Tintic, Eagle & Blue Bell Mine

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This page was last updated on November 9, 2025.

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Overview

(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the Eagle & Blue Bell 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.)

USGS Professional Paper 107, Tintic Mining District, published in 1919, page 207-208

The property of the Eagle & Blue Bell Mining Co. is about half a mile southeast of the town of Eureka, in Eagle Canyon. The collar of the present working shaft has an altitude of 6,818 feet, or about 400 feet above the town. At the time of the earlier report (1897) this mine was developed only to a depth of 400 feet. During the last few years it has been opened to a depth of 2,019 feet (ground-water level), and it is now a large producer of heavy galena ore. The principal developments consist of an old tunnel opening the southern part of the property; of No. 2 shaft, which is 1,000 feet south of the tunnel portal and 1,043 feet deep, with levels 100 feet apart; and of the present No. 1 working shaft, which is close to the tunnel portal and has workings extending mainly eastward on . the 700, 1,000, 1,200, 1,350, 1,550, 1,700, and 1,876 foot levels. The total openings amount to many thousand feet. The 1,350-foot level of the mine connects with the 1,000-foot level of the Chief Consolidated property.

The production from 1897 to 1916, inclusive, was 220,343 tons of ore, yielding 35,385 ounces of gold, 3,217,676 ounces of silver, 1,413,102 pounds of copper, 33,796,415 pounds of lead, and 22,856 pounds of zinc. In earlier years the ores taken out were siliceous and lean in lead; of late large bodies of galena ore have been found in the lower levels. There is very little copper, the principal value of the ore being in lead and silver.

Eagle & Blue Bell Mining Co.

1883
"The Eagle and Blue Bell lodes were located in 1883 by John McChrystal and Owen Donahue. These claims, with seven others, form the Eagle group, for which $500,000 was refused about five years ago. They have a record of a production of over $40,000 in gold ore and are regarded as being the best speculative property in Tintic district." (Salt Lake Tribune, September 6, 1897)

May 10, 1891
"The Eagle. -- It has leaked out that Prof. Keyes, the eminent geologist, who visited the camp last week, ostensibly for his own pleasure, was in reality here to examine the Eagle mine for California capitalists, who desire to purchase. The Eagle is owned by Captain John and John H. McChrystal, and is held at $300,000 - a very conservative figure. If the company are satisfied with the professor's report he will return and make a more exhaustive examination, and the deal - if it is a go - will be closed in about two weeks." (Salt Lake Herald, May 10, 1891)

June 9, 1893
"Rumors are afloat that work will shortly be commenced on the Eagle, at Tintic. This property has produced much high grade ore in the past, and John McChrystal, the owner, predicts that it will turn out the best paying property in the camp." (Salt Lake Herald, June 9, 1893)

October 19, 1894
"N. W. McChrystal, Mrs. John McChrystal and Gus Tetro have taken a lease on the Eagle mine. They report finding some ore on the start which is liable to run into larger quantities. This is a property from which some of the richest ore ever found in the District has been taken." (Tintic Miner, October 19, 1894)

August 1, 1895
Owen Donahue filed suit against John McChrystal in First District Court in Provo. Donahue claimed that he and McChrystal were co-owners of the Eagle mine, and the Blue Bell mine, and that on June 21, 1890, McChrystal received patents on both properties from the U. S. Land Office, without naming Donahue as holding half-interest, and refusing to deed to Donahue his half-interest. (Provo Evening Dispatch, August 1, 1895)

(In late June 1896, the court found in favor of McChrystal, giving him full ownership of the Eagle and Blue Bell mines. -- Salt Lake Herald, June 27, 1896)

July 14, 1896
John McChrystal died suddenly of heart failure on June 14, 1896 while standing on the dump of the Eureka Hill mine, directing work being done on account of a sudden cloudburst. He fell to the ground and was taken immediately to a nearby cottage. He died within three minutes. He was 64 years old. The Gemini, Eureka Hill and Godiva mines were closed until July 20th, the Monday following his funeral on July 16th. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 15, 1896; Salt Lake Herald, July 16, 1896; Salt Lake Tribune, July 18, 1896)

April 3, 1897
"Work on the Eagle mine will be commenced this morning under the direction of N. W. McChrystal. The Eagle is one of Tintic's famous properties; has produced considerable high grade ore and at one time an offer of $250,000 was refused for it. The Eagle belongs to the John McChrystal estate, and will, we believe, soon take rank among our big producers." (Salt Lake Herald, April 3, 1897)

