Tintic, North Lily Mining Co.

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This page was last updated on November 5, 2025.

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

(Although incomplete, research suggests that none of the North Lily Mining company - former Knight Investment company - properties were part of the renewed activity in the Tintic district under the Kennecott lease of 1955. Except for the Dragon Consolidated mine, none of the North Lily properties were active during the early 1970s when Anaconda, especially after closing its International smelter in 1972, began arrangements to merge and consolidate its holdings in the Tintic district.)

North Lily Mining Company (1916-1925)

October 6, 1916
The North Lily Mining company was incorporated on October 6, 1916, with H. G. Snyder as president and A. N. Holdaway as vice president. The other officers and directors were Gidean Snyder, Ben G. Hite, and Claude Freed. The company purchased the Snyder and Horton groups of mining claims, which adjoin the north boundary of the Eureka Lily Mining company. Work was to begin on sinking a 1000-foot deep shaft immediately. The two mining claims were being surveyed in preparation to file for patents. H. G. Snyder was also manager of the adjoining Eureka Lily Mining company. (Salt Lake Herald, October 7, 1916; Eureka Reporter, February 2, 1917)

October 17, 1918
Five mining claims were deeded to H. G. Snyder by A. J. Weber, including the Caldwell, Weber, Miller, Clark, and Dewey. Then H. G. Snyder deeded the same five claims, along with the Natrona claim to the North Lily Mining company. (Ogden Standard Examiner, October 18, 1918)

(These same six claims were surveyed and patented by the U. S. Land Office in August 1919.)

"In 1924 the North Lily Mining Company's holdings consisted of seven undeveloped mining claims, whose only claim to merit was its proximity to the one productive mine, the Tintic Standard, in the East Tintic District. By acquiring the East Tintic Coalition Mining Company property in 1926, and several other properties since then, the North Lily has now become a very important producer, with an average production of more than 6,000 tons of ore per month." (Utah--Resources And Activities, Department Of Public Instruction, 1933, Page 317)

April 11, 1924
An option had been signed in early April, and a first and second payment had been made. A third and final payment was made in July. Two diamond drills of the Anaconda company had been moved to the North Lily Mining company ground in early April 1924 in preparation for exploratory drilling to take place. (Eureka Reporter, April 11, 1924; Salt Lake Mining Review, May 15, 1924; Eureka Reporter, June 6, 1924; Salt Lake Tribune, June 10, 1924; Eureka Reporter, July 11, 1924)

April 1924
The North Lily property "was purchased by the International Smelting company about a year and a half ago after extensive diamond drilling were conducted." (Salt Lake Tribune, October 10, 1925)

(None of the above reports from 1924 directly referred to the buyer as being the International Smelting company, a subsidiary of Anaconda copper company. The first reference to that relationship came later on October 16, 1925, when the East Tintic Coalition Mining company was "secured" by the North Lily Mining company, as a subsidiary of the International company. -- Eureka Reporter, October 16, 1925)

July 1924
"In July 1924 controlling interest in the North Lily Mining Co. was purchased by the International Smelting and Refining Co. and a program of drilling exploration was undertaken from the surface. While the drilling was in progress in May 1925, other East Tintic properties, including the East Tintic Coalition Mining Co., the Standard Lily Extension, and the eastern part of the Yankee Mining Co., were added to the holdings, and the Addie group was taken under lease." (USGS Professional Paper 1024, published in 1979, page 155)

October 10, 1925
"Control of the East Tintic Coalition Mining company has been secured by the International Smelting company through its subsidiary, the North Lily Mining company. The East Tintic Coalition property, consisting of sixty acres, adjoining the Addie and the Big Hill, was one of the first estates to be developed in the East Tintic district. In the early days, a carload of high grade ore was shipped by John Bestelmeyer from the surface." Stockholders of East Tintic Coalition stock were invited to exchange eight shares of their stock for one share of North Lily stock. (Salt Lake Tribune, October 10, 1925)

