Tintic, Black Dragon Mine
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This page was last updated on November 28, 2025.
Black Dragon Mine
The Black Dragon mine dates back at least to November 1871: "Albee & Co. continue to develop the Black Dragon with satisfactory results." (Mining and Scientific Press, November 4, 1871, page 277)
August 30, 1873
"In my last I mentioned the sale of the Black Dragon, Captain Jennings, of the Shoebridge Mill, is the lucky purchaser. He intends as soon as possible to erect hoisting works, and suitable buildings for employees on the same, and shortly a large force will be at work." (Salt Lake Weekly Tribune, August 30, 1873)
September 13, 1873
During August 1873, "The Shoebridge company's reduction works were completed, the capacity of the furnace is fifty tons every twenty-four hours, and that of the mill, thirty tons in the same period; the company had 350 tons of ore on hand and plenty more in sight. They recently purchased 1,250 feet of the Black Dragon mine, the ore of which is similar in character to the Shoebridge, and assays nearly $100 to the ton. The steam hoisting works of the Shoebridge, worked splendidly, and gave great satisfaction." (Utah Mining Gazette, September 13, 1873)
September 21, 1875
"The Black Dragon mine has a small force at work under Captain J. A. Lusk, of the Shoebridge." (Salt Lake Tribune, September 21, 1875)
July 22, 1880
"Mineral Entry No. 250 for the claim of the Shoebridge Silver Mining company upon the Black Dragon Consolidated mine, has been approved for patenting in the General Land Office." (Salt Lake Tribune, July 22, 1880)
April 9, 1881
"Passing up the open canyon we came into Dragon Hollow in which is located the Black Dragon iron mine, containing vast bodies of hematite iron, the first found in the Territory." (Salt Lake Tribune, April 9, 1881)
April 3, 1896
The Black Dragon Mining company filed its articles of incorporation "yesterday." The officers and directors are: Louis L. Terry, president; James H. Brown, vice-president and treasurer; Edward D. Woodruff, secretary. The company owns the Black Dragon Consolidated mining claim in the Tintic mining district. (Salt Lake Herald, April 4, 1896)
April 6, 1896
"Black Dragon Sold. -- The Black Dragon mine, near Silver City, Tintic mining district, was yesterday purchased by Lou Terry and his associates of C. H. Blanchard, who pocketed, it is said, $8000. The Black Dragon has, in a desultory way, been worked for several years and was acquired by Mr. Blanchard of W. M. Purcell of Portsmouth, Ohio. It is the intention of the new owners to now systematically explore it." (Salt Lake Tribune, April 6, 1896)
March 26, 1897
The main double-compartment shaft of the Black Dragon mine was down to 215 feet, where a crosscut was driven into the ore body, which was 3 to 10 feet wide, and carried both shipping (first class) ore and milling (second-class) ore. The Blacks Dragon Mining company was a close corporation, being owned by eight stockholders. J. G. Marx was an officer of the company, and mine superintendent. (Salt Lake Herald, March 26, 1897)
April 24, 1897
J. G. Marx, manager of the Black Dragon mine, took a lease on the adjacent Governor mine and began development. (Salt Lake Tribune, April 24, 1897)
(The Governor claim was directly adjacent to the Black Dragon claim, and lay in a direct line northeast of the Black Dragon claim.)
