Tintic, Godiva Mine

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This page was last updated on November 12, 2025.

Overview

(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the Godiva 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 Godiva mine lay adjoining the Uncle Sam and May Day mines in East Tintic. The Uncle Sam and May Day mines were controlled by the Mountain View Mining company.

April 2, 1879
"The Godiva lode was located April 2, 1879 by John Q. Packard and John McChrystal, and was the first producer on the now celebrated Godiva mountain. The Godiva, together with the Ajax, Pythagoras, Vulcan, Aurora and Albion lodes, forms the property of the Godiva Mining company. The Godiva has been a producer of high grade ore for several years, but being like the Gemini, a close corporation, it is difficult to secure the exact figures of its production. The Godiva mine has several hundred feet of tunneling and a fine working shaft is now being sunk. A steam hoist and compressor was put up on the mine this year, and it will soon again take its place as a producer of precious metals. John Q. Packard controls the stock and the mine is being worked under the superintendency of John H. McChrystal." (Salt Lake Herald, July 26, 1897)

March 14, 1883
"The Aurora, Albion and Arcadian lodes located March 14, 1883 and the Ashley lode, located March 21, 1883, all by John Q. Packard and John McChrystal are now a part of the Godiva mine of which we have heretofore given extended mention. All are patented ground." (Salt Lake Herald, August 30, 1897)

August 7, 1891
"The owners of the Godiva group of mines, Messrs. John Q. Packard, John McChrystal and R. Harkness, are again in luck, as on Wednesday a large body of very fine ore was struck in the tunnel now being run. Native silver is to be seen all through the ore in large quantities. This is good news to the owners of property in that vicinity and will add materially to the worth of their claims. The Godiva group is located southeast of Eureka, and this is considered a most important strike." (Tintic Miner, August 7, 1891)

April 12, 1896
"Among the promising mines, recently opened, is the Godiva, owned by John Q. Packard and Mayor McChrystal. The development work has nearly all been done in shipping ore, and with a comparatively small amount of development consummated, the owners have 135 feet of good milling ore in sight. Work will be begun at once on an upraise from the tunnel to the surface for machinery." (Salt Lake Tribune, April 12, 1896)

April 12, 1896
"The Uncle Sam, lying to the south and adjoining the Godiva, will shortly be incorporated. The owners are Fred Auerbach of this city, Mr. John McChrystal of Eureka and others. Since the ground was patented three years ago, no work has been done on the Uncle Sam, but the intention now is to begin its systematic development." (Salt Lake Tribune, April 12, 1896)

April 12, 1896
"The May Day company, a recent incorporation, is about to put on two shifts in the search for the precious metal." (Salt Lake Tribune, April 12, 1896)

May 2, 1896
The Uncle Sam Mining company filed its articles of incorporation. Officers were: Frederick H. Auerbach, president; Samuel M. Auerbach, vice president; with John McChrystal and Mrs. Sarah A. McChrystal as members of the board. The company owned the Uncle Sam mining claim and the Uncle Sam mill site. (Salt Lake Tribune, May 3, 1896, "yesterday")

May 3, 1896
"Development work at the Godiva is being vigorously pushed ahead. The winze from the tunnel level is now down 150 feet, the vein widens and the ore appreciates in value both in silver and gold as greater depth is attained. An ore bin with chute connections, having a capacity of about 200 tons, is being built. The survey is completed and the work will begin at once upon the wagon road up the mountain's side to where the permanent hoisting machinery will be located and the main working shaft started." (Salt Lake Herald, May 3, 1896)

May 21, 1899
The Godiva mine was active "after a period of continuous idleness from the time of discovery in 1883, followed by occasional attempts at development, the property was practically shut down until 1895, when it passed into the management of John H. McChrystal. (Salt Lake Herald, May 21, 1899)

November 11, 1899
The Godiva mine was putting down its shaft to the 600-foot level and was in the silver and lead ore, with the gold values increasing at depth. (Salt Lake Tribune, November 11, 1899)

September 3, 1901
The Godiva shaft was down to the 300-foot level. (Salt Lake Tribune, September 3, 1901)

