Tintic, Zuma Mine

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Zuma Mining Company

(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the Zuma 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 description of the Zuma mine comes from USGS Profession Paper 1024, published in 1979.

The property of the Zuma Mining and Milling Co. is in the southwestern part of the East Tintic district about 1-1/2 miles southwest of Dividend. The company was organized in July 1907, but exploration and development were not vigorously pursued until after the discovery of the Tintic Standard mine. Underground work then proceeded continuously from 1917 to 1928, chiefly under the direction of P. J. Fennel and A. C. Nebeker.

From 1928 to 1935 the mine was idle, but it was again reactivated in February 1935 and operated continuously until January 1940. The Zuma was briefly opened in 1944 and again in 1946, when the shaft was retimbered to the 1,200-foot level. In 1957 the Zuma Mining and Milling Co. was reorganized as the Zuma Oil and Uranium Co. by Feno Tedesco and his associates, and in 1960 the East Tintic mining property and improvements were sold to the Kennecott Copper Corp.

The Zuma property in the East Tintic district consists of all or part of eight patented mining claims containing approximately 125 acres. The principal underground opening is the Zuma shaft, which is 1,310 feet deep. It was completed April 1922. Four levels were driven from the shaft at depths of approximately 200, 500, 1,200, and 1,300 feet below the surface. In addition, the fairly extensive 800-foot level has been established from two winzes from the 500-foot level, and the 1,000-foot level has been driven from a raise connecting the 1,200- and 800-foot levels.

The first ore shipment was made in 1918, and other shipments were made at irregular intervals to 1944. The last ore shipped in 1944 amounted to 122 tons.

Timeline

July 26, 1907
The Zuma Mining and Milling company filed its articles of incorporation. The officers were: M. L. Garrity, president; Rasmus Nelson, vice president; Jere Driscoll, treasurer; P. J. Fennell, secretary; these plus James Knowles make up the directors. The mining claims included the Zuma No. 1 to No. 4; the Eleanor No. 1 and No. 2. The property was just east of the Crown Point. The ground was previously owned by M. L. Garrity and Rasmus Nelson. (Eureka Reporter, July 26, 1907)

(Rasmus Nelson was also superintendent of the mine.)

August 24, 1907
"Supt. Rasmus Nelson of the Zuma Mining company states that the shaft upon this ground is down about 20 feet. The material for the new shaft house is upon the ground and the building will be erected as soon as possible. The company has placed an order for new machinery that should arrive at any time now." (Deseret News, August 24, 1907)

March 6, 1908
"The officers of the Zuma mining company expect to be able to resume work about the middle of next month. The company has a well equipped hoisting plant and is in a splendid shape for an active campaign of development work. The Zuma ground is out east of the Beck Tunnel and Colorado." (Eureka Reporter, March 6, 1908)

March 10, 1908
William Wirthlin deeded the Zuma No. 1 to No. 4 mining claims to M. L. Garrity, who then deeded the same property plus the Eleanor No. 1 and No. 2 mining claims to the Zuma Mining and Milling company. (Salt Lake Herald, March 10, 1908)

March 23, 1908
The Zuma Mining and Milling company applied to the U. S. Land Office for a patent for the Zuma No. 1 to No. 4 mining lodes. (Eureka Reporter, April 3, 1908)

August 15, 1908
"The affairs of the Zuma Mining company and J. C. Jensen, of Provo, have been satisfactorily settled. The Zuma is at last been freed from a protracted litigation suit, and that they now can go ahead with the development of their ground. Mr. Jensen was here Monday last and met with the board of directors of the Zuma, and a friendly and satisfactory settlement was agreed upon. The protest made against the company's patent has been withdrawn. Work was temporarily abandoned last fall and can now be continued. Already $15,000 have been spent in developing the property, the major part of which went into machinery and other equipment. The company has erected a very fine shaft house. A 35 horse power hoist has been installed, and also a three drill electrically driven compressor." (Deseret News, August 15, 1908)

March 17, 1909
From the Salt Lake Herald, March 18, 1909.

Eureka. March 17.—The Zuma Mining company's property, situated in East Tintic south of the Iron King and east of the Crown Point, which has remained idle since the recent depression in the money markets, started up today.

H. C. Don Carlos, manager of the Telluride Power company, went over to the property today and fixed matters so that the 'juice' is now on and from the fifty-foot mark sinking will commence and will be steadily prosecuted until the 300-foot level will be reached. It is then the intention of the company to drift to the east and west to crosscut the two different bodies of ore that traverse the property from north to south.

The Zuma is perhaps one of the best equipped properties on the east slope of the range. A fine shaft house was built, which included the compressor room and the blacksmith shop. They then installed a 50-horse-power hoist and a four-drill compressor, which will be run by electricity, rails, timbers, coal and in fact every necessary tool was placed on the ground when the present shaft was only down fifty feet.

The Zuma is incorporated for 1,000,000 shares at the par value of $1 and is largely held by local people. Rasmus Nelson will have charge of the work and will have a force of about eight or ten men under him. There are four patented claims and two unpatented claims in this property.

