Tintic, After 1980

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This page was last updated on October 12, 2025.

Overview

After the Kennecott era had ended in 1980, Chief Consolidated Mining Corp. had tried various methods of leases and joint ventures to obtain funding that would allow mining to resume from its properties east of Eureka. There were proposals to re-start mining at the Burgin and Trixie mines, along with the concentrator built by Kennecott during the 1969-1978 lease of the property. In March 2008, it looked like some progress was being made when Andover Mining Corp. acquired 65 percent of Chief Consolidated, with the main asset being 16,000 acres of land near Eureka, Utah. Chief Consolidated had been working to develop the Burgin Mine (silver, plus lead and zinc) and the Trixie Mine (gold, silver, and copper). There were multiple feasibility studies, and each indicated high initial costs and varying degrees of success, depending on the changing prices of metals. The costs of its proposals and studies in hopes of a resumption of mining, were a severe drain on Andover's assets. In August 2013, Andover declared bankruptcy, and in February 2014, the company's attempt to reorganize failed and it was ordered to liquidate its assets.

The following description of the East Tintic district comes from USGS Profession Paper 1024, published in 1979.

Prospecting was first undertaken in East Tintic in 1870; although small quantities of ore were produced in 1899 and from 1909 to 1913, the district first achieved prominence in 1916 with the discovery of the totally concealed Central ore body of the Tintic Standard mine. Within a few years of this discovery, the Tintic Standard became one of the most productive silver mines in the world. Additional discoveries of important concealed ore deposits have continued to be made in the district, including the North Lily mine in 1927, the Eureka Lilly and Eureka Standard mines in 1928, the Burgin mine in 1958, and the Trixie mine in 1969.

To December 31, 1975, the East Tintic mining district has yielded approximately 4.83 million short tons (4.38 million tonnes) of silver, gold, and base-metal ores, largely from concealed deposits overlain by many hundreds of feet of barren rocks. These ores have a gross valuation of approximately $231 million. The district first achieved prominence in 1916 with the discovery of the ore bodies of the Tintic Standard mine, which for a time was the world's richest silver producer (Lindgren, 1933, p. 588). By 1946 this deposit and a number of other deposits discovered and developed nearby had been exhausted, and the district became dormant.

A dramatic revival of, mining activities in the East Tintic district began in 1956 after the discovery and subsequent development of the concealed Burgin ore bodies in an area 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of the Tintic Standard that previously had been only superficially prospected. As in the earlier history of the district, the Burgin development has led to the discovery of other concealed deposits, focusing international attention on the revitalization of a nearly abandoned mining district by the application of geologic and geochemical techniques.

After Bear Creek (Kennecott), circa 1980

July 24, 1981
From the Eureka Reporter, July 21, 1981

Currently the following companies have active exploration programs underway in the Tintic and East Tintic District Utah: ASARCO, Anaconda Copper Mines, Sunshine Mining Company, U.S. Energy Company, and Bear Creek Mining Company. A brief summary of this activity is as follows:

ASARCO

ASARCO has leased the underground mining rights to approximately 6,000 acres of Chief Consolidated Mining Company's properties in the Main Tintic District. ASARCO has been evaluating the property since the spring of 1980. In September 1980, ASARCO informed Chief that it plans to initiate renovation work on the Chief No. 2 Shaft in preparation for an underground drilling program, if workings in the Chief Mines are in sufficient condition to carry out such a project. ASARCO has hired Centennial Development Company to do the work on the No. 2 shaft. An attempt was made to enter the workings in early 1981. Ice in the No. 2 Shaft drove them out. Currently Centennial is installing a temporary hoist and electrical system at the collar of the No. 2 Shaft and plans to enter the workings on June 29, 1981.

Anaconda Copper Mines

The Anaconda Company currently has two geologists working on a surface mapping and sampling project. Anaconda owns about 20,000 acres of surface and mining rights in the District. In 1978 Anaconda completed a modest surface drilling project in the area of their North Lilly Mine property. Anaconda will probably only complete field work this season. Their goal is to define specific drill targets for precious metals. Anaconda is considering construction of a leach plant near the old Silver City mill.

