Looking for an old mine in the Mazatzals

[300RUM]

At 74 my father is hobby miner and geologist. He mentioned last year that getting to see an old mine from around 1900 was on his bucket list. The mine was known, at the time, as the Mazatzal Mine or The Mazatzal Mining Company. It is possible it may have been renamed at a later date and go by another name. I have been looking at maps and Google Earth but have not been able to pin it down. It seems like it should be somewhere in the north end of the Mazatzal Wilderness. The newspaper articles I got this information from are from the Globe Arizona Silver Belt, 1901 to 1911. The claims are on a ridge. The south end is at 7000 feet, dropping to 5000 feet in 1.3 miles then to 3500 feet in 0.5 miles. They are on a line from Globe to Jerome. There were 80 claims at 20 acres each, adjoining. There were 3 miles of road and 1500 feet of shaft and tunnel. It was 90 road miles from the Globe rail head.

 

The Mazatzal Mining Claims were formerly owned by Irving M. House. There is a House Mine NE of north Peak at 34 09 36 by 111 26 53.

It’s good whitetail country. Anybody seen anything while hunting out there that could be this mine?

[AZ8]

Maybe the Cornucopia and Story mines near Mount Peeley and Sheep Mountain? I believe they can be accessed from FR25A, north of Sunflower. FYI, that road is pretty rough, 4x4 only.

[300RUM]

Maybe the Cornucopia and Story mines near Mount Peeley and Sheep Mountain? I believe they can be accessed from FR25A, north of Sunflower. FYI, that road is pretty rough, 4x4 only.

Thanks, I have been to both a number of times. The elevation profile doesn't fit. The mine should have it's south end neat 7000 ft dropping as you head north. It would have to be on the north side of either Sheep Mtn. or Mt Peely. Maybe around North Peak or Mazatzal peak? I am beginning to believe the mine is not indicated on the 7.5 topos and probably hasn't had a road going to it for many years. You would think 1500 feet of tunnel would leave tailing piles you could see, but they have had over 100 years to blend back in.

[AZ8]

Ok, cool.

 

Yeah, there's a bunch of abandoned mines north of Peeley not on any maps. Back when I was young and had plenty of time, used to do a lot of hunting in and around Peeley and Sheep Mountain. But it's been a long time.

 

I'll keep checking my old notes and see if any clues pop up.

[bvanetten]

This might be the old topo you are looking for. 1942 Payson Quadrangle

 

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/arizona/pclmaps-topo-az-payson-1936.jpg

[300RUM]

This might be the old topo you are looking for. 1942 Payson Quadrangle

 

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/arizona/pclmaps-topo-az-payson-1936.jpg

I went to the site and grabbed Turret Peak (the map to the west) also. It is dated 1933. The 7.5' maps I have of the area are from the late 60's and early 70's. These older maps may have some clues. Thanks for the input.

[300RUM]

This is the old newspaper article that describes the mine's location.

 

 

ARIZONA SILVER BELT. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1901.

GLOBE DISTRICT
MINING NEWS.
The Week Has Been a Very Busy
One in the Local Mining Field.

MAZATZAL MINING PROPERTY
A Croup at Claim Controlled by J. W. Wentworth, of Payson, the Most Promising In Tonto Basin. Old Dominion to use Oil at the Mine. John W. Wentworth of Payson who has been detained here on business for the past two weeks, returned home on Tuesday. Mr. Wentworth has been for a number of years, and is now, largely Interested In mines in the northern part of this county. Being at one time an owner In the Grand Prize mines upon which the first smelter in that section has recently been erected, and is now making its first run with flattering results. He was largely instrumental in investing capital to take hold of that property. Among his other holdings in that section, is one of the most ideal and largest copper, gold and silver mining properties in the west. It consists of 30 claims in the Mazatzal range, lying on the south side of the East Verde River, about 15 miles west of Payson and about 85 miles northwest of Globe. These claims run north of east and south of west on a large "hog back " that breaks away from the main range towards the north, sloping down from an altitude of 7,000 feet, at the south end of these claims, to an altitude of 5,000 feet in a distance of 7,500 feet, then breaking off to that of 3,500 feet, within the next 3,000 feet, the abruptness of which makes an ideal tunnel site, where the veins are exposed in such a manner that by drifting in on one of them, a sufficient amount of ore could be taken out to almost pay for the work, and at the same time penetrate the mountain, at a rapid gain of depth, where the other veins could be crosscut from this drift on a very economical basis, and perhaps the drift might disclose that the many veins showing on the surface are united at depth in an enormous compact body of ore. The veins on the surface show many different characters of copper ore, all of which are of fair grade, besides carrying gold and silver values of no Inconsiderable amount. The development on this group of claims is very limited, as the owners, of whom there are several, (yet Mr. Wentworth has at this time the full control) have not had the means to develop the property as they think It should be developed. The only objection that has been urged against this property has been Its distance from a railroad, which is one that all now districts have to, and do, overcome, and when it is overcome in this instance, the Wentworth group will be worth many hundreds of thousands of dollars.

