Tintic, Bullion-Beck Mine

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This page was last updated on November 10, 2025.

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Overview

(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the Bullion-Beck mine, as visible in photographs, as well as a general description of the mine, with minimal coverage of the geology and financial returns. Also to establish a timeline using sources not previously readily available.)

The following comes from Geology and Mining Industry of the Tintic district, Utah, by G. W. Tower and G. O. Smith, USGS 19th Annual Report, 1897-1898.

West of Eureka are the Eureka Hill and Bullion-Beck mines, whose workings, connected in many places, extend under the hill slopes on both sides of Eureka Gulch and explore a portion of the Eureka zone 3,500 feet in length by 1,000 feet in width. Their workings also connect the Gemini mine on the north and the Centennial Eureka on the south.

The Bullion-Beck mine, through the main shaft and winzes, has reached a depth of 1,200 feet (5,150 feet above sea level). The Eureka Hill mine has cut to a depth of 1,150 feet (5,340 feet above sea level). The latter shaft is 100 feet higher than the Bullion-Beck, so that, level for level, there is a difference of 100 feet.

Bullion-Beck Mine

July 23, 1896
"The Bullion-Beck mill is still working twelve hours and the prospects are that the managers will be arrested for breaking the eight-hour law. The managers think that the law does not cover their process of reducing the ore. The miners in the Bullion-Beck mine go on at 7:30 o'clock in the morning, have two hours for noon, coming off at 11:30, and going back at 1:30, quitting at 5:30, going down and coming up on their own time." (Salt Lake Herald, July 23, 1896)

May 18, 1901
The Bullion-Beck company filed suit against the Eureka Hill company for tresspass and encroachment, alleging that the two companies extracted over 25,000 tons of ore over a four year period. The suit was against the Eureka Hill company, and Moylan C. Fox and George W. Riter, claiming $950,000, at $38 per ton. (Salt Lake Tribune, May 18, 1901)

May 18, 1901
The Bullion-Beck company filed suit against the Gemini company for tresspass and encroachment, alleging that the Gemini company had extracted 30,000 tons of ore over a three year period. The suit was agianst the Gemini company and John Q. Packard and Jackson C. McChrystal, claiming $1,350,000, at $45 per ton. (Salt Lake Tribune, May 18, 1901)

1902
"Bullion Beck & Champion Mining Co. -- P. L. Farnsworth, manager. Secures a limited amount of copper annually as a by-product from gold-silver-lead-copper ores; has steam and electric power and concentrating mill. Employs about 150 men." (The Copper Handbook, Volume III, 1902, page 221)

August 1928
"Sept 1st was the date set for the reopening of the old Bullion Beck Mine. The old gallows frame was the only thing left standing. The machiniery to be used there was to be thoroughly modern and included an electrically driven hoist and compressor, new mine cars and cages and everything needed for reopening and further development work." (Eureka Reporter, August 28, 1948, "Twenty Years Ago")

May 23, 1958
The one of the last reported shipments from the Bullion Beck mine was in May 1958 when the mine shipped 240 tons. (Eureka Reporter, May 23, 1958)

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