Sunshine Mining Company

In June 1980, Sunshine acquired an option to lease the underground mining right to the Burgin Mine area from Chief Consolidated Mining Company. Sunshine began aggressively evaluating the ground and a surface drilling program was underway in July 1980. The lease involves 1,387 acres for a 50-year period. In early 1981 Sunshine started reconditioning the Apex No. 2 Shaft for re-entry into the mine. In March 1981, Sunshine announced a letter of intent to joint venture further exploration and development of the Burgin area with Metallgesellschaft Corp. of Germany. Under the 50-50 venture, Sunshine would continue as operating partner. This joint venture will provide the necessary capital for Sunshine to complete the project.

U.S. Energy Company

The U. S. Energy Company from Riverton, Wyoming, leases about 60 acres of patented mining claims from the Crown Point and East Crown Point Mining Companies in the East Tintic District. U. S. Energy has completed modest amounts of underground drifting and drilling and some surface drilling on the property for several years. Currently, U. S. Energy is installing a hoist they moved from Crested Butte on the Roundy Shaft on the East Crown Point property.

Bear Creek Mining Company (Kennecott Minerals Company)

Bear Creek is currently doing exploration work on the Weir Property. Bear Creek currently has a drilling program underway in the Trixie Mine and on the Homansville Fault area. Kennecott Minerals Company, Tintic Division, has a current employment of approximately 140 employees. The division is mining flux ore from the Trixie Mine.

Sunshine Mining Company, Burgin (1982-1992)

In November 1982, Chief Consolidated leased the Burgin mine to the Sunshine Mining Co., which centered on the nearby historic Apex No. 2 shaft. Operations began in November 1982 with Sunshine selling ores to Kennecott as smelter flux for its large smelter at Garfield on the south shore of Great Salt Lake. A heap-leach gold mine was also opened at Burgin, but the entire mine was closed again in 1985.

Sunshine ended its lease of the Burgin mine in 1992, and in 1996 Chief Consolidated sold 25 percent interest in the Burgin mine to Tintic Utah Metals, a jointly held subsidiary of Chief Consolidated Mining Co., and Korea Zinc Company (Young Poong Corporation). As of 2008, the Burgin mine remained closed because it was still flooded.

Akiko Gold Resources, Burgin (1994)

June 23, 1994
"Chief Consolidated Mining Company, owner of the Burgin Mine, and Akiko Gold Resources Ltd. of Canada are entering into a joint venture to reopen the Burgin Mine. The mine closed in 1986. Plans call for Akiko to purchase 1,035,000 shares of Chief Consolidated's common stock at $4.00 per share. The Canadian company will be the operator for the development and mining of the Burgin Mine. The two companies will begin a $2.5 million program this fall. Actual production will begin in 1996. The mine is located in the Tintic Mountains near the Tintic Standard mine, which was once the world's largest silver producer. Akiko geologists describe the ore deposit as being contained in a "six hundred to 800 foot, amoeba-shaped underground deposit." The ore is considered to be of fairly high-grade quality." (Provo Daily Herald, June 23, 1994)

Tintic Utah LLC, Burgin (1996-2010)

Tintic Utah LLC was organized in 1996 as a Colorado LLC as a joint venture for the development of Chief Consolidated properties. Chief holds a 75 percent interest and Korea Zinc Co. Ltd. holds 25 percent interest.

Ownership of the Burgin Mine passed to Tintic Utah LLC.

The Burgin Mine had previously been leased by Chief Consolidated to Kennecott Corporation. It developed various mining shafts and other capital improvements previously on the properties, including underground access by means of the Apex Number 2 Shaft. After the Burgin Mine was removed from the Unit Lease in 1978, Chief leased the Burgin Mine to the Sunshine Mining Company in 1980. Sunshine rehabilitated the Apex Shaft, together with the connecting drifts and drill stations, at a cost of approximately $6 million. The Burgin Mine was returned to Chief in 1992.