[Hoss50]

The one area I see on google earth that appears to be something like the article mentions is here.

 

34*03'22.49"

111*26'47.94"

 

The ridge runs from just south of matazal peak and heads northeast away from the main range toward Rye.

[Viper]

There is a House Place Spring below/east of North Peak, north of Boyd Mnt. There is an old mine road, off the main road 414, that heads west into the higher foothills. they are all scarred up with old mining activity. The 414 will be a mess for a while, with this weather.

I just looked at the old map posted earlier. It shows House Mine at this location I mentioned.

[Viper]

There is a House Place Spring below/east of North Peak, north of Boyd Mnt. There is an old mine road, off the main road 414, that heads west into the higher foothills. they are all scarred up with old mining activity. The 414 will be a mess for a while, with this weather.

I just looked at the old map posted earlier. It shows House Mine at this location I mentioned.

 

OK, after reading the article, this doesn't match the description either. 15 miles west of Payson and south of E. Verde puts it about 6 miles into the wilderness, past Doll Baby Ranch, which apparently was Taylor Ranch.

I love maps, especially old ones.

[300RUM]

 

There is a House Place Spring below/east of North Peak, north of Boyd Mnt. There is an old mine road, off the main road 414, that heads west into the higher foothills. they are all scarred up with old mining activity. The 414 will be a mess for a while, with this weather.

I just looked at the old map posted earlier. It shows House Mine at this location I mentioned.

 

OK, after reading the article, this doesn't match the description either. 15 miles west of Payson and south of E. Verde puts it about 6 miles into the wilderness, past Doll Baby Ranch, which apparently was Taylor Ranch.

I love maps, especially old ones.

 

This one is "interesting" to say the least. Been working on it on it on and off for a few months. I believe the west of Payson reference to be due to the fact that they left town to the west on the Doll Baby road. My guess is at some point they veered south. It is the only place to find the 7000 ft elevation. It is also supposed to be south of the east Verde. That is a difficult combination with west of Payson if you ineterpet them as precise compass headings. Another position report is that it is on a line Between Globe and Jerome.

[Edge]

I've ridden north of the Doll Baby, there's plenty of old gold mines north of there.

 

I have a great mine resource website saved on my computer with dates of operations, take, ownership, minerals. I'll look it up later.

[Viper]

Not sure why they would give the exact location anyhow. There were still claim jumpers then. Could be a little misleading.

[300RUM]

I've ridden north of the Doll Baby, there's plenty of old gold mines north of there.

 

I have a great mine resource website saved on my computer with dates of operations, take, ownership, minerals. I'll look it up later.

 

 

Not sure why they would give the exact location anyhow. There were still claim jumpers then. Could be a little misleading.

I appreciate anything you have to offer. If the article is anywhere near correct the mine is on a ridge off the north face of a 7000 ft peak. Nothing that high north of Doll Baby. Still, if you have a possible match up there, I would be interested in looking into it.

 

Some of the statements in the article could be a bit off. I have been chasing my tail trying to figure this one out.

[300RUM]

Found another of the old newspaper articles. These guys sound like an operation that could afford to hire a little "claim jumper repellent".

 

 

 

Arizona silver belt. August 28, 1908, Image 4

THE MAZATZAL MINE
PLEASES A DIRECTOR
Developments So Satisfactory, Duluth
Director Recommends Withdrawal
of Stock From Market
A. II. W. Eckstein of Duluth, a large stockholder and director of the Mazatzal Copper company, paid a visit of inspection to that company's property last week. After a careful survey of the remarkable surface showing, and an examination of the development work to date, together with a discussion of plans with Manager Shaw, Mr. Eckstein, upon his return to Jerome, expressed his conviction that the element of uncertainty attending all mining ventures in their infancy had now been eliminated in the affairs of his company. He said he did not regret in the least his long and expensive trip for the purpose of examining the property. It is very gratifying to the many Jerome stockholders, says the News, that the opinion of Mr. Eckstein, as a representative of the Duluth stockholders, should be so entirely in accord With that of the local shareholders. The finances of the company being in a most satisfactory condition, it has been dedecided, on his suggestion to withdraw and not offer for sale any treasury stock for many months to come. A report, just received from Mine Superintendent, Stegman, states that the bottom of the shaft is improving as depth is attained, by showing more sulphides. Editorially the Jerome News says: "The development of the Mazatzal property into a producing mine, means that millions of dollars will be expended in the Tonto Basin country in the developing of her great mineral resources, the erection of smelters, and the building of railroads. And as the Mazatzal is fast reaching that stage, Tonto is now a good place to look to.