March 30, 1909
A syndicate of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, mine operators purchased an option on 21 percent of Zuma stock, giving them control of the company and giving the Zuma company $30,000 cash to resume development. The stock purchased was from the company treasury, with the remainder being in the hands of W. S. Garrity and Rasmus Nelson. The shaft was down to 125 feet. (Deseret News, March 30, 1909; Salt Lake Tribune, April 6, 1909)

(The option expired in mid November 1909, and was not renewed. The Idaho people had wanted to extend the option, but one of the majority shareholders was against it. The Zuma mine was subsequently shut down. -- Salt Lake Tribune, November 29, 1909)

July 25, 1909
The Zuma shaft was down to 265 feet. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 25, 1909)

April 21, 1911
The Zuma shaft was down to 300 feet, and all work was in development of the mine. No ore had been shipped. (Eureka Reporter, April 21, 1911)

(There were several assessment and delinquency notices during 1911, and again in 1914, and again in 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1920.)

(During 1912-1914, the Zuma Mining and Milling company failed to pay its state corporate license fee, and was therefore unable to do business in Utah. Then in 1914, the company failed to pay its Utah County property tax.)

(There were numerous articles throughout 1915 and 1916, says that the Zuma company was about to resume development work very soon.)

May 12, 1916
"Property of the Zuma company consists of 6 claims, four of which are patented, and the equipment includes a good hoisting plant and in fact everything that is needed for the development of the ground which is now being carried on by a force of about six men. Already about $24,000 has been expended in equipping the property and in driving the 270 foot shaft, 1000 feet of tunnels and 15 feet of winze." (Eureka Reporter, May 12, 1916)

By August 5, 1916, the Zuma shaft was down to 400 feet, and by September 15th the shaft was down to 500 feet. (Deseret News, August 5, 1916; Salt Lake Herald, September 18, 1916)

June 21, 1918
"During the past week the Robinson Brothers commenced hauling the Zuma company's first shipment of ore. This ore, about fifty tons in all, will be loaded at the same point on the Rio Grande used by the Tintic Standard Mining company. The ore runs well in both lead and silver and the carload will bring the company a nice sum of money." (Eureka Reporter, June 21, 1918)

December 1, 1918
The Zuma shaft was down to 750 feet, still in development, with limited drifts on at least three levels where small veins were found but still no commercial ore was shipped. (Salt Lake Herald, December 1, 1918)

August 12, 1919
The current round of operations had started on May 1, 1916, with $46,312 being spent in development. The shaft and winze were down to 800 feet, there was 2,000 feet of drifting, and a 50-foot raise. (Deseret News, August 12, 1919)

January 30, 1920
The Zuma was about to ship its first carload of ore. It was to be sent by wagon to the railroad siding just a half mile way. (Eureka Reporter, January 30, 1920)

July 23, 1920
"The Zuma mine will have a carload of ore on the market next week. A railroad car was spotted on the Iron King spur of the East Tintic line today and ore hauling from the Zuma will start at once. This shipment of ore has been accumulating at the Zuma for several months, being taken from the strike made at a depth of 800 feet." (Eureka Reporter, July 23, 1920)

March 5, 1921
The Zuma main shaft was down to 500 feet. A main winze had been sunk from a drift at the 500 level, down to 800 feet, with plans announced to sink the main winze down to 1200 feet. Plans were also announced that the surface hoisting machinery would be moved down into the mine, after a larger hoist was installed in the surface hoist house. (Deseret News, March 5, 1921)

April 23, 1926
"Supt. Edward Ohlson was in from the Zuma property during the week and reported a nice showing of lead in both of the drifts that are now being driven on the 600 level, with everything to indicate that one of these headings should open a deposit of good ore within a few rounds. Two raises are also following the quartz above this same level and the officers of the Zuma feel encouraged over the present showing. In the ore bins at the mine there is a part of shipment which ought to be completed quite soon." (Eureka Reporter, April 23, 1926)

June 15, 1928
There had been no activity at the Zuma for the past year. (Eureka Reporter, June 15, 1928)

April 2, 1931
"The Zuma has a main shaft down a distance of 1300 feet and while no work has been under way during the past few years the shaft is still in good condition as recent examinations have shown. The mine is equipped with machinery but most likely some of this will have to be discarded in favor of more modern mining apparatus." (Eureka Reporter, April 2, 1931)

February 26, 1935
"After a shut down of several years, the Zuma Mining company, resumed development work." "The present work consists of making necessary repairs and placing the underground workings in shape for actual development." (Eureka Reporter, February 28, 1935)

May 26, 1955
At a special meeting on May 26, 1955, the stockholders voted to approve the chnage of the company name, from Zuma Mining and Milling company, to Zuma Uranium and Oil Corporation. (Salt Lake Tribune, May 4, 1955, with continuing legal notices)

(There were earlier references to Zuma Uranium and Oil in March 1955.)

July 13, 1956
Zuma and Bear Creek Exploration, a subsidiary of Kennecott Copper, signed an $350,000 option for Bear Creek to buy Zuma's property in East Tintic. The option was to be exercised within three years. (Western Mineral Survey, July 13, 1956)

(In early August 1957, talks for the formal purchase were reopened. -- Salt Lake Tribune, August 9, 1957)

(No further reference to any activity in the Kennecott/Zuma sale after this date, other than penney-stock stock listings of the Zuma company, which ended in January 1963.)

(As late as January 1963, Zuma stock was still being traded on the Salt Lake Stock Exchange, at 3 cents per share, selling in blocks of thousands of shares. No listings after January 1963.)

December 14, 1962
The name of the corporation was changed from Zuma Uranium & Oil Corporation, to Baronet Products, Inc. a Utah corporation, with headquarters in Miami, Florida. (Deseret News, January 12, 1963)

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