The Burgin Mine is not currently in production. Chief cannot proceed with production at the mine unless it can dewater the mine.

Tintic Utah also holds the rights to the concentrating mill, built by Kennecott when it was mining from the Burgin Mine under its lease.

The concentrating mill, approximately 24,000 square feet in size, was built to process up to 1,200 tons of lead and zinc ore per day. Tintic Utah rehabilitated the mill over a several year period to include a precious metals (gold and silver) flow sheet. The total cost of the renovation was approximately $1.9 million.

Trixie Mine (1969-1992)

(The Trixie mine is located in the East Tintic district, in the vicinity of the former Apex Standard and South Standard mines.)

The Trixie shaft extends to a depth of about 1,300 feet and was active from 1969 to 1992. Operators initially were Kennecott Mining Company (1962-1980), followed for the last nine years by Sunshine Mining Company (1983-1992).

In 1996, Chief Consolidated, through a new subsidiary called Chief Gold, purchased the Trixie mine and the 2200 acres it was located on, from South Standard Mining Co. In 2001, Chief Consolidated resumed mining operations in the Trixie mine, processing the ore at its nearby Burgin mill. During early 2002 operations in the Trixie mine were stopped due to unsafe conditions.

As of late 2000, Tintic Utah Metals continued to process the dumps from the Trixie mine in its refurbished Burgin mill. The mill had been refurbished over a multi-year time period at a cost of $1.9 million to include the processing of gold and silver, in addition to its original lead and zinc capabilities.

Mining from the Trixie commenced in January 2002; there had been some development ore produced and stockpiled during 2001.

On March 28, 2002 a serious cave-in at the 610 Stope, put an end to the mining. Records exist up until the end of February 2002 for the mine production. No records have been found for operations in March 2002 and later.

The Trixie Mine was a fully permitted and bonded gold mine. During its last quarter of production in February 2002, the Trixie Mine processed 7,808 tons of ore and produced some 4,460 ounces of gold representing over $500 per ton of rock. The total mining and milling cost at that time was reported as $89 per ton of processed ore.

During its life the Trixie produced a reported 713,478 tons of ore, which was directly shipped (without concentration) to the Kennecott smelter in Garfield, Utah as smelter flux. Metals produced were 150,048 ounces of gold and 4,670,289 ounces of silver. This ore was contained in the vertical interval from 750 feet down to 1300 feet.

Sunshine Mining Co., Trixie (1983-1992)

The area where the Burgin and Trixie mines, on land owned by the Chief Consolidated Mining Company, as one of the four owners of a larger lease unit leased to Kennecott and operated by them as the Kennecott Tintic Division. Kennecott gave up its lease in 1980, and in 1982, the Chief company leased its portion to Sunshine Mining Company.

Chief Gold, Trixie (1996-2002)

1996
Chief Gold company, a 100 percent owned subsidiary of Chief Consolidated, was formed with the merger of the Chief Consolidated company with the South Standard Mining company. As a result of the merger in 1996, Chief Gold owns 2,200 acres of patented mining properties located in the East Tintic District of Utah, including the Trixie Mine.

Chief Gold began mining ore from the Trixie Mine in 2001, and began processing ore at the concentrating mill in January 2002. In March 2002, Chief encountered unstable mining conditions in the Trixie Mine and suspended mining and processing operations. Due to past safety conditions at the Trixie Mine, Chief is not currently operating the mine.

EPA Settlement (2001-2010)

During 2001, the EPA placed Eureka Mills Superfund Site on the 'National Priorities List'. According to the EPA, samples indicate that, approximately 150 acres of soil in the Town of Eureka, Utah, the location of Chief's principal executive offices and operations, were contaminated with lead and, to a lesser extent, arsenic.