"Following its purchase of the North Lily, the company [International Smelting] secured an option on the Addie, an option for the control of the Mountain View Mining company, owning the Uncle Sam and the May Day and control of the Yankee parties on Godiva Hill." (Salt Lake Tribune, October 10, 1925)

May 22, 1925
The Yankee Consolidated mine and the East Tintic Coalition Mining company were "secured" by the International Smelting company. (Eureka Reporter, May 22, 1925; October 16, 1925)

May 30, 1925
"At the meeting held a few days ago in Salt Lake, shareholders of the Addie Mining Company of Tintic ratified action of officers in entering into an agreement which will mean the transfer of their holdings to the International Smelting & Refining Company. The Addie is but one of half a dozen local properties that are to be taken over by the International. Under the terms of the deal arranged for the Addie the smelting company is to take over the development of the ground at once, paying $5,000 down, and having until December, 1926, to pay the next $25,000, while the balance of the $100,000 will be paid over in December, 1927." (Salt Lake Mining Review, May 30, 1925)

(The Addie was bordered by the East Tintic Consolidated on the southeast, the Yankee Consolidated on the southwest, and the East Tintic Coalition on the east.)

In 1928 the North Lily mine had installed a new hoisting plant and commenced the construction of a tramway. (Eureka Reporter, February 24, 1928)

By 1929, International Smelting company, already in control of the North Lily, acquired the Knight properties. The Knight acquisition, for about $1,000,000, was made under the name of the North Lily Mining Company. (Eureka Reporter, May 2, 1929; July 11, 1929)

North Lily Knight Mining Company (1929-1941)

July 3, 1929
Control of all holdings of the Knight Investment company of Provo in the Tintic mining district was acquired by the International Smelting company through its subsidiary, the North Lily Mining company, in a deal involving close to $1,000,000 and over 6000 acres of patented mining claims. The contract, signed on July 3rd by J. O. Elton, manager of the smelting company, and J. William Knight, of the Knight Investment company, provided that a new organization to be known as the North Lily Knight Mining company, with 3,000,000 shares, shall control and develop a total of 9,127 acres of former Knight property in the Tintic district. Included in the deal are the Twentieth Century, Big Hill, Empire Mines, Dragon Consolidated, Eureka Swansea, Middle Swansea, Swansea Consolidated, Tintic Drain Tunnel. The International Smelting company, which was the Utah unit of the Anaconda Copper copper company, became one of the largest mining and smelting units in the west. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 4, 1929; Ogden Standard Examiner, July 4, 1929)

September 19, 1929
From the Eureka Reporter, September 19, 1929.

North Lily Knight Work to Commence -- At a meeting held yesterday at Salt Lake the details were worked out for the proper financing of the North Lily Knight company’s operations of this district. First the shareholders of the North Lily ratified the deal whereby that company assumes control of all of the Tintic properties of the Knight Investment Co. North Lily Knight is really a holding corporation for the various groups of claims recently purchased from the Knight interests. The directors of the North Lily had previously taken favorable action on this transfer and arranged to submit the matter to shareholders for formal ratification.

The properties involved include control of the Twentieth Century, Big Hill, Empire Mines, Dragon Consolidated, Eureka Swansea, Middle Swansea, Swansea Consolidated, Tintic Drain Tunnel and substantial interest in Tintic Central, Southern Eureka and North Godiva.

The area of ground is 6,159 acres of patented mining claims, 349 acres of unpatented mining claims, surface rights of 1,739 acres and a contract on 880 acres, a total of 9,127 acres of ground.

[100,000 shares of North Lily stock was deposited in the treasury of the new North Lily Knight company. Dividend income from those 100,000 shares was guaranteed to be at least $100,000 per year for three years, totaling the reported $300,000 paid by the North Lily company for the Knight properties. But even this large amount spread over three years was seen as insufficient for the best development of the Knight properties.]

