Posted on 12/11/2015 9:44:17 AM PST by JimSEA
Silver King Mine (1875-1920) In 1873, a soldier named Sullivan, who had been involved in the construction of the road that had become the main route between the Globe area and valleys of the Salt and Gila rivers was returning to camp one evening, when he found several heavy, black nuggets of metallic material near the base of Stoneman’s Grade (Short et al, 1943). Although he had little knowledge of minerals, he figured that he must have found something unusual. He kept the black nuggets and returned to camp without saying any- thing about his discovery to the other soldiers. A short time later his term of service with the army ex- pired and he began working for a Florence rancher named Charles Mason. He showed the black nuggets to Mason, who recognized them as native silver. However, Sullivan did not return to the location of his discovery before unex- pectedly leaving the Florence area a short time later (Haak, 1991). Sullivan’s discovery sparked Mason’s interest. He orga- nized a prospecting party to search for the source of the silver specimens in 1874. Although their initial foray into the area failed to locate the source of the nuggets, they did discover a manganese-stained outcrop that later became the Silver Queen Mine (Hammer and Peterson, 1968).
(Excerpt) Read more at repository.azgs.az.gov ...
It's a very long read but anyone with an interest in Arizona or Southwestern history should read it.
Traveled through the area many times. I love the country there.
I drove to Superior many times when my wife (then fiance) taught in Globe and I lived in Tucson. I always enjoyed the drive, beautiful country.
Back then all the copper mines were humming.
Arizona ping.
—great article—having spent the most productive part of my life at block (panel) caving operation (Climax) I hope to live long enough to see how it works out at the depth of the new development—unfortunately , with the state of the copper market , I’m afraid that may be delayed and I won’t make it-— I’m 75)
A fascinating concept...
Did you ever run across Jack Pelletier at Climax. He was instrumental in bringing the block caving operation on line in San Manuel, where I also worked and for a longer time than Superior. It’s a small world in the mines. I would have enjoyed the summertime in Climax - amazingly beautiful country.
—he would have been before my time—met Bill Beinemann (sp)? some years ago—he had gone to San Manuel at the beginning along with Glenn Massey and another Climax guy named Fairchild—have forgotten his first name—they both stayed there til retirement—
—and I took up skiing so even winters were okay—but now I enjoy not shoveling snow-—
It is truly hell on earth.
I've seen it 120deg, officially.
But, it's a dry heat. You know, like the heat that hits your face when you open the oven.
I go there often to collect Apache Tears in my secret location, only 40 minutes from the house.
I’m the one taking the moly vein samples from the ore carts that you guys leave for us, every time I cross that pass.
I just wish we’d do the whole spread. You know, Really Good, AZ; Acceptable, AZ; Kinda Crappy, AZ etc. Make a cool commemorative plate collection.
Because the winters are awesome. It’s 75 outside right now and I just got out of the pool.
The ones who stopped were either looking for “El Dorado” or were lying low. When you’re born there the weather is only occasionally bothersome. At the time I was growing up in Superior, there were still magneto telephones, 25 cycle electricity, only evaporative coolers and frequent power outages.
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Sounds like me.
“When settler were headed West, I could never figure out why they stopped in AZ.”
Arizona was a haven for those with tuberculosis in the era before modern medicine.
Beinemann is really a familiar name but my senility is setting in. If he was blinded i’m sure I knew him. Fairchild I think was a boss. Massey also sounds familiar but I’m not sure.
There was an electrician in Superior whose family put him on a train at the age of ten. He got off in Phoenix and, after a time in a tent city, went up to the Superstition Mtn, Iron Mtn. area and worked for the Barnett brothers and found and brought Indian artifacts for the Picket Post before working at the mine.
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