The Alta Tunnel is a lead and silver mine located in Salt Lake county, Utah at an elevation of 8,799 feet.
About the MRDS Data:
All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.
Mine Info
Elevation: 8,799 Feet (2,682 Meters)
Commodity: Lead, Silver
Lat, Long: 40.61194, -111.61889
Map: View on Google Maps
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Alta Tunnel MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Alta Tunnel
Secondary: Bodfish Tunnel
Secondary: Alta Tunnel and Transportation Co.
Secondary: Prince of Wales Group
Secondary: Lucky Dutchman Shaft
Commodity
Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Zinc
Location
State: Utah
County: Salt Lake
District: Big Cottonwood District
Land Status
Land ownership: National Forest
Note: the land ownership field only identifies whether the area the mine is in is generally on public lands like Forest Service or BLM land, or if it is in an area that is generally private property. It does not definitively identify property status, nor does it indicate claim status or whether an area is open to prospecting. Always respect private property.
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Type: Underground
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1925
Year Last Production: 1934
Discovery Year: 1875
Discovery Method: Other
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Middle Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Wasatch Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Form: TABULAR
Structure
Type: R
Description: Vinta-Cottonwood Arch, Sevier Overthrust Belt, Cordilleran Hinge Line
Type: L
Description: Northeast Striking Fissures, Normal Faults, And Thrust Faults
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidation
Rocks
Name: Plutonic Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Pliocene
Name: Plutonic Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Mississippian
Name: Plutonic Rock
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: ZINC-RICH ORE AVERAGED ABOUT 36% ZN WITH SOME LEAD AND SILVER, MOST PRODUCTION FROM PB, AG ORES
Materials
Ore: Smithsonite
Ore: Argentite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Calcite
Comments
Comment (Development): FISSURE VEIN DISCOVERED WHILE DRIVING THE ALTA DRAIN TUNNEL, WAS CALLED THE NO 5 FISSURE
Comment (Deposit): SOME CONFUSION EXISTS AS TO THE NAME OF THE FISSURE OR FISSURES ENCOUNTERED BY THE ALTA TUNNEL AT 1200 OR 1500 FT FROM PORTAL. JAMES (1979) ONLY MENTIONS THE LUCKY DUTCHMAN FISSURE AT 1200 FT FROM THE PORTAL AND CALKINS AND BUTLER (1943) ONLY MENTION THE NO. 5 FISSURE AT 1500 FT FROM THE PORTAL. BOTH REFERENCES GIVE THE SAME PRODUCTION FIGURES EVEN THOUGH THE NAMES & LOCATIONS ARE DIFFERENT. THE BEST GUESS IS THAT THE TWO FISSURES ARE ACTUALLY THE SAME. NO. 5 FISSURE EXTENDS EASTWARD FROM ALTA TUNNELS AND EXTENDS UPWARD FOR 300 FEET ABOVE TUNNEL ELEVATION. REFERENCE TO LUCKY DUTCHMAN FISSURE INDICATES PRESENCE OF AN ALTERED DIKE.
Comment (Location): LUCKY DUTCHMAN SHAFT AT 4495575 N AND 447850 E (UTM COORDINATES) ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1977
Comment (Workings): ALTA TUNNEL IS 4,000 FEET LONG. ALTA TUNNEL USED TO DEVELOPE NO. 5 FISSURE AND ALSO USED TO ACCESS NUMEROUS FISSURES BENEATH PRINCE OF WALES GROUP. LUCKY DUTCHMAN SHAFT AND A PROSPECT PIT LOCATED NEAR PORTAL OF ALTA TUNNEL
Comment (Geology): NO REFERENCE MADE TO HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION ADJACENT TO VEIN BUT MINOR SILICIFICATION AND BLEACHING ARE PROBABLY PRESENT
Comment (Production): ABOUT 60,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF ORE WAS PRODUCED FROM FISSURE NO. 5 (OR LUCKY DUTCHMAN FISSURE), WITH PB AND AG PRESENT; ABOUT 425 TONS OF ORE WERE PRODUCED.
Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: LATE 1800'S
References
Reference (Production): CALKINS, F.C., AND BUTLER, B.S. 1943
Reference (Deposit): JAMES, L.P., 1979, GEOLOGY, ORE DEPOSITS, AND HISTORY OF THE BIG COTTONWOOD MINING DISTRICT, SALT LAKE COUNTY, UTAH: U.G.M.S. BULL. NO. 114.
Reference (Deposit): CALKINS, F.C., AND BUTLER, B.S., 1943, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE COTTONWOOD-AMERICAN FORK AREA, UTAH: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROF. PAPER, NO. 201.
Reference (Deposit): BUTLER, B.S., LOUGHLIN, G.F., HEIKES, V.C., AND OTHERS, 1920, THE ORE DEPOSITS OF UTAH: U.S., GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROF. PAPER, NO. 111.
Reference (Deposit): BAKER, A.A., CALKINS, F.C., CRITTENDEN, M.D., JR., AND BROMFIELD, C.S., 1966, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE BRIGHTON QUADRANGLE, UTAH: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEOL. QUAD. MAP GQ-534
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