Tintic, Gemini Mine

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Gemini Mine

(Also, the Ridge & Valley, the Eureka Mines company,

(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the Gemini 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.)

(Read more about the Gemini mine after 1922, as part of the Chief Consolidated)

Gemini, Eureka Hill, Ridge & Valley, Eureka Mines

These four mines were collectively known as the McChrystal mines, due to their initial development by John McChrystal and his sons.

(Read more about John McChrystal and his sons)

It started with the Gemini (1879), then the Eureka Hill (1891), then the Ridge & Valley (1899), then the Eureka Mines (1916). Throughout the period after about 1900, the three McChrystal mines were interconnected underground, mostly for ventilation but also as various ore veins were followed as needed, regardless of the lines between the mining claims. When the Eureka Mines company was organized in 1916, the intention was to consolidate all four mines under a single ownership and management, but the large numbers of minority stockholders prevented such action.

(Read more about the Eureka Hill mine)

The Ridge & Valley mine, the mine of the Eureka Mines company, and the Gemini mine were originally developed by the same owners, with near identical officers and boards of directors. Development and prospecting by way of drifts, raises and winzes, within each company's property crossed over regularly into the adjacent property, with no difficulty other than careful record keeping. All three companies were working on their respective levels matching the Gemini 1200 level and lower, shipping good quantities of valuable ore. All three companies were pumping water, and building timber sets for stoping to fill in where the ore was being taken from.

The Ridge & Valley mine, with 39 claims and 443 acres, adjoined the Gemini property. Ridge & Valley operations were conducted through the Gemini shaft. (Salt Lake Mining Review, September 15, 1922)

The Eureka Mines company's property encompassed 47 acres made up of eight mining claims. All were being worked through the Gemini shaft. (Eureka Reporter, May 5, 1916)

All four mines were purchased by the adjoining Chief Consolidated company in 1922.

A fifth mine, the Keystone mine, was in close proximity of the Gemini, and was owned by the same McChrystal and associates.

A sixth McChrystal mine, the Godiva mine, opened by John McChrystal in 1879, was about one mile to the east, and was at the north end of the East Tintic district.

(Read more about the Godiva mine)

March 24, 1879
"The Gemini lode was located March 24, 1879, by John Q. Packard and John McChrystal, and forms the nucleus of the magnificent property of the Gemini Mining company. The Gemini or Keystone, as it is familiarity called, is one of Tintic’s wonderful bonanza producers, and is credited with the payment of over $600,000 in dividends, although, as it is a close corporation, exact figures are difficult to obtain." (Salt Lake Herald, July 26, 1897)

July 7, 1888
The Gemini Mining company filed its articles of "agreement." The new company owned the Red Bird, Talisman, Cornucopia, Keystone and Gemini mining claims in the Tintic District; also the Alpha, Talisman and Voltaire mill sites, also in Tintic. John Q. Packard, president, held 3,727 shares of the initial 5,000 shares; John McChrystal, vice president, held 1,243 shares. (Salt Lake Herald, July 7, 1888)

Commercial lead-silver ores were found in the Gemini mine at 300 feet, and the body of ore continued down to 700 feet. Later developments included a three-compartment shaft sunk down to 1670 feet. (Salt Lake Tribune, December 31, 1916)

August 24, 1890
"To the north of the Bullion-Beck, 700 feet, is the Keystone shaft, on the Gemini property. Still further to the north, about three-fourths of a mile, are the hoisting works of the Excelsior shaft, also belonging to the Gemini company." (Salt Lake Herald, August 24, 1890)

January 6, 1895
"The veteran John McChrystal is superintendent of two great mines - the Eureka Hill and the Keystone - John Q. Packard is president and R. J. Hilton is secretary of both the properties. The Keystone employs about fifty-five men. John McChrystal is not alone superintendent of two great mines - he is mayor of the town - a hustler of the type that counts in more ways than one." (Salt Lake Herald, January 6, 1895)

July 14, 1896
John McChrystal died suddenly of heart failure on June 14, 1896 while standing on the dump of the Eureka Hill mine. He was superintendent of the Eureka Hill and Gemini mines. He was also mayor of Eureka City. He was 64 years old. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 15, 1896)

