Tintic, Northern Spy Mine

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This page was last updated on November 10, 2025.

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Overview

(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the Northern Spy 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 following comes from Geology and Mining Industry of the Tintic district, Utah, by G. W. Tower and G. O. Smith, USGS 19th Annual Report, 1897-1898.

Northern Spy Mine. -- This mine, which is southwest of the Sioux mine, on the east slope of Mammoth Mountain, establishes the continuity of this ore body from the Carissa on the south to the Sioux on the north. It is worked by a tunnel and two shafts. The tunnel is at the south end and is driven southward in the ore body. The main shaft, which is 700 feet deep, is about midway between the Sioux and the Carissa, while the other shaft is at the north end. Like the tunnel, the shafts are on the ore body.

USGS Professional Paper 107, Tintic Mining District, published in 1919, page 231

Northern Spy And Carisa Mines. -- Developments. -- The Northern Spy and Carisa mines are now worked together by the Carisa Mining Co. The only connection between the two mines, however, is on the 700-foot level. The two properties lie on the east and southeast slopes of Mammoth Peak, the Northern Spy shaft at an altitude of 7,390 feet and the Carisa of 7,530 feet. The Northern Spy shaft is due south of the Humbug and Utah tunnels and 3,700 feet distant from the Utah. Its depth is 900 feet and the drifts are of great aggregate length. Much prospecting work has been undertaken on levels 7, 8, and 9, but no large ore bodies have been found.

The Carisa shaft lies 1,050 feet south-southwest of the Northern Spy shaft. The water stands knee deep in the ninth level, 806 feet below the surface. The long Sioux-Ajax tunnel connects with level 7 of the Northern Spy mine.

Since 1911 little work has been done in these properties. In 1911 prospecting was in progress under the management of Grant Snyder.

The two properties have yielded lead, silver, copper, and gold, but the total production has not been made public. The dividends of the Carisa Co. amount to $60,000, and the last distribution was made in 1906.

January 1, 1879
"The Northern Spy lode was located Jan. 1, 1879, by Mrs. Martha Heath, and the Fisherman lode on Jan. 2, 1S79, by L. M. Heath. Both locations cover identically the same ground, the second being made on account of Heath being advised that a former location did not expire until Jan. 2. The Northern Spy is the north extension of the Carisa and has acquired a well earned reputation as one of Tintic's bonanzas. The Heath family, who owned the property and who did considerable development, went to California in the early 1880s and left a power of attorney with Robert Hall, who sold the property to Alexander Graham. Graham worked the property for several years, shipping the ore to the old mill at Homansville and receiving big returns. Graham afterwards sold to John Beck for $80,000, the latter organizing the Northern Spy Mining company. The company did considerable work and shipped a great deal of ore, but during the past several years all the work has been done by leasers. The Northern Spy is now being worked under a lease by Hyrum Beck and others, and is a regular shipper. It is equipped with a first-class steam hoist and all necessary machinery." (Salt Lake Herald, July 26, 1897)

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