Tintic, Big Hill Mine

The Big Hill mine is in the central part of the East Tintic district approximately 1 mile due west of Dividend. It is named from the prominent conical hill a short distance southwest of the mine that rises to an alititude of 7,004 ft.

The original claims in the area apparently were patented by John Bestlemyre, and a company was organized June 15, 1899. In 1919 controlling interest in this company was acquired by Jesse Knight and his associates, who enlarged the shaft that was on the property and deepened it from 200 to 600 ft. Briefly in 1926 the property was leased to the Tintic Standard Mining Co. In 1929, the North Lily-Knight Corporation assumed controlling interest, and the property was leased to the North Lily Mining Co., who extended the shaft to a total depth of 1,940 ft. in 1931. During this same year the Big Hill 1,600-ft level was connected with the North Lily 1,200 level, and the Big Hill 1,900 level was extended onto the properties of the North Lily and Eureka Bullion Mining Companies. The connection at the 1,200 level of the North Lily mine was reportedly made to improve ventilation in the Big Hill mine and to utilize the excess water-pumping capacity of the North Lily mine. All operations from the Big Hill shaft were suspended in May 1932.

The property of the Big Hill Mining Co. consists of all or part of five patented mining claims and an additional 1.58 acres of patented surface rights, all totaling approximately 72 acres. The claims cover the north half of Big Hill and extend northerly along its north-trending spur ridge. Of the outstanding stock, 50.02 percent is owned by the North Lily-Knight Co., 95.47 percent of which company is owned by the North Lily Mining Co., 56.97 percent of which, in turn, is owned by the International Smelting and Refining Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anaconda Co.

The Big Hill shaft is collared at an elevation of 6,430 ft, and has workings as deep as 1,900 feet. The 1,091-ft level is approximately equivalent to the 700 level of the North Lily shaft. The 1,600- and 1,900-ft levels were both driven in conjunction with the exploration and development of the North Lily and Eureka Bullion properties, and within a short distance east-northeast of the shaft, extend across the boundary of the Big Hill claims.

No ores are known to have been produced from areas within the Big Hill claims, although some ores were produced from Big Hill workings that extended onto adjacent properties.