In February 2005, Chief agreed to a judgment and Consent Decree against it by the EPA in the amount of $60 million which will remain in effect until it has complied with all the requirements thereof. However, as explained below, such judgment will be satisfied by Chief complying with its material obligations under the Decree, namely:

- providing an annual report to the EPA each year for five years listing all insurance claims, the actions it is taking to recover the amounts and any recovery obtained until all such claims are exhausted;

- using its best efforts to sell its property, other than any geologically prospective properties and the Burgin and Trixie Mines, and upon the sale of any such property, paying to the EPA 100% of the net sales proceeds up to $350,000 and 50% thereafter;

- paying the EPA 15% of Chief's net income in excess of $2 million during any calendar year until February 2010; and

- paying the EPA 15% of any proceeds in excess of $2 million from a sale of Chief or all or substantially all of its assets.

The agreement and consent decree was modified in May 2010 to allow Chief Consolidated to pay its settlement fees in five annual payments of $225,000. The original consent decree required that Chief Consolidated pay $60 million in damages and cleanup. But by 2010, with Andover as its controlling company, the mining company had requested a re-negotiation due to the financial condition of the company.

Recent Developments, Burgin and Trixie (2010-2025)

With the original Burgin mine still suffering from high water problems, there has been much exploration of adjacent ore bodies. The following updates include efforts to develop what is known as the Burgin Extension mine, which is separate and not connected with the old Burgin mine. The Burgin Extension mine was planned to extract ore by way of a new production shaft, as well as rehabilitating the historic Apex No. 2 shaft, which dates from the original exploration work by the Apex Standard company in the 1920s.

The region surrounding the Burgin and Trixie mines have laid dormant since 1978 and 2002, respectively. During 2007, the Chief Consolidated company completely rewrote the mining and reclamation plans to support the needed permits to dewater the mines and begin production. Protests, negotiations and changes to the plans delayed the permits until early 2008 when Andover became involved.

In March 2008, Canadian investor Andover Ventures acquired 65 percent of Chief Consolidated from Genco Resources for about $5 million. The chief asset of Chief Consolidated Mining was 16,000 acres of land near Eureka, Utah, that the company hoped would yield valuable minerals. The company has been working to develop the Burgin Mine (silver, plus lead and zinc) and the Trixie Mine (gold, silver, and copper). Environmental cleanup obligations associated with earlier mining operations on the property have delayed the company's progress.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Mar 14, 2008 -- Genco Resources Ltd., announced today it has made a strategic investment in the ownership of two formerly producing silver-gold mines, Burgin Mine and Trixie Mine, and a concentrator plant, in Utah owned by Chief Consolidated Mining Company.

Genco's acquisition was made through the purchase of approximately 65% of the outstanding shares of Chief, a US publicly traded company based in Eureka, Utah incorporated in 1909, from Chief's largest shareholder, Dimeling, Schreiber & Park Reorganization Fund II, L.P. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a purchase price of approximately USD ($) 4.9 million.

Genco has entered into negotiations with Andover for the sale of all or part of its investment in Chief and its assets. Any agreement will be reached through the negotiations of independent board committees. It is contemplated that the transaction will involve the issuance of shares of Andover and a silver production royalty over all of Andover's properties, including its Sun polymetallic property in Alaska, with Genco having back-in rights and rights of first refusal over the properties and a preemptive right to maintain its pro-rata share ownership.

In its filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Chief disclosed the following. Chief owns or controls approximately 16,000 acres of mining land in Utah and Juab counties in Utah. These properties include:

The Burgin Mine, held by Chief's 75% owned subsidiary Tintic Utah Metals, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company
The Trixie Mine, held by Chief's 100% owned subsidiary Chief Gold Mines, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Of these 16,000 acres, approximately 6,000 acres are subject to being sold, as discussed below, pursuant to a Consent Decree with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Neither mine is currently in production.

In September 2008, in a development separate from the Andover interest mentioned above, Chief Consolidated and the U.S. subsidiary of Anglo American formed a joint venture to develop the porphyry copper, gold, and molybdenum property in the immediate vicinity of the old Trixie, Burgin, Iron King and Eureka Standard properties. The joint venture was 55% Chief ownership, and 45% Anglo American. Included in the deal was the sale of Korea Zinc's 25 percent interest in the Burgin mine to the Chief company. (Reuters, September 10, 2008)

In late May 2009, Anglo American withdrew its interest in the Big Hill joint venture, and in August 2010, Rio Tinto's Kennecott Exploration subsidiary took up the same 45% interest in the Big Hill project. Exploratory drilling commenced in August 2011.

