Cardiff Mine

The Cardiff Mine is a lead, silver, copper, and zinc mine located in Salt Lake county, Utah at an elevation of 8,780 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

Satelite View

MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.

Site Name

Primary: Cardiff Mine

Commodity

Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Primary: Copper
Primary: Zinc
Secondary: Gold

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

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1885
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Middle Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Wasatch Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR, TABULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: On North Limb Of Uinta Arch; East Of Wasatch Fault

Type: L
Description: East And West Superior Faults, Alta Overthrust, Cardiff Fissure

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Enargite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Dolomite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): THE LARGEST OF THE CARDIFF ORE BODIES AVERAGED 10 FT IN THICKNESS AND OVER 300 FT IN LENGTH, AND WAS AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE CARDIFF FISSURE (N55E, 70N) AND ALTA THRUST

Comment (Location): INCLUDES: SOUTH FORK CONSOLIDATED, MOUNTAIN CHIEF AND JONES MINES. LOCATION TO MAIN (600 LEVEL) TUNNEL. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1973

Comment (Reserve-Resource): JAMES, L.P., 1979, P. 67

Comment (Development): DEVELOPMENT AND EQUIPMENT COSTS 1955 THRU 1959 WERE $843,867.

Comment (Workings): SHAFT ON MAP (BEEFSTEAK INCLINE) WAS ORIGINAL WORKING, CLOSED DUE TO DESTRUCTION OF HEADFRAME BY AVALANCHE, SOUTH WORKING (300 TUNNEL) WAS STARTED IN SAFER PLACE; NORTH WORKING (600 TUNNEL) WAS THEN STARTED TO EXPLORE DEEPER GROUND. LATER THE WASATCH DRAIN TUNNEL WAS EXTENDED STARTING IN 1955 AND THE MINE WAS WORKED THROUGH THIS PORTAL UNTIL 1967.

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1880'S

References

Reference (Deposit): JAMES, L.P., 1979, GEOLOGY, ORE DEPOSITS AND HISTORY OF THE BIG COTTONWOOD MINING DISTRICT, UTAH UGMS BULLETIN 114, PG. 65-68.

Reference (Deposit): CRITTENDEN, M.D., JR., 1965, GEOL. OF THE DROMEDARY PEAK QUAD., UTAH: USGS MAP GQ-378.

Reference (Deposit): CALKINS, F.C. AND BUTLER, B.S., 1943, GEOL. AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE COTTONWOOD-AMERICAN FORK AREA, UTAH: USGS PROF. PA. 201, P. 109-111.

Reference (Production): JAMES, L.P., 1979, P. 66.

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