Solitude Tunnel

The Solitude Tunnel is a silver and lead mine located in Salt Lake county, Utah at an elevation of 9,101 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: Solitude Tunnel
Secondary: Michigan-Utah Mine
Secondary: Michigan-Utah Consolidated Mines Company

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Manganese
Secondary: Zinc
Tertiary: Molybdenum

Location

State: Utah
County: Salt Lake
District: Big Cottonwood District

Land Status

Land ownership: Private
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
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1909
Year Last Production: 1928
Discovery Year: 1925
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

Form: TABULAR

Form: TABULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: Uinta-Cottonwood Arch, Cordilleran Hinge Line, Sevier Overthrust Belt

Type: L
Description: Grizzly Thrust Fault, Northeast Striking Fissures

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Bleaching, Calc-Silicates, Minor Silicification, Oxidation

Rocks

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: AVERAGE GRADES FOR MICHIGAN-UTAH MINE ARE 16.5 OZ/TON AG, 9% PB, AND 1.2% CU. IN 1911 ORE WAS PRODUCED FROM BELOW SOLITUDE TUNNEL ON CITY ROCKS FISSURE WHICH ASSAYED 134 OZ/TON AG AND 34% PB.

Materials

Ore: Argentite
Ore: Smithsonite
Ore: Anglesite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Wad
Ore: Gold
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Location): SOLITUDE TUNNEL IS LOWEST PORTAL OF MICHIGAN-UTAH MINE ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1983

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: EARLY 1900'S

Comment (Production): ORE PRODUCTION HAS BEEN INCLUDED WITHIN PRODUCTION FIGURES FOR THE MICHIGAN-UTAH MINE

Comment (Development): DISCOVERY MADE ON CITY ROCKS FISSURE AND TUNNEL DRIVEN TO INTERSECT THE NORTHEASTERN EXTENTION OF THE FISSURE AT DEPTH

Comment (Deposit): SOLITUDE TUNNEL EXPLORED THE DEEPER PORTIONS OF THE CITY ROCKS FISSURE. WINZES WERE SUNK DOWN TO 200 FT. BELOW THE TUNNEL LEVEL (9100 FT). MOST ORE CAME FROM BENEATH THE BUTTE MINE. ORE SAID TO FOLLOW SHOOTS WHICH MARK THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN THE FISSURE AND CERTAIN LIMESTONE BEDS. MOST PRODUCTION FROM FISSURE-REPLACEMENT DEPOSITS.

Comment (Workings): SOLITUDE TUNNEL DRIVEN NEAR SOLITUDE LAKE TO CONNECT WITH THE CLEAVE TUNNEL OF THE MICHIGAN-UTAH MINE. SOLITUDED TUNNEL 300 FT BENEATH CLEAVE TUNNEL AND CONNECTED BY RAISE.

Comment (Geology): DEPOSIT MOSTLY FISSURE-RELATED. TREND OF FISSURE IS SUBPARALLEL, NORTH 60 EAST TO MARGIN OF ALTA STOCK. HOSTING LIMESTONES ARE BLEACHED AND CONTACT METAMORPHOSED BY ALTA STOCK

References

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.P., 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

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

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