The first development work will likely be on the Twentieth Century group, the Big Hill and Empire Mines. The first mentioned may be developed either from the Iron King shaft or the new shaft to be sunk on the Big Hill, which seems to hold the strategic position among the groups of claims in the eastern end of the district. Empire Mines already has a deep shaft and all needed machinery for extensive mining operations.

No time will be lost in starting work at the Big Hill, it is reported. In fact a small crew of men has been busy there for the past few weeks. Some road work will be needed to make connection with the highway extending from Eureka to the North Lily. Big Hill's shaft, now down 600 feet, will be enlarged and retimbered and then continued to a depth of about 1500 feet.

North Lily Mining Company Reorganized (1941-1945)

July 8, 1941
The North Lily Mining company was incorporated as a consolidation of the previous North Lily Mining company, and the North Lily Knight company, which was 95 percent controlled by the North Lily Mining company. The consolidation was approved by the boards of both companies on July 8, 1941. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 9, 1941; July 11, 1941; July 16, 1941)

(Both the previous and the new North Lily Mining company was a subsidiary of the International Smelting and Refining company, which in-turn was a subsidiary of the Anaconda company.)

July 17, 1941
The Tintic Standard Mining company leased for a period of 10 years, 56 acres of North Lily Mining company ground, and an additional 56 acres leased from Eureka Lily company which was controlled by the Tintic Standard company. A one-mile drift was already nearly completed westward from the Tintic Standard main No. 2 shaft at the 1450 level, and crossing into North Lily ground. Any ore extracted was be removed by way of the Tintic Standard No. 2 shaft, and 50 percent value of any ore extracted from North Lily ground would be paid to the North Lily company. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 11, 1941; Eureka Reporter, July 17, 1941)

July 17, 1941
The North Lily Knight company was consolidated with the North Lily Mining company. The North Lily Mining company owned 95 percent of the North Lily Knight company, which controlled the following nine companies: Big Hill Mining company; the Defender Mining and Milling company; the Dragon Consolidated Mining company; the Empire Mines company; the Eureka Swansea Extension company; Middle Swansea Mining company; the Swansea Consolidated Mining company; the Tintic Drain Tunnel company; and the Twentieth Century Mining company. (Eureka Reporter, July 17, 1941)

August 8, 1941
From Provo Daily Herald, August 7, 1941; Legal Notices.

A special meeting of stockholders of the Eureka Bullion Mining company to be held August 8, 1941 to approve the change from its property being leased to the North Lily Knight company (lease dated January 17, 1931 with later extensions dated June 16, 1936 and September 19, 1938), to its property being leased to the North Lily Mining company, due to the latter company having become vested with and succeeding the North Lily Knight company, by statutory consolidation.

A special meeting of stockholders of the Big Hill Mining company to be held August 8, 1941 to approve the change from its property being leased to the North Lily Knight company (lease dated December 20, 1930), to its property being leased to the North Lily Mining company, due to the latter company having become vested with and succeeding the North Lily Knight company, by statutory consolidation.

A special meeting of stockholders of the Twentieth Century Mining company to be held August 8, 1941 to approve its property being leased to the North Lily Mining company.

March 22, 1942
"No attempt was made in the report to segregate production prior to the consolidation July 9 [1941] of the North Lily-Knight company with the North Lily Mining company. J. O. Elton, president of the latter company, reported." (Salt Lake Tribune, March 22, 1942)

March 31, 1942
"The final consolidation of the North Lily-Knight company with the North Lily company was effected during the year." (Deseret News, March 31, 1942; citing the North Lily Mining company annual report)

North Lily and International Smelting (1945-1976)