October 2012
From NASDAQ, October 22, 2012:

Andover Mining Corporation announced today that Chief Consolidated Mining Company, approximately 83.5% owned by Andover, has agreed in principle to enter into an Earn-In and Joint Venture Agreement with the Enirgi Group Corporation to develop, permit and mine the Burgin Mine Complex deposits (a Silver-Lead-Zinc rich massive sulfide system) located on a part of Chief's land holdings in the East Tintic Mining District, Utah.

Under the proposed terms of the Joint Venture Agreement, Enirgi would develop the project through feasibility study, feasibility study and into production by providing the capital to complete the studies. Following these steps and the arrangement of project financing for the mine and facilities development, Enirgi would earn 51% in the Burgin Complex. Chief would retain 49%.

By July 2013, Andover held 83.5% ownership of Chief Consolidated, and its associated subsidiaries.

February 12, 2014
Andover Mining Corp., which filed a notice on August 22, 2013, of intention to reorganize, was deemed bankrupt on February 12, 2014, under the provisions of Canada's Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. After a number of extensions were granted by the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the company filed a proposal with its creditors on January 22, 2014. Abakhan & Associates Inc. was named as trustee in the proposal. On February 12, 2014, the proposal failed because it did not receive requisite creditor approval. As a result, the company was deemed bankrupt, and the company's assets will be liquidated. (Stockwatch.com, February 13, 2014)

(In 2007 Andover Mining Corp. had also purchased potential mining properties in northern Alaska, near the town of Ambler, Alaska. The company had built a camp and a 1,700-feet landing strip, since air was the only access to the property.)

January 13, 2015
The bankruptcy assets of Andover were sold to its partner in the Chief Consolidated joint venture, Enirgi Group, after the sales and purchase agreement was signed on December 4, 2014. (Documents on file with Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining)

November 13, 2015
Enirgi Group bought controlling interest in LeadFX, the new company formed by the consolidation of the former Invernia, Inc., and GeoZone Exploration, Ltd. At the time of the consolidation, GeoZone owned 83.5% of Chief Consolidated Mining Co., which owned 14,112 acres of land (including approximately 13,166 acres of patented mining claims) in the East Tintic Mining District in Utah County and Juab County, Utah, USA.

The following was extracted from a LeadFX press release dated August 31, 2015.

The Chief properties include patented and unpatented mining claims that hold prospective subsurface lead, silver, zinc, copper and gold deposits, and prospective surface industrial minerals such as silica, limestone, clays, calcium carbonate and iron ore, along with aggregates (sand and gravel).

Chief currently has no active mining operations. Chief's near-term commercial focus is to develop the at-surface industrial minerals and aggregates deposits potential of its properties with a medium to longer term focus on developing base and precious metal mining from its other properties.

The Burgin Mine is located in the East Tintic Mining District, Utah, about 60 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah. The Burgin Mine has not been in operation since 1978. Among other things, any plan to re-start the Burgin Mine would be subject to significant capital investment to dewater the Burgin Mine. The Trixie Mine is located approximately 1.5 miles from the Burgin Mine's concentrating mill. The Trixie Mine is a gold-silver mine and was in production from late 2001 until closure in March 2002 due to unstable mining conditions. The Trixie Mine has not operated since 2002.

November 20, 2017
LeadFX announced on November 20, 2017, from its headquarters in Perth, Australia, of potential activity at its Burgin mine at Tintic.

North American lead assets. -- The Company has a majority ownership position in Chief Consolidated Mining Company, and Chief owns mining properties in the State of Utah, United States. Chief has entered into an agreement with the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining to extend the mining permits on properties owned by Chief and associated with the historic Burgin mines in the Tintic District in Utah. LeadFX has received expressions of interest from a number of parties to participate in the future development plans for the properties. In the week beginning November 6, 2017 the Company hosted some of these parties on site as they undertook initial due diligence.