July 23, 1896
"The Keystone mine starts to work at 7:45 in the morning, having one hour for noon and quitting at 5:15, miners using half an hour going down and coming up. This shift gives excellent satisfaction." (Salt Lake Herald, July 23, 1896)

1898
"The Gemini mine adjoins the Bullion-Beck on the north and east. Its workings have attained a depth of 1,100 feet and extend a few degrees east of north or west of south for over 4,000 feet." (Geology and Mining industry of the Tintic District, Utah, by G. W. Tower and G. O. Smith, USGS 19th Annual Report, 1897-1898)

Ridge and Valley Mining Company

February 3, 1899
The Ridge and Valley Mining company filed its articles of incorporation. Its officers were: Sarah A. McChrystal, president; Samuel H. Auerbach, vice president; with Jackson C McChrystal, C. P. Fields, and W. R. Wallace as additional directors. The company property encompassed the Norway, the Ole Bole, the John L. Bapta, Last Chance, Cambridge, the North Extension Zulu, the Valley, and the Ridge mining claims. The property extended from near the top of Eureka Peak, north across the gulch, underlying practically the entire business district of the town of Eureka. The property adjoins the Centennial-Eureka, Eureka Hill and Gemini properties. The Norway claim had seen the most development. (Deseret News, February 2, 1899, "tomorrow")

November 11, 1899
The Ridge and Valley shaft was down to the 500-foot level, but was not yet in the ore, although it was expected any day. (Salt Lake Tribune, November 11, 1899)

May 18, 1901
The Bullion-Beck company filed suit against the Gemini company for trespass and encroachment, alleging that the Gemini company had extracted 30,000 tons of ore over a three year period. The suit was against 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
"Gemini Mining Co. -- John Q. Packard, president; E. W. Packard, vice president; J. E. Berkely, secretary; L. S. Hills, treasurer; Jackson C. McChrystal, general superintendent. Produces gold, silver and copper, and has paid dividends of $300,000. Ended 1902 with a surplus of about $100,000. Mine shows a 20' vein of argentiferous and auriferous copper ore, assaying 3 percent copper on the 1,600' level. Is likely to materially increase its copper production, which heretofore has been merely a by-product. Has steam and water power." (The Copper Handbook, Volume III, 1902, page 309)

December 3, 1907
The officers, directors and management of the Gemini and Godiva mining companies were "practically" the same. Officials elected for each company were identical. John Q. Packard was president; Edward W. Packard was vice president. Jackson C. McChrystal was superintendent of both companies. Each company only had 5000 shares of stock, and all shares were "closely" held. The Gemini was active, but work at the Godiva had been suspended due to smelting difficulties. (Salt Lake Tribune, December 3, 1907)

February 22, 1908
"Gemini -- High-grade copper ore has been encountered recently in the winze sunk between the 1700-ft. and 1800-ft. levels. The ore is different in character than any ever found in the mine before. The Gemini is one of the oldest mines in the Tintic district." (Engineering and Mining Journal, February 22, 1908, page 432)

December 5, 1911
The stockholders of the Gemini Mining company and the Godiva Mining company held their annual meetings on December4, 1911. Edward W. Packard was elected president; Jackson H. McChrystal was elected as vice-president; John H. McChrystal was elected as general superintendent of both companies. The Gemini shipped 600 tons during the previous week, with new ore bodies from the 900-foot level, down to the 1650-foot level. The Gemini's deepest workings were down to the 1900-foot level, with the ore bodies continuing downward, but the water came in a little above that level and the pumps were inadequate, and the level was temporarily abandoned. Oxidized ore was found down to the 1800-foot level, with the sulphides with higher grade at or near the water level. The Gemini was the deepest mine in the district, several hundred feet lower than the Centennial-Eureka at its 2000-foot level, with the Centennial-Eureka mine being 400 feet higher on the hill. The Godiva mine was not working at the time. (Salt Lake Herald, December 5, 1911)

(John H. McChrystal was Jackson McChrystal's brother. John lived in Eureka with his family, and Jackson lived in Salt Lake City with his family.)

