Dragon Mine

[Ossyconno]

Went to Delta UT yesterday for the job and stopped and toured around Silver City on the way home. It appears they are working a new tunnel at the Dragon mine over by the old headframe at the east end of the pit using a Underground Mining Loader and a Articulating Truck. Do any of you out there know what it is they are going after mineral wise? Looks as though they have exed out quit a bit of material already.

[Derek]

It is a clay that is used in making china plates, cups, etc. I'll see if I can dig up the name for you.

[Danb]

Derek is right.
It is a rare clay called Halloysite. From what I remember it was pushed up into fractured bedrock and they have to wash it or scrape it off the rock. It has been several years since I researched that pit. I’m sure someone else here will have more detailed info. Just wish I had the gear and time to go down the shaft when I was there 20 years ago. Crap I’m getting old..

[Derek]

Dan,

The shaft was in excellent condition 4 years ago and you didn't need any vertical gear. The manway was stable and in great shape at least it was as far as I went down without my exploring gear. Both times I was there, I didn't have my exploring setup with me so I didn't get to explore it all the way to the bottom. Does anyone know how deep the shaft was?

[Ossyconno]

Thanks for the replies. I sure would like to be there if and when they break into any of the ancient workings around their ore zone. I can just imagine what might be found. Dan, do you have any plans of the ore bodies for this area?

[Danb]

Hello everyone,

There might be some maps in this document http://www.silvercityminingcompany.c...ictsofutah.pdf

I do know they are called ore chimneys. The miners sank shafts paraell to the ore chimneys to depths of several hundred feet.

And thinking about it today, I remembered I have a video of the inside of the Mammoth Mine. A friend who worked for Centurion Mines took us in years ago. Below the buildings at the mine is an adit that accesses the mine. There are stopes so large our 3 combined Krypton Mag light beams just disappeared into the darkness.

I’ll post a link to the video when I get it compiled. And I will be traveling to Osceola, NV to check out a 20 acre claim I’m purchasing and will be going right through the Tintic area on my way and I plan to stop, maybe camp a night and revisit the area on the ATV and maybe head down a shaft. And get lots of photo's to share.

Thanks All,
Danb

[rhartill]

Dragon mine

Some interesting research on the Dragon Mine-- scroll down far enough and you'll find a cross section of the clay deposit--which orginally was mined for Gold...

http://www.borstad.com/papers/webdragon.html

[lobster68w]

This article-

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Atlas+Finds+Halloysite+Clay+Bed+in+Shaft+at+Dragon+Mine.-a098373725

claims the shaft is 450' deep.

[Kiel]

My book says the vertical shafts goes down until 1060 feet, the last level at 1025

[Derek]

Hmm..interesting, it didn't seem that the shaft was that deep. I would have put it at 450 before 1025. Pretty cool either way, I wish that I would have explored it when I had the chance.