets of native copper, with occasional chalcocite. The mine carries silver-lead ores in the upper workings, with argentiferous and auriferous copper sulphides at depth, giving good assays. Mine has shafts of 150', 300', 200' and 1,100'; 2 crosscut tunnels of 400' each, and drift-tunnels of 1,700', 4,200', 1,900', 900' and 400', with circa 16,000' of workings. Mine was opened 1875 and closed 1908. Equipment includes electric power, with 2 hoists, good for 1,500' depth, and an air-compressor. The 50-ton mill was sold, 1910, to the Little Bell, and removed to Park City. Idle." (The Copper Handbook, 1911, page 820)

(Sidney M. Bamberger died in the Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore on May 9, 1911. He had traveled to Baltimore for a third operation to remove a brain tumor. He was born on February 18, 1883, and was only 28 years old when he died.)

June 1916
The leasing bond on the Fortuna mine, held by Eccles' Fortuna Mine Leasing Company, was turned over to the Montana-Bingham Consolidated Mining Company in June 1916. (The Mines Handbook, Volume 13, 1920, page 1361)

June 3, 1916
"The control of the Fortuna Mining company's property, located in the Bingham district and held heretofore by Simon Bamberger and associates, has been taken over by LeRoy Eccles of Ogden and a number of Salt Lake and Ogden mining men. The purchase price is understood to be $250,000, the first payment has been made, the property has been examined by engineers and future payments arranged for at various times that extend well into the future. The property adjoins the Dalton & Lark group of the Bingham Mines company, the Ohio Copper and the Congor ground, controlled by Bothwell & McConaughy. There are in the neighborhood of 12,000 feet of workings in the 150 acres of patented ground. The Keystone tunnel, which is along the Fortuna or Portland vein, runs for 1000 feet. Besides this, there are two other tunnels of approximately 2000 feet each and the Mayflower tunnel of almost 3000 feet, which is driven to crosscut the formation. The other tunnels run with the formation. There are nineteen claims and fractions in the group." The mine had been closed down since the death of Sidney Bamberger in 1911. (Salt Lake Tribune, June 3, 1916; Salt Lake Mining Review, June 15, 1916)

June 22, 1916
"The [Fortuna] property has been owned by Simon Bamberger and associates of Salt Lake. It was developed by Sidney Bamberger, but has been idle since his death several years ago." (Ogden Examiner, June 22, 1916)

April 18, 1917
James Higgins and his associates from Butte made the first payment of $25,000 "yesterday" on their $300,000 purchase of the Fortuna mine from the Bambergers. (Salt Lake Herald, April 19, 1917)

(The second $25,000 payment was made on May 5, 1917. Ore was being shipped, with only 400 tons being shipped in April due to bad roads. The mine was capable of shipping 1000 tons per month. -- Salt Lake Herald, May 6, 1917)

June 1, 1917
The Montana-Bingham exercised its option to purchase the Fortuna mine group from Simon Bamberger, and had recently purchased the Tiewaukee and Valentine claims, along with a large interest in the Bingham Amalgamated. The new "consolidation" would encompass 640 acres, and included several thousand feet of development work in both the Valentine and the Tiewaukee. The Valentine had been active in the 1870s, and again in 1904, having shipped large amounts of good ore since then. The financing had come from investors in California and Honolulu. The Montana-Bingham drain and haulage tunnel was 5,000 feet long, and another 250 feet, and a raise of 1200 feet would take it under the Fortuna ground, reducing the cost of transportation from $7 per ton (by wagon), to just $1 per ton by the Montana-Bingham tunnel, which was "but a few feet from the Rio Grande railway tracks." To pay as the new shaft progresses, the 1200-foot raise (vertical shaft) would be sunk down from the Fortuna, through the ore vein. (Salt Lake Tribune, June 1, 1917)

June 1, 1917
"The Fortuna was held on a lease and bond for $250,000 by J. M. Higgins. This was yesterday turned over to te Montana-Bingham and a substantial payment was made on the purchase price to Governor Bamberger. (Deseret News, June 1, 1917)

(Simon Bamberger was elected as governor of Utah in 1916, and took office on January 1, 1917. He was governor for a single four-year term, until 1921.)

(The option was exercised and the final payment was made on June 20, 1920. Between June 1917 and June 1920, the Fortuna was under lease to the Montana-Bingham.)

1918
"Fortuna Mining & Milling Co. Office: Bamberger R. R. Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah. Mine office: P. O. Box 123, Bingham Canyon. Salt Lake Co., Utah. Simon Bamberger, pres.; J. B. Bean, sec.; E. A. Vail, engr. Inc. March 10, 1904, in Utah. Cap., $300,000; shares $1 par; non-assessable; fully issued. Property: 23 claims, mainly fractional, 170 acres, adjoining the Congor in Keystone gulch. Mine was opened 1875 and closed 1908. The property is now operated under bond and lease by the Montana-Bingham Cons. Mining Co. and is described under that title. The property has apex rights to six important bedded veins, of which the Mayflower and Fortuna are the. most important. Production: 1905-1907, under Wm. N. Rossberg, 16,000 tons copper-iron ore; also 4,000 tons lead ore. The panic of 1907 closed the mine until June, 1916. The bond is held by the Fortuna Mine Leasing Co., who gave option on a 75% interest to M. B. Cons. M. Co." (The Mines Handbook, Volume 13, 1920, page 1360)

August 6, 1919
Montana-Bingham bought the Fortuna property for a reported $277,778, plus another $10,000 to Higgins and Eccles, and 100,000 shares of Montana-Bingham stock for their interest in the Fortuna Mine Leasing company. (Salt Lake Herald Republican, August 6, 1919, annual report)

(The story continues with the Montana-Bingham Consolidated Mining Company.)

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