April 24, 1912
There were 75 to 80 leasers working in the Gemini mine. The mine had the record of shipping the richest ore in the district and the leasers were shipping some very high grade ore. The mine was shipping 200 tons per week. (Deseret News, April 24, 1912; Salt Lake Herald, April 25, 1912)

December 30, 1915
"General Manager Jackson C. McChrystal of the Gemini Mining Company, Eureka, says that the property will close the year with about 270 carloads of ore to its credit. The leasers have been paid $82,000 during the year. The property was closed down three months." (Salt Lake Mining Review, December 30, 1915)

Eureka Mines Company

(The Ridge & Valley mine, the mine of the Eureka Mines company, and the Gemini mine were originally developed by the same owners.)

April 15, 1916
The Eureka Mines Company, of Salt Lake City, filed its articles of incorporation. The basis of the incorporation is a group of eight patented claims at Eureka, Utah. The group is bounded on the north by the Gemini, on the south by the Centennial-Eureka, on the west by the Centennial-Eureka and the Eureka Hill, and on the east by the Eagle & Blue Bell and Chief Consolidated. The company will probably begin development work by the first of May, working through the underground workings of the Gemini mine. Later on the south end of the property will probably be developed through the underground workings of an adjoining mine. The officers of the company are William R. Wallace, president; Jackson C. McChrystal, vice president and general manager; John H. McChrystal, mine superintendent; J. E. Berkley, secretary and treasurer, these, with Herbert S. Auerbach, constituting the board of directors. (Salt Lake Mining Review, April 15, 1916)

The Eureka Mines company property was surrounded on all sides by the largest producers in the Eureka district (clockwise): on the northeast by the Chief Consolidated; on the southeast by the Eagle & Blue Bell (a McChrystal property); on the southwest by the Centennial Eureka, on the west by the Eureka Hill (a McChrystal property); and on the northwest and north by the Gemini (a McChrystal property).

May 5, 1916
The Eureka Mines company encompassed 47 acres of mining claims. These claims were the Caffer, Caffer Extension, Zulu, Valley, Ridge, Union, and Eclipse, along with other fractional claims. Jackson C. McChrystal was manager of the new company, and was also manager of four other McChrystal properties: Gemini, Eureka Hill, Ridge & Valley, and Godiva. Drifts for the Gemini had already been driven into the Eureka Mines property. (Eureka Reporter, May 5, 1916)

June 7, 1916
"From the Gemini, the Eureka Mines company will soon be developed at depth. Drifts will be sent out on the 1500, 1300, 900 and 600 through the Gemini into the Eureka Mines. Some ore is now showing in one place, and extension from the Gemini into the other property. This work will be well under way in about a week." (Salt Lake Herald, June 7, 1916)

(Some of the ore taken from the Eureka Mines property was through the adjacent Eagle & Blue Bell shaft, which was also owned by the McChrystal interests.)

September 22, 1922
The Chief Consolidated Mining company announced that it had completed its stock control of the Eureka Mines company. Mention of the price paid was not made. (Salt Lake Tribune, September 22, 1922)

(This was in the same week as the Chief Consolidated buying control of the Gemini and Ridge & Valley properties, which were also McChrystal properties and adjacent to each other. A month later, the adjacent Eureka Hill property, also a McChrystal property, was controlled by the Chief Consolidated company.)

June 9, 1916
From the Eureka Reporter, June 9, 1916.

Manager Jackson McChrystal, accompanied by Secretary J. E Berkley, was at the Gemini mine on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Mr. McChrystal is also manager of the Ridge & Valley, the Eureka Hill, Eureka Mines Co. and the Godiva properties. He states that the Gemini sent out about 2200 tons of ore during the month of May and this product brought on an average of $31 per ton. the Ridge & Valley also marketed a considerable quantity of good ore and the property has now been placed in condition for a much heavier output. One of the finest deposits of ore that has ever been opened in the Ridge & Valley is now being developed just above the 1670 level, this ore running well up in lead and carrying some silver.