January 11, 1945
"Two of the state's larger mining companies have combined their efforts upon a program in the Tintic district, which is now entering its most interesting stage. The project, known as the Development Unit, was started in October 1941 under an agreement between the Tintic Standard Mining company and the North Lily Mining company, a subsidiary of International Smelting & Refining company. Work of the development unit was to sound out the ore production possibilities of an area consisting of 143 acres of ground in the East Tintic district, which includes parts of the Eureka Lilly Consolidated Mining company and Twentieth Century Mining company properties. The area, hitherto undeveloped at depth was regarded by geologists and engineers as one of the most promising areas in the Tintic district. Since 1941, more than 8,000 feet of lateral work has been done and several promising ore showings have been encountered. Work in the Development Unit is being performed from the 1450-foot level of the No. 2 Tintic Standard shaft. A drift has been extended southwesterly along what is called the South Fault, a fault which has led to ore in other parts of the district. The drift is now out a distance of 8,000 feet from the No. 2 Tintic Standard shaft and well within Twentieth Century ground." (Lehi Sun, January 11, 1945)

February 16, 1945
"In the Tintic district at Eureka, the North Lily Mining Company, was brought into production several years ago. For a number of years North Lily was one of the district's large producers, but the original ore body was largely mined out and production has been comparatively small recently. However, the company has acquired additional ground and is pursuing its policy of developing Utah's resources to the extent of its ability." (Emery County Progress, February 16, 1945)

April 3, 1945
"International Smelting and Refining Company, wholly owned subsidiary of Anaconda Copper Mining Company, owns 57.6 per cent of North Lily stock outstanding, according the 1944 report." (Deseret News, April 3, 1945)

April 18, 1946
The North Lily mine shipped 14,360 tons of ore to the smelter during 1945, compared to 13,944 tons for all of 1944. (Salt Lake Tribune, April 18, 1946; about 287 carloads compared to 278 carloads)

December 3, 1948
"Operations on the 1500 and 1600 foot levels of the North Lily mine have been abandoned and the pumps pulled, F. A. Wardlaw. Jr., president, said last Wednesday. The gold-silver-lead-zinc ore being taken from those levels played out and chances for finding new ore were considered nil, he stated, so pumps were pulled and the levels allowed to flood. The mine had shipped several cars per month until about a month ago, Mr Wardlaw said. Work is being done on the 1100 and 1350 levels of the North Lily in connection with the development of a leased block in the property of the Eureka Lily Mining Co. However there have thus far been no extractions of ore from the leased area." (Eureka Reporter, December 3, 1948)

July 1, 1949
The North Lily mine was closed on July 1st due to a lack of exploration possibilities. The price of metals (lead and zinc) was too low to make mining profitable. The mine was said to be "played out" and without the government subsidy, operations could be continued. The company's Godiva and Dragon Consolidated properties were still in operation, employing only 35 miners. (Salt lake Tribune, June 27, 1949)

(After the North Lily mine closed in 1949, research suggests that, except for the Halloysite from the Dragon Consolidated mine, the only source of income for the company was royalties, leases and fees from adjacent mining companies as they developed their own operations as they passed into North Lily properties.)

(The Tintic Bullion and Eureka Bullion mines, or leases of them, along with leases of the North Lily mine produced over 2000 tons of dry ore each during 1949, and were the main producers for all of the North Lily Mining company's properties. Leases were low-cost, low-production operations that seldom lasted more the two or three years as each of the minor ore veins were followed until they were exhausted.)

August 28, 1954
The Dragon Consolidated Mining company was 65.7 percent owned by the North Lily Mining company. About 57 percent of the North Lily company was in-turn owned by the International Smelting & Refining company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Anaconda Company. The remainder of stocks of the two companies was owned by small investors. The Dragon Consolidated, because it was shipping large quantities of Halloysite, paid its first dividend in more than 30 years. (Salt Lake Tribune, August 28, 1954)

May 18, 1958
Anaconda, through its subsidiary International Smelting company, in addition to others, controlled the following former Knight companies. (Provo Sunday Herald, May 18, 1958)

Big Hill Mining company
Defender Mining and Milling company
Empire Mines company
Eureka Swansea Extension Mining company
Middle Swansea Mining company
New Southern Eureka Mining company
North Godiva Consolidated Mining company
North Lily Mining company
Swansea Consolidated Mining company
Tintic Drain Tunnel company