December 5, 1911
The stockholders of the Gemini Mining company and the Godiva Mining company held their annual meetings on December 4, 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 Godiva mine was not working at the time. (Salt Lake Herald, December 5, 1911)

June 9, 1916
"Only a few men are at work in the Godiva mine, according to Manager McChrystal, and all of the work in that property is being done under the leasing system. Some very nice ore is being mined, however, and practically all of the leasers are doing well. Last month the ore which wad taken from the Godiva brought in the neighborhood of $7,000." (Eureka Reporter, June 9, 1916)

December 31, 1916
From the Salt Lake Tribune, December 31, 1916

The Godiva was the first mine to be developed on the east side of the mountain, and profitably worked ore bodies which were later made famous by such properties as the May Day, the Sioux, the Yankee Consolidated, the Beck Tunnel, and the Colorado.

For a number of years the Godiva was a somewhat prolific producer, and many thousands of tons of goo ore were shipped before milling works were provided for the treatment of the lower grade ores. Operations were temporarily discontinued because of the low price of silver and lead, while the presence of zinc was a setriment and a handicap that was difficult to overcome.

The latest work in the mine disclosed a large body of zince ore avergaing 35 percent, and with the increasing demand for zinc, the company intends to resume work in January. In addition to its 100-ton concentrator, the company has a steam hoist. Its main shaft is sunk down to 1200 feet.

July 7, 1917
"The Godiva is stated to have broken and ready for shipment between four and five cars taken from the 500, 600, and 700-foot levels that will net from $1500 to $1700 per car. On the 1200-foot level the drift in the big body of quartz and manganese is now out 120 feet, and important developments are expected at an early date.""The Godiva is still drifting on the 1200 level. It is out 260 feet from the shaft, and has about 200 feet to go to reach its objective. On the 700 level the miners are still breaking ore. This is a high-grade lead, worth more than $50 a ton, carrying 30 per cent with 15 ounces silver. On the 500 level the miners are breaking ore, also. This seems to be picking up the vein system to the north." (Salt Lake Tribune, July 7, 1917; Salt Lake Herlad, July 14, 1917)

August 30, 1917
"Manager Jackson C. McChrystal of the Godiva Mining Company reports that development of the recent find of ore in the 1200 level of the company's property at Eureka, Utah, has been delayed by inability to secure coal. The property was closed for several days because of this, but work is again under way. The company has an important ore body on the 900 level." (Salt Lake Mining Review, August 30, 1917)

November 25, 1917
The Godiva shipped two carloads of ore "this week." (Salt Lake Herlad, November 25, 1917)

September 26, 1925
From the Salt Lake Tribune, September 26, 1925.

Property of the Godiva Mining company, situated at Eureka, Utah, lying between the Plutus mine of the Chief Consolidated company and the Yankee mine of the Mountain View Mining company, was acquired by Jackson McChrystal, Salt Lake operator, yesterday at a special stockholders' meeting.

It is understood that Mr. McChrystal will be joined by a Salt Lake smelting company in the development of the Eureka property, which up to date has a gross production record of $1,200,000.

Operations will be started on or about October 1. The property has been developed to a depth of 1330 feet by a shaft sunk 1200 feet and a winze sunk from the 1200 level for a depth of 150 feet.

The mine is fully equipped. Power is derived from a steam plant. On the 750-foot level of the mine a body of ore possessing excellent possibilities, as well as values, awaits exploitation.

On the 900 level, just before operations were suspended pending the consummation of the deal just completed, it is understood ore had been opened up which conditions indicate is the downward continuation of the deposit on the 750 level.

At the time of his death in July 1928, Jackson C. McChrystal was president and manager of the Godiva Mining company. He was hoping to bring the mine back into production. (Deseret News, July 10, 1928)

September 30, 1994
The Godiva Mining company, which consisted of 64.17 acres, was dissolved as a corporation. Between June and September 1993, the Centurion Mining company had purchased the land assets and all outstanding shares of the Godiva company from the remaining heirs of the McChrystal and Wallace familes, along with 67 other minority shareholders. (Eureka Reporter, April 7, 1995)

(Centurion Mines Corporation was the remaining corporate entity of the McIntyre family interests in Tintic.)

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