Only a short time ago a reorganization of the Ridge & Valley Mining company was brought about and since that time several thousand dollars have been added to the treasury, this money being realized on the limited amount of ore that has been mined. Now that more extensive mining operations can be taken up in this ground there is no reason why much greater profits will not be possible.

The Gemini company lost over a week's work as a result of the cage accident last week but yesterday a new cable was placed on the drum of the engine, to replace the one which was ruined when together with the cage, it dropped into the shaft. An order has also been placed for another new cable which will be kept on hand and used only in case it is necessary to repair one of the other cables.

The installation of a new compressor has given the Gemini ample air for the extensive work which for some little time has been going on throughout the older workings of the mine and also in the new territory where prospecting is being done. The new work being done for the Ridge & Valley and Eureka Mines company (through the Gemini shaft) made necessary the installation of this additional compressor. Mr. McChrystal says that the officers of the Ridge & Valley have decided to do about 1000 feet of new work, which will most likely be contracted, and that a number of drifts will also be sent out from the levels of the Gemini mine for the purpose of developing the claims of the Eureka Mines company, which are just south of the Gemini and in the very heart of the mineralized zone. On one or two levels the Gemini workings reach almost to the line dividing this property from the territory of the Eureka Mines company, while in other places only a few hundred feet of drifting will be necessary to get in to the ground of the Eureka Mines company. Levels of the Gemini which will be used in the development of the Eureka Mines ground are the 1500, 1300, 900 and 600.

Leasing operations of a very extensive character are in progress at the Gemini and most of the ore which the mine is shipping is being taken from blocks of leased ground. An exceptionally large force is being employed.

September 15, 1916
Development work in the Eureka Mines property was being handled from the 1300 level of the Gemini mine. A drift had been driven about 70 feet into the Eureka Mines property from the Gemini property. (Eureka Reporter, September 15, 1916)

November 5, 1916
"Physical conditions at the Ridge & Valley, Gemini and Eureka Mines are very satisfactory, according to General Manager J. C. McChrystal, who was recently down to Tintic looking over the mines. The Ridge & Valley, which is just getting well started in its production period, shows two full faces of lead ore on the 1700 level. The production this year has been about twenty carloads, or approximately 1000 tons. The Gemini continues to produce at the rate of 500 to 700 tons a week. Its output in October was thirty-nine cars, or near 2000 tons. This is compared with 62 cars in September and fifty-one in August During the first ten months of this year the Gemini has forwarded 421 carloads, or approximately 21,000 tons." (Salt Lake Herald, November 5, 1916)

December 31, 1916
For the past several years the mine had been worked on the leasing system, which was very satisfactory to the leasers and profitable to the company. From October 1915 to October 1916 the company shipped 18,903 tons of silver lead ore, and 624 tons of zinc ore. Output of the Gemini for the year had averaged about 2000 tons per month. (Salt Lake Tribune, December 31, 1916)

January 30, 1917
"General Manager Jackson C. McChrystal of the Gemini Mining Company, one of the old reliable producers of Eureka, Utah, states that he has completed arrangements with the smelters by which he will at once increase shipments 50 per cent. The Gemini has been producing at the rate of 2,000 tons a week, being held down to this figure by the smelters, which have not been able to treat a greater tonnage from the property. The company's big ore bodies, which have produced millions in the past, have never been followed much below the water level, and it is said that the installation of adequate pumping equipment will make the group into practically a new mine." (Salt Lake Mining Review, January 30, 1917)

July 7, 1917
"It was stated that the Eureka Mines had just settled for a fifty-ton lot of ore, carrying values of 62 ounces silver and 10 percent lead. This came from the 1200-foot level and netted the company about $2400. Another car from the 900-foot level, now on the way, shows by assays values of 72 ounces silver and 12 percent lead." (Salt Lake Tribune, July 7, 1917)

("The Eureka Mines company, which commenced development of its ground less than four months ago," was already shipping car loads of high value ore. -- Salt Lake Mining Review, July 15, 1917)

(The process of selling ore to the smelters was to first extract the ore and load it into wagons. At that time the mining company performed its own assay to determine the value of the ore, but that value was only an estimate. The ore was then moved by team and wagon to the nearest railroad spur to be loaded into rail cars. The rail cars were the moved to one of many ore sampling companies, where the entire load is sampled and its value agreed upon by the mining company and the ore sampling company. Based on the assay provided by the ore sampling company, the ore was then sold to the smelter, and the mining company was then paid, or "settled.")

