Tintic, North Standard Mine
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This page was last updated on January 16, 2026.
North Standard Mining Company
(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the North Standard 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 North Standard Mining company was organized 1916. In the early 1950s, the company was active in exploring in other mining districts in Utah, and sold a large part of its Tintic holdings which included large amounts of clay, sand and other ceramic material, to Interstate Brick in February 1954, and in 1954 became involved in the uranium boom in southeastern Utah. The company was still an active company as late as 1958, by which time the company had transitioned to becoming an oil company with leases in Montana.
All through 1952 and 1953, the North Standard Mining company levied at least two assessments of one cent per share against company stock, to obtain funds to expand the company into mining projects beyond Tintic. There were at least two sales of delinquent stock, and in 1954, a law suit concerning the value of the stock. The assessments ended in 1954 with the law suit and the company's sale of its Tintic interests to Interstate Brick. The stock was sold on the Salt Lake Stock Exchange and was a typical low-cost "penny" stock."
December 14, 1916
The North Standard Mining company filed its articles of incorporation. The company was to operate the Grey Eagle and Virginia groups of mining claims. (Salt Lake Herald, December 14, 1916; Salt Lake Tribune, December 31, 1916)
November 24, 1918
The North Standard Mining company had commenced work on its shaft, which was already sunk to a depth of 310 feet by the previous owners. The company was just completing its combined boarding house and bunk house. The shaft will be a double compartment shaft with a man-way. The engine and hoist were due very soon. The company owned 18 mining claims, encompassing 360 acres. (Salt Lake Herald, November 24, 1918)
(The mining claims were some of the oldest in the district, having been located in about 1884. But there was always difficulty in consolidating the claims into a viable corporation. The ore veins that were to be followed by the North Standard company were in line with those of the Tintic Standard, less than a mile away. Local geologists and mining engineers provided glowing reports of the mine's potential. It should have been a successful mine. But it wasn't.)
May 4, 1919
"Considerable work has been done on the property, where there are now 500 feet of tunnel, 450 feet of shaft work, aside from several drifts and winzes of varying height and depth." (Salt Lake Tribune, May 4, 1919)
August 22, 1919
The shaft of the North Standard company was down to 460 feet. (Eureka Reporter, August 22, 1919)
October 15, 1920
The main shaft of the North Standard company was down to 700 feet. The engine and hoist were capable of 1000 feet depth, and the air compressor furnished air for five drills. There had been difficulties during the past few months, but these were in the past now. (Eureka Reporter, October 15, 1920)
(By 1923 there had been 14 assessments against company stock. There were more assessments in 1926, 1929 and 1930 to raise funds to continue development by driving horizontal drifts and cross-cuts, upward raises and downward winzes. But the development never did find paying ore. There were samples of good ore, but never in large veins. Always splendid prospects that justified continued stock sales.)
(During 1930 to 1935, there were several promises by the company that work was to resume work, with newspaper stories describing the fully equipped mine with its 2000-foot main shaft, and working levels at 1400 feet 1000 feet and 800 feet. New strikes of rich paying ore were announced, but there was never enough quantity to make the effort worth the cost.)
July 11, 1940
From the Eureka Reporter, July 11, 1940.
The North Standard Mining company's property in the East Tintic District, inactive for about seven years, may be reopened in the near future, according to John Dorius, of Salt Lake City, secretary of the company.
The mine is fully equipped and has been reconditioned periodically. The 2000-foot shaft has three compartments to the 1000 level.
The company proposes to start mining on a showing of ore on the 800-foot level and follow it down, according to Mr. Dorius. The mine has never been in production with the exception of some manganese ore which was mined several years ago and shipped to the Columbia Steel company at Provo.
(In 1942, the North Standard Mining company was sued by the Utah State Tax Commission for failing to pay its 1942 corporation fee. The state won the case, with the mining company required to pay $10.80.)
(In September 1946, the North Standard Mining company was suspended from the Salt Lake Stock Exchange for the period of one year for failing to file annual reports for the years 1943, 1944 and 1945, as required by Securities and Exchange Commission rules. The one year penalty was reduced to six months.)
(In February 1947, the North Standard Mining company levied a one cent per share assessment against its stock.)
May 2, 1947
"Agreements providing for control of two additional mining properties have been completed by North Standard Mining Company, it was announced in Salt Lake today. Included in the new properties are the Estella and Denny groups located in the Star District, Beaver County, Utah, lying adjacent to holdings of New Majestic Mining Company. Recently North Standard was reorganized and new officers elected. During the reorganization period, the stock was removed from trading on the Salt Lake Stock Exchange. It is now reported that application will be made, upon completion of reorganization and acquisition of properties, to have the stock again called on the Exchange. The company has retained its interests in mining ground located in the North Tintic mining region." (Western Mineral Survey, May 2, 1947)
December 10, 1948
From the Eureka Reporter, December 10, 1948.
Recent activity on the stock exchange of the North Standard Mining Co. stock has led to a large number of inquiries about the company and its holdings.
North Standard Mining Co. was incorporated in 1917 on the basis of its present holdings in the Tintic District. Among other developments was the sinking of a shaft to a depth of 1100 feet. The records show that a large body of low grade ore was found between the 900 and 1000 foot levels. However, because the shaft was allowed to deteriorate, it is not possible now to determine the ore values until the shaft is repaired.
J. H. Manson, is present President and general manager. Late in 1946 Mr. Manson and associates acquired control of North Standard. Since that time a number of valuable properties have been added to the company holdings. Two of these, Humboldt Mining Company and Ostello Mining Company, are located in the Star Mining District in Beaver County, Utah. A third, United Metal Mines, Inc., is located in Nevada. The second car of high grade lead ore from the Nevada properties will reach the smelter next week. Extensive development of this property is planned for early Spring.
All three of the above properties have commercial ore in sight. Early exploration of all of them will show the extent of the ore bodies already uncovered.
October 20, 1950
"Operations were being conducted at two points in the North Standard Mining Co. ground according to the Western Mineral Survey. The United States Steel Products Company had finished shipping a test shipment of 500 tons of Manganese ore. At the same time the North Standard Co. was carrying on a vigorous and systematic program of development on the 1400 foot level to find the zone below the big shrinkage cave, struck on the 1200 foot level." (Eureka Reporter, October 20, 1950)
January 28, 1954
"An agreement filed in the office of Recorder Vest this month was an indenture, dated Jan. 28. 1954, by North Standard Mining Company, conveying to Interstate Brick Company, clay, sand and other ceramic material in a block of North Tintic properties." (Eureka Reporter, February 19, 1954)
December 21, 1954
"Moab. - North Standard Mining Co., a lead-zinc company listed on the Salt Lake Stock Exchange since 1917, will merge with San Fernando Valley Uranium Co., with headquarters here. North Standard stockholders will vote on the proposal Dec. 21. That firm would be the surviving company. San Fernando Valley has holdings in the Uravan, Moab, and Paradox Valley mining districts." (Salt Lake Tribune, November 30, 1954)
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