LeadFX is an Australian based mining company focused on the development of its lead and lead-silver projects located in Australia and North America. The Company's primary undertaking is the Paroo Station lead mine. The Paroo Station lead mine is located 30km west of the town of Wiluna in Western Australia. The Company also owns an 83.5% interest in the Burgin mines and surrounding land claims in the Tintic mining district 60 miles south-east of Salt Lake City, Utah and exploration interests in the Amber Mineral belt in Alaska.

July 30, 2018
The following was extracted from a LeadFX press release dated July 30, 2018:

LeadFX Inc. today announced it has agreed to sell its indirect equity and debt interests in Chief Consolidated Mining Company.

Chief owns approximately 14,000 acres of land, of which approximately 13,000 acres are patented mining claims, in the Main Tintic and East Tintic Mining District, located across Utah County and Juab County, Utah.

The Chief properties contain three potential primary mineral projects: (1) the prospective lead, silver, gold and zinc deposits and related infrastructure surrounding the former operating Burgin Mine; (2) the prospective gold and silver deposit and related infrastructure surrounding the former operating Trixie Mine; and (3) the prospective mining or quarrying of industrial minerals and aggregates (namely, silica and limestone).

The Company's interests are being sold to companies associated with Riverfield Capital, a mining, investment and capital markets business operated by Mr. Geoff Stanley.

October 3, 2018
The sale of Chief Consolidated to Riverfield Capital follows a decision on October 3, 2018 by LeadFX shareholders to take the company private. The sale was to be for US$3.5 million, part paid on December 5, 2018, and part paid on December 5, 2019.

April 6, 2021
As of April 6, 2021, the Trixie, Eureka Standard, and North Lily mines were being reopened by the newly organized Tintic Metals LLC, a joint venture of IG Tintic LLC (75%; owner-operator) with minority partner Chief Consolidated Mining Company (25%). IG Tintic LLC is a U. S. affiliate of larger international IG Global Group. (Tintic Metals LLC; broken link: https://www.tinticmetals.com)

January 25, 2022
Tintic Consolidated Metals, a US-based mining company and owner of large land holding in the mineral rich East Tintic District of Utah, announced its acquisition by Osisko Development. With this acquisition, Osisko will gain ownership of the fully permitted and producing Trixie Mine, as well as mineral claims that cover more than 17,000 acres in Central Utah’s historic Tintic Mining District. Osisko Development is a North American gold mining company mainly focused on developing a mining camp in Canada.

Tintic Metals LLC was a mining company operating in Utah's historic Tintic Mining District that was acquired by Osisko Development Corp. to gain ownership of the fully permitted and producing Trixie Mine, along with significant mineral claims. The Tintic Mining District is historically known for its silver, lead, gold, copper, and arsenic deposits.

The purchase was finalized on May 31, 2022. At the time of the sale, Tintic Consolidated Metals owned the producing Trixie mine, as well as mineral claims that cover more than 17,000 acres in Tintic Mining District Central in Utah. The reported purchase price was $54 million in cash payments, with on-going 2 percent net smelter return royalties.

At the time of its acquisition by Osisko Development, the name was changed from Tintic Metals LLC, to Tintic Consolidated Metals LLC.

May 11, 2023
Tintic Consolidated Metals LLC received a special tax credit from the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. The tax credit was intended to bring relief to companies in Utah's rural areas to encourage job growth. At the time, Tintic Consolidated Metals LLC was shown as a subsidiary of Osisko Development Corp., a leading Canadian-based gold mining company focused on developing its 100 percent-owned Tintic project located in Utah County and Juab County, a historically dormant mine in rural Utah located 60 miles south of Salt Lake City.

The Tintic property consists of more than 17,000 acres of mining claims located in a classic porphyry geologic formation that has in the past hosted 23 mines producing gold, silver, lead, zinc and a wide variety of lesser metals, including the past-producing Trixie mine, Burgin mine and Eureka Standard mine.

More Information

Tintic -- An article about the history of railroads and mining in Tintic.

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