June 9, 1960
North Lily Mining company declared a dividend based on production of Halloysite from its Dragon Consolidated Mining company subsidiary. North Lily was still a subsidiary of International Smelting, which in-turn was still a subsidiary of The Anaconda Company. (Salt Lake Tribune, June 9, 1960)

1962
The Tintic Central mine was first developed in 1962, comprising 19 patented mining claims and 274 acres. Control of the Tintic Central Mining company was by the North Lily Mining company through ownership of a majority of the Tintic Central stock. North Lily Mining company was in-turn controlled by the Anaconda company. The Tintic Central Mining company was adjoined on the east by the South Standard Mining company, and the Iron Blossom Mining company on the west. These two adjoining companies were controlled by the adjacent Tintic Standard Mining company.

(No production resulted from the Tintic Central mine. There were annual stockholder meetings held in January of every year between 1963 and 1970, but there are no reports or references to any mining activity during those years, until the company was included in the 1972 proposed merger of all Anaconda properties in Tintic.)

March 11, 1971
Excerpts from Deseret News, March 11, 1971.

The Anaconda Company announced "today" that it had signed an agreement to lease the mines in Utah County of the following companies. The lease stipulates that Anaconda would spent $200,000 in development over the next two years, the $00,000 over the following three years after the first two years, then $500,000 for the second five-year period. The lease encompasses 1,183 acres. Seven of the eight companies were already controlled by Anaconda through majority stock ownership. Also included in the "unit lease" was Anaconda's International Smelting subsidiary, and two separate companies, Kennecott Copper Corp., and Tintic Standard Mining company. The Anaconda-controlled mining companies were:

Big Hill Mining Co.
East Tintic Coalition Mining Co.
Eureka Bullion Mining Co.
International Smelting & Refining Co.
North Lily Mining Co.
Twentieth Century Mining Co.

August 9, 1972
The International Smelting and Refining company was a subsidiary of the Anaconda company. With the closure of the International smelter at Tooele, Utah, at the end of January 1972, Anaconda had no need for the mines in the Tintic Mining District. It especially had no need for the unique lead-silver-gold ores, known as "fluxing" ores, that were unique to the Tintic district. In a reflection of the changes, Anaconda began the process to "delist" six of its Tintic mining subsidiaries. Included in the inactive mines were the Eureka Bullion Mining company, and the Empire Mines company. Two active mines were the Dragon Consolidated Mining company, and the North Lily Mining company. (Salt Lake Tribune, August 9, 1972)

October 25, 1972
Anaconda renewed its lease of the North Lily properties in the Tintic district, extending the lease to March 4, 1974. The lease area included property owned by the East Tintic Coalition Mining company, Eureka Bullion Mining company, North Lily Mining company, Big Hill Mining company, and Twentieth Century Mining company, all of which were controlled by International Smelting, and in-turn by Anaconda. Included in the lease also was parts of the Tintic Standard Mining company. (Salt Lake Tribune, October 25, 1972)

(As early as November 1972, Anaconda began moving to consolidate and merge all of the 18 companies it controlled in the Tintic district. This would require almost complete stock ownership, not just control of a majority of the stock. -- Salt Lake Tribune, November 29, 1972)

January 1, 1973
"The Anaconda Co. announced that as of January 1st, four of its principal wholly owned subsidiaries will be merged into the parent company. Anaconda Wire and Cable company, Anaconda American Brass company and Anaconda Aluminum company will become divisions of Anaconda without a change of name or officers. The properties and plants of International Smelting and Refining company in Utah and New Jersey will, after the merger, be operated as part of the Primary Metals Division of Anaconda." (Butte Montana Standard, December 30, 1972; Salt Lake Tribune, January 3, 1973)

North Lily Mining Company Merger (1976-1981)

August 21, 1976
From the Deseret News, August 21, 1976.