July 14, 1917
"At the Eureka Mines the miners are stoping on ore on both the 1200 and 900-foot levels. The drift on the 1300 level is nearing its objective. It is estimated it has but 35 to 40 feet until it will intercept the ore channel. On the 1100 level the drift is being sent out under the winze now, when a raise will be sent up to make connection." (Salt Lake Herald, July 14, 1917)

(The Ridge & Valley mine was working on its 1500 and 1700 levels, shipping "as much as can be sent out under present restricted conditions." Or in other words, very little ore is being shipped. -- Salt Lake Herald, July 14, 1917)

November 25, 1917
The Gemini shipped 16 carloads of ore "this week." The Ridge & Valley mine shipped two carloads. (Salt Lake Herald, November 25, 1917)

December 30, 1917
"The Eureka Mines company is a newly organized corporation which owns a very valuable bunch of mining claims which adjoins some of the biggest mines in the district. This company entered into negotiations with the Gemini whereby the development work could be carried on through the Gemini shaft. Two drifts were sent out from the latter's shaft into Eureka Mines territory, one from the 900 level and the other from the 1500 level. Although this company has been working but a short time nine carloads of ore of good grade have been marketed." (Salt Lake Tribune, December 30, 1917)

(All through 1918 to 1922, there were regular, almost weekly reports, of the success of the McChrystal mines, shipping one to ten cars of ore per week from the Gemini, Ridge & Valley, Eureka Mines, and Godiva mines. There were also reports of new ore bodies being developed in the mines on a regular basis. All of this activity was in leased ground, with the mining company taking their share of the revenue from having to furnish the shafts and hoists and other facilities to get the ore out of the ground. This "leasing system" allowed the mining company to share the profits, but without the expense and danger of the actual extraction by miners who were working under contract. The Eureka Mines company did not have its own shaft, with the leasers using "contract" drifts from the Gemini property.)

January 11, 1918
From the Eureka Reporter, January 11, 1918.

According to information sent out during the week from the Salt Lake office of these companies a new smelting contract has been secured which will permit the shipment of approximately 2500 tons of ore per month from the Gemini, the Ridge & Valley and the Eureka Mines properties the bulk of this ore, or about 2000 tons, to come from the Gemini.

While the new contract is hardly as favorable for the mining companies as the one which expired some weeks ago, it is pretty much in line with contracts secured by other Tintic mines, and probably cannot be improved upon at this time. At any rate it will permit these mines to send out a very respectable tonnage of ore and already preparations are being made for moving this product.

The pumping equipment for the unwatering of the Gemini and the Ridge & Valley is now in splendid shape and a contract has been let for the sinking of a winze from the 1700 to the 1800 level in the latter mine. This work will be handled by Roberts and Hodges and it is expected to increase the ore reserves in this mine, in which there is an exceptionally fine showing on the deepest level, the 1700. At this point in the Ridge & Valley the ore has been followed for a distance of approximately 300 feet and there are reasons to believe that the deposit will be even stronger and better on the 1800. Only about 65 gallons of water per minute is being handled by the pumping equipment. This water is lifted to the big reservoir on the 1600 level from which it is forced up to the 400 level by the large electrically driven pump and the water is then carried from the 400 level to the surface by another pumping unit. The system of dividing the lift necessary to get the water from the lower workings of the mine to the surface seems to be the logical solution of the pumping problem.

At the present time no effort is being made to work the Gemini mine below the water level but this is a matter which may possibly be taken up during the present year. The Ridge & Valley's present output is coming from the stopes reached from the No. 1 and No. 4 winzes. Mining operations are being carried on on various levels of the Gemini, down to a depth of 1,600 feet, most of this being under the leasing system.