May 6, 1897
A steam hoist had been erected at the Black Dragon mine in the past two weeks. "The Black Dragon was quite a famous producer at one time, and it is believed that from this time on it will make a barrel of money for its owners." (Salt Lake Herald, May 6, 1897)
May 13, 1897
"A shipment of 15 tons was made from the Black Dragon last Friday, which paid the owners a handsome margin. The shaft on this property is now down 250 feet and a winze is being sunk on the ledge from the 250-foot level. A new steam hoist is to be put in and the development of the property will be vigorously pushed." (Salt Lake Herald, May 13, 1897)
October 30, 1897
"Messrs. Brown and Terry, of the Black Dragon mine, at Silver City, came out Sunday and spent the day looking over that property. As a result, a contract has been let to sink the shaft 100 feet, which will give a depth of about 420 feet. They also let a contract for a crosscut on the 300 level for a distance of 50 feet. They have temporarily abandoned the contemplated plans for a hoisting works, and will continue the use of a whim." (Salt Lake Herald, October 30, 1897)
November 29, 1897
"Superintendent Marx now has 15 men at work on the Black Dragon and two shafts are being sunk on the ground. The winze at the old workings is down 370 feet, and several small bodies of good looking copper have been cut through. The Black Dragon is one of the early locations of the district. It was located Jan. 3, 1870, by the same parties who made the first location in Tintic, the Sunbeam. It lies between the famous Dragon iron mine and the North Star, and in old days produced much good ore near the surface. Superintendent Marx believes he is not far from a body of good ore, and unless all signs fail the stockholders will soon be rewarded for their faith in the property." (Salt Lake Herald, November 29, 1897)
December 26, 1897
"In the Black Dragon about 15 men are employed, under the superintendency of J. G. Marx. The shaft is down 270 feet, and some good-looking rock is in sight. Several veins of ore were cut in sinking and drifting, but it is the policy of the company to sink some distance further before exploiting the ground. The mine produced several thousand tons of rich ore, from the upper levels in the early days, and has been worked spasmodically ever since." (Salt Lake Herald, December 26, 1897)
February 7, 1898
"The Black Dragon Mining company has closed a contract with the Lake Bonneville Irrigation and Power company, which is now engaged in construction on the Sevier river, for 150 horsepower to put in during the coming summer. The company will use the power to run its hoist and drills." (Salt Lake Tribune, February 7, 1898)
August 23, 1899
The Black Dragon Mining company filed its survey with the General Land Office, of the Black Dragon lode in the Tintic mining district. (Deseret News, August 30, 1899)
September 17, 1899
"J. H. Brown of the firm of Brown, Terry & Woodruff, returned last evening from a trip to the Black Dragon mine, Tintic, which is owned by the above-named firm. The exact boundary lines of the ground have never been known and Mr. Brown engaged a surveyor who spent several days on the property running lines and establishing the location of corner stakes." (Salt Lake Herald, September 17, 1899)
December 21, 1905
"Mr. Knight yesterday closed a deal in this city for the purchase of a controlling interest in the Black Dragon mine, which has been an intermittent shipper for several years. The property is located contiguous to the Carisa, Star Consolidated and Governor properties and persons familiar with the district believe Uncle Jesse has made no mistake in getting hold of it. The Black Dragon company's stock was held mostly in the Tintic district, there being very few shareholders outside of that camp. It was said during the day that Mr. Knight has been quietly scouring options on the stock for some time and that yesterday's deal places him in possession of considerably more than a control." (Deseret News, December 21, 1905)
May 20, 1908
"The Railroad contractors, Smith & Brown of Springville, are engaged in grading a spur of the Eureka Hill railway to the Swansea properties. A side track is also being built to the loading bins of the Black Dragon mine from which the Knight smelter will obtain a supply of fluxing ores." (Deseret News, May 20, 1908)
June 16, 1909
The Black Dragon Mining company, and its board of directors applied to the Third District Court in Salt Lake County, to voluntarily dissolve its corporation. Court hearing to be held on July 17, 1909. (Salt Lake Herald, June 16, 1909)
(No more references to the Black Dragon mine in Tintic.)
(The Black Dragon iron mine became part of the Knight holdings in 1905, but little mention was made until 1914 when the annual report of the Dragon Consolidated company made note that low grade milling ore was blocked out and ready for shipment from the "old Black Dragon workings.")
August 16, 1908
The Black Dragon mining claim was included when the Governor Mining company was organized by Jesse Knight and associates. The mining property encompassed the following claims: the Governor; the Black Dragon; the Turk; the Eastern Daisy; the Dewdrop; the June; the March; and the White Dragon. Officers were: Jesse Knight, president; J. William Knight, vice president; with W. Lester Mangum and Amanda M. Knight as additional directors. (Salt Lake Herald, August 17, 1908)
(The Governor claim was directly adjacent to the Black Dragon claim, and lay in a direct line northeast of the Black Dragon claim.)
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