Whirlwind Tunnel

The Whirlwind Tunnel is a lead and silver mine located in Utah county, Utah at an elevation of 7,700 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: Whirlwind Tunnel
Secondary: Dutchman Mine
Secondary: Dutchman Coalition Mines Co.
Secondary: Wild Dutchman

Commodity

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

Location

State: Utah
County: Utah
District: American Fork 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
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Year Last Production: 1880
Discovery Year: 1875
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
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: Uinta-Cottonwood Arch, Cordilleran Hingeline, Sevier Overthrust Belt

Type: L
Description: Whirlwind And Dutchman Faults, Striking N20w And N90w Respectively

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidation

Rocks

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

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: UNKNOWN

Materials

Ore: Gold
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Smithsonite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Malachite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Workings): TUNNEL DRIVEN IN A N20W DIRECTION FOR 1100 FT, ONLY MINOR SPURS AND RAISES.

Comment (Deposit): NO DETAILED DESCRIPITION OF DEPOSITS AVAILABLE.

Comment (Location): TOWNSHIP UNSURVEYED ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :1983

Comment (Production): A TOTAL OF 3000 DOLLARS WORTH OF ORE WAS PRODUCED PRIOR TO 1880. NO PRODUCTION SINCE 1880.

Comment (Development): ALL WORK WAS DONE PRIOR TO 1880

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: LATE 1800'S

Comment (Geology): TUNNEL IS PARALLEL TO AND JUST EAST OF THE WHIRLWIND FAULT, THE DUTCHMAN FAULT WAS PENETRATED ABOUT 1000 FT INTO THE ADIT

References

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

Reference (Production): BUTLER, B.S., 1920

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.

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