September 29, 1898
The Eagle and Blue Bell Mining company filed its articles of incorporation. Officers were; Mrs. S. A. McChrystal, president; John H. McChrystal, vice president; with A. H. McChrystal and J. C. McChrystal as two of the directors. The company property embraces a group of claims and two mill sites. (Salt Lake Herald, September 30, 1898, "yesterday")

November 11, 1899
A triple-compartment shaft was being put down at the Eagle and Blue Bell mine. (Salt Lake Tribune, November 11, 1899)

January 25, 1900
Although the Eagle and Blue Bell had shipped another car of gold bearing ore, the assay tests would likely prove to be lower than the 6 ounces per ton expected. The shaft was down to 200 feet, but the late John McChrystal had been of the opinion that high-value ore would be found at 600 feet. The mine was currently making a good margin above expenses, but going to a greater depth was seen as a necessary move. (Deseret News, January 25, 1900)

October 7, 1900
At the Eagle and Blue Bell, the drift at the 300-level was still in progress. With $27,670 in expenses and only $7,961 derived from the sale of ore, and to avoid an assessment against stock shares, the board of directors decided that the company would prioritize the extraction of ore, over development work. During the year of 1900, the mine had shipped 500 tons of first-class ore, and had 3,000 tons of second-class ore on hand on the dumps. (Salt Lake Herald, October 7, 1900; Salt Lake Tribune, December 30, 1900)

1903
"Controlling stock interest was bought in 1903 by the Bingham Consolidated Mining & Smelting Co. Duncan McVichie, president and general manager. Lands lie between the Centennial-Eureka and Grand Central mines, two of the best properties in the Tintic district. Mine shows large bodies of auriferous copper ores on the 700-foot and 70-foot levels, and is sinking a blind shaft from end of the main tunnel." (The Copper Handbook, Volume IV, 1903, page 358-359)

July 27, 1915
The Eagle & Blue Mining company purchased the interests and assets of the Victoria Consolidated Mining company. By this time, the Eagle & Blue Bell was under the control of the Bingham Mines company. Full control was obtained by stock exchange, Eagle & Blue Bell stock for Victoria stock , by early November 1915. (Salt Lake Herald, July 27, 1915; August 29, 1915; Salt Lake Tribune, November 7, 1915)

1922
"Bingham Mines Co. -- Is a reorganization of the Bingham Consolidated Mining & Smelting Co. Controls about 97 percent of the outstanding stock of the Eagle & Blue Bell Mining Co. of Eureka, Juab County, Utah." "Eagle & Blue Bell Mining Company to be dissolved in 1922." (The Mines Handbook, Volume XV, 1922, page 1491, 1514)

Victoria Mining Co.

USGS Professional Paper 107, Tintic Mining District, published in 1919, page 210

The Victoria mine, owned by the Victoria Consolidated Mining Co. until 1915, when it was purchased by the Eagle & Blue Bell Mining Co., is on the northern slopes of Eureka Peak, in Eagle Canyon, about three-quarters of a mile south-southeast of the town of Eureka. It lies south-southeast of the Eagle and Blue Bell mine, and the Grand Central property adjoins it on the south, the Grand Central shaft being three-quarters of a mile south of the Victoria shaft. The altitude of the collar of the Victoria shaft is 6,998 feet, or about 600 feet above the town.

The shaft is 1,200 feet deep, and dry. The workings extend 400 feet north and 1,100 feet south of the shaft, continuing northward into Eagle and Blue Bell ground and southward into Grand Central ground. Drifts have been turned on the 900, 1,050, and 1,200 foot levels; the 600, 700, 800, and 850 foot levels are reached by raises from the 900-foot level. The 1,050 and 1,200 foot levels connect with the Eagle and Blue Bell workings. The 600, 700, and 900 foot levels connect with the Grand Central workings, the 900-foot level of the Victoria corresponding to the 1,100-foot level of the Grand Central.

The production of the property has not been made public . Shipments of ore have averaged about 3 carloads a week. Much second-class ore remains in the mine awaiting better conditions for reduction.

June 12, 1891
"John H. McChrystal purchased of Norman McLeod last Thursday his one-third interest in the Victoria for $3,000. The Victoria lies just above the Eagle, and is now owned by John H. and Noah McChrystal. They have a force of men at work taking out ore and developing the property. The owners informed a Miner reporter that they intended to do a large amount of work on this property this season and feel confident of making it one of the best paying mines in Tintic." (Tintic Miner, June 12, 1891)

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