Tintic, Eureka Hill Mine

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.

The Eureka Hill mine was discovered in 1870. In 1871-1872 a 12-stamp mill, without a furnace, was erected, which would not work the ore. In 1873 the property was sold for several hundred thousand dollars. Final payments, however, were not made, and the property reverted to the original owners. There have been many legal complications about the ownership of this property, and a stone fort was once regularly garrisoned to defend it. In early times ore was worked at the Homansville smelter and at the Sboebridge and Wyoming mills. Later it. was sold to the smelters at Sandy. Since July, 1880, much of it has been shipped to the Tintic mill at Homansville. The property comprises two patented claims, the Eureka and the Montana, 2,200 by 200 feet each, and was owned, at the period under review, by a close corporation called the Eureka Mining Company. These claims are on two nearly parallel veins, about 100 feet apart.

The Eureka Hill mine, one of the oldest and most productive mines of the Tintic district, is on the south side of Eureka Gulch just below the town of Eureka and almost due south of the Gemini. In 1911 work by the company had practically ceased, though the levels were still open and lessees were operating on several of the upper levels. The mine, which is owned by the estates of Justice Field, George E. Whitney, John A. Packard, Joseph Packard, and Joab Lawrence, has been worked for many years under the direction of the late G. W. Riter, who kindly furnished much valuable assistance and information.

The mine has a large output to its credit, principally of silver and lead, and the beginning of its productive period dates back to 1877. The tonnage of ore is of the same order of magnitude as that of the Gemini and Bullion Beck mines but is probably larger. The total gross value of the ore may be estimated as between $10,000,000 and $15,000,000. Some copper and gold has been produced but no zinc. The tenor of the ore has varied greatly, but the average has been about 25 ounces of silver-to the ton and 7 to 10 per cent of lead.

The mine is opened by a vertical shaft 1,520 feet deep and having altitude at the collar of 6,476 feet. There are about fifteen levels extending north and south and about 11 miles of development work. The lowest level now accessible is 1,100 feet below the collar. There are signs of water on the 1,500-foot level and small seepages at other places.