Supt. John H. McChrystal says that conditions are quite favorable in the Eureka Mines property where ore is being stoped on the 700 level, where a strike was recently made, and also on the 900 level.

February 5, 1918
"The Gemini is especially making a splendid record of production, with 100 men engaged in leasing and development work. On its own account the company is now sinking below the water level at a depth of 1,700 feet, work which it is believed will be finished by March 15, when further exploratory operations will be carried on. During January the mine produced from its various workings 2,000 tons of good shipping ore, indicating a splendid outlook for shipments during the year." (Deseret News, February 5, 1918)

(John H. McChrystal, the oldest of the McChrystal brothers, died of pneumonia in January 1920, at age 57, during the Spanish Flu epidemic in Eureka.)

At the February 1920 annual meeting, the Gemini company reported that it had shipped a total of 7,804 tons during the past year, about 220 carloads. Gross revenue was reported as $201,576.89, but expenses were reported as $222,538.42. (Salt Lake Tribune, February 25, 1920)

September 22, 1922
The Chief Consolidated Mining company announced that it had completed its acquisition of the Gemini Mining company and the Ridge and Valley Mining company, both of which were McChrystal properties. On September 18th and 19th, special stockholders' meetings of the Gemini and the Ridge and Valley companies were called to ratify the sale of the assets and agree to the sales. Mention of the price paid was not made. (Salt Lake Tribune, September 22, 1922)

(This was in the same week as the Chief Consolidated buying control of the Eureka Mines property, which was also a McChrystal property, with all three being adjacent to each other. A month later, the adjacent Eureka Hill property, also a McChrystal property, was controlled by the Chief Consolidated company.)

(In September and October 1922, when the Chief Consolidated company bought the four McChrystal properties, the Gemini mine, the Ridge and Valley mine, the Eureka Mines property, and the Eureka Hill mine, they noticeably did not buy the Godiva mine.)

September 30, 1922
From the Salt Lake Mining Review, September 30, 1922.

The pending deal for the purchase of the Gemini and Ridge and Valley mines in the Tintic district by the Chief Consolidated Mining Company was formally closed up on the 21st. As the company has also acquired control of the stock in the Eureka Mines Company, another so-called McChrystal proposition, the only remaining mining proposition in the camp controlled by the McChrystal interests is the Godiva, and rumor has it that this property also is likely to drop into the Chief Consolidated net before long, thus "cleaning the slate" as far as McChrystal holdings in camp are concerned.

The Ridge and Valley and the Gemini join the Chief Consolidated Mining Company's estate at Eureka on the west. For the time being it is the plan of the management to work the newly acquired properties through the Gemini shaft, the point of entry from which both mines have been worked by the McChrystal management, although the three estates are connected for ventilation and safety purposes.

Acquired Mines are Valuable

The Gemini stands out as one of the most profitable mine enterprises in the Eureka district. Jackson McChrystal, vice president and general manager of the Gemini company, to whom a large measure of the organization's success is attributed, is generally conceded to be one of the efficient mine operators in the state.

A remarkable feature of the mineralization in the Gemini mine is its richness as well as persistence. On the lowest level, the 1900, the mineral content of the ore is said to be as heavy as on the upper levels. Two hundred feet below the 1900 level of the Gemini, on the 2100 level of the Chief Consolidated, it is understood, some remarkable ore bodies have been opened up. Both the Ridge and Valley and the Eureka Mines, while productive only in a small way, are considered to have great promise. The Eureka Mines, adjoining the Gemini, is traversed by the same mineral channels so productive in the latter property.

October 24, 1922
"At the Gemini mine a number of important changes are being made by the Chief Consolidated Mining company, which recently took over the property along with the Ridge and Valley and the Eureka Mines. The large frame building standing over the head of the Gemini mine has been torn down. Another compressor has been installed and the collar of the shaft lined with cement. A large part of the underground trackage has been changed and the rails spaced eighteen inches apart instead of twenty, so that Chief Consolidated cars may he used in the Gemini." (Salt Lake Tribune, October 24, 1922)

(Read more about the Gemini mine after 1922, as part of the Chief Consolidated)

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