Anaconda plans 17-firm merger in Tintic area -- In a move to consolidate its holdings in the Tintic area of Juab County and facilitate exploration and development, Anaconda Co is proposing a merger of 17 small mining companies.

Special meetings of the stockholders of the companies have been scheduled to discuss the proposed merger. Anaconda owns a controlling interest in all of the companies with one exception and has indicated it plans to support the merger proposal.

The firms involved in the move are North Lily Mining Co., Big Hill Mining Co., Dragon Consolidated Mining Co., East Tintic Coalition Mining Co., Empire Mines Co., Eureka Bullion Mining Co., Eureka Swansea Extension Mining Co., Mountain View Mining Co., The New Southern Eureka Mining Co., North Godiva Consolidated Mining Co., Swansea Consolidated Mining Co., Tintic Central Mining Co., Tintic Drain Tunnel Co., Twentieth Century Mining Co. Victor Consolidated Mining Co., Yankee Consolidated Mining Co., and ATC, Inc.

None of the firms is actively engaged in mining but some have properties under lease to others for exploration development and mining.

North Lily would be the surviving corporation. Shareholders in companies affected by the merger would receive North Lily stock in exchange for their shares. Those with fractional share interests would be paid in cash, according to the proposal.

All of the participating firms have substantially the same officers and directors.

November 19, 1976
The stockholders of 16 of the 17 companies controlled by Anaconda voted to approve the merger into the North Lily Mining company. The holdout was the 16 percent of stockholders of the Dragon Consolidated Mining company who voted against the merger. (Deseret News, November 19, 1976)

May 18, 1980
Although the merger took place in 1976, a series of law suits were filed contesting the exchange values of the individual stocks of the 14 companies in the North Lily merger. On May 18, 1980, a legal notice was posted advising stockholders of the 14 companies, excluding the Dragon Consolidated company and the surviving North Lily company, to surrender their stock certificates to have them exchanged for the approved value in North Lily Mining company stock. (Salt Lake Tribune, May 18, 1980)

The 14 companies were (alphabetically):

Big Hill Mining Company;
East Tintic Coalition Mining Company;
Empire Mines Company;
Eureka Bullion Mining Company;
Eureka Swansea Extension Mining Company;
Mountain View Mining Company;
The New Southern Eureka Mining Company;
North Godiva Consolidated Milling Company;
Swansea Consolidated Mining Company;
Tintic Central Mining Company;
Tintic Drain Tunnel Company;
Twentieth Century Mining Company;
Victor Consolidated Mining Company;
Yankee Consolidated Mining Company.

1981
"Atlantic Richfield Co. leased the North Lily, also in the East Tintic area, to treat and process tailings, waste dumps, etc." (Mineral Yearbook, 1981, page 492)

April 10, 1981
A year after the merger of North Lily properties, a new three-year lease of the North Lily Mining company to Anaconda to develop the properties was signed on April 10, 1981. (Eureka Reporter, May 8, 1981)

July 21, 1981
"The Anaconda Company currently has two geologists working on a surface mapping and sampling project. Anaconda owns about 20,000 acres of surface and mining rights in the District. In 1978 Anaconda completed a modest surface drilling project in the area of their North Lilly Mine property. Anaconda will probably only complete field work this season. Their goal is to define specific drill targets for precious metals. Anaconda is considering construction of a leach plant near the old Silver City mill." (Eureka Reporter, July 21, 1981)

North Lily After Anaconda (1981)

(Research suggests that in about 1983, Anaconda sold the mining claims in the East Tintic area to companies or persons other than those who did business using the North Lily Mining company name after 1983. Those companies or persons appear to have controlled only the North Lily Mining company name, holding none of the actual former Knight Investment property previously held by the North Lily Mining company prior to 1983. The companies or persons using the North Lily Mining company name appear to have been stock market speculators and promoters who simply cashed in on the well-known North Lily Mining company brand name, counting on potential investors not doing the needed research.)

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