Silver King Mine
The Silver King Mine is an inactive silver mine located near Superior, Arizona. The richest silver mine in Arizona, it produced an estimated US$42 million worth of silver ore between 1875 and 1900.[1]
Discovery
The Silver King Mine traces its beginning to 1870, during the Apache Wars. General George Stoneman, desiring an easier access route to Apache strongholds, had ordered the construction of a road from Camp Picketpost into the Pinal Mountains.[2] The road became known as the Stoneman Grade. A soldier named Sullivan, who was assigned to the construction, discovered some heavy black rocks that flattened when struck. Interested in the rock, he collected several samples but did not mention this to his fellow soldiers.[3][4] After completing his term of service, Sullivan went to work on a ranch owned by Charles Mason. Sullivan routinely showed off the rocks, known as "nugget silver" to prospectors of the region, but never divulged the location of the discovery.[5] After a time, Sullivan disappeared and was assumed to have killed by Apache.[2]
Mason, joining with Benjamin W. Regan, William H. Long, Isaac Copeland, and another companion went searching for the location of Sullivan's find. On March 21, 1875 the group was attacked by Apache and the unnamed companion was killed and buried near the summit of Stoneman Grade. Following the burial, one of the group's mules strayed.[6] Copeland was sent to find the wayward animal, locating it near the base of Stoneman Grade. Upon finding the mule, Copeland noticed an unusual rock outcropping and upon closer inspection saw markings that had been left by Sullivan. Sullivan's find had been located.[1]
Operation
Following a highly favorable assayer report, the four surviving partners divided ownership of the find equally.[7][8] Initially the mine's ore was shipped directly to San Francisco for processing.[2] Shortly thereafter, a smelting operation was set up several miles from the mine along the Arnett Creek. Then a mining camp, which grew into Pinal City, quickly formed at the processing site.[7]
Initially operating the mine together, Copeland sold his interest to Mason in June 1876 with Long selling his interest several months later to Regan.[4] Mason and Regan, who had spent US$80,000 to buy out their partner's interests, later sold their interests to James M. Barney for US$250,000 and US$300,000 respectfully.[9]
The operations continued until 1888, when a combination of deteriorating ore quality and lower silver prices prompted the mine to close.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Silver King Ghost Town A Little Bit Different". Prescott Courier. November 8, 1972. p. 3.
- ^ a b c Sherman pp. 142
- ^ Farish pp. 58-9
- ^ a b "Silver King Mine has Historic Record". Arizona Journal-Miner. December 5, 1909. p. 3.
- ^ Farish pp. 59
- ^ Farish pp. 59-60
- ^ a b c Dutton pp. 61
- ^ Farish pp. 61
- ^ Hilzinger pp. 73
- Dutton, Allen A. (2002). Arizona Then & Now. Englewood, CO: Westcliffe Publishers. ISBN 1-56579-435-4.
- Farish, Thomas Edwin (1918). History of Arizona. Vol. Volume VI. Phoenix, Ariz: Filmer Bros. Electrotype Co. OCLC 13763720.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help) - Hilzinger, John George (1897). Treasure land: A story. Vol. Volume I. Tucson: Arizona Advancement Company. OCLC 19170874.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help) - Sherman, James E.; Sherman, Barbara H. (1969). Ghost Towns of Arizona. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-0843-8.