4
the latter’s 300-ton mill to reduce expenses. An aerial tram-
way delivered the Big Jim ore roughly 50–100 feet above
the town10 for approximately 5,000 feet.11
Since the Big Jim mine was clearly related to the Tom
Reed’s Grey Eagle vein, at least geologically, it was inevitable
that owners of the Tom Reed would sue. They did, but the
suit was dismissed after appeals because the courts became
convinced that the displacement (“throw”) of the fault
separating the vein members—about 400 feet—exceeded a
reasonable interpretation of Apex rights.
Gold Road reopened briefly during 1922–1923, then
closed (temporarily) after producing $6,654,000 in bullion
during its sporadic 20-year life. There was a small cyanide
mill on the property and some ore may have been hauled
to the Tom Reed.
1934–1941
Many mines and mills closed in the early years of the Great
Depression when the gold price was $20.67/troy ounce.
However, the price was increased to $32.32 in 1933 and
$35.00 in 193412 and the improved economics allowed
re-opening of furloughed operations. Other improvements
included better roads and cheaper electricity.13
A complete record requires mention of a 50-ton cya-
nide mill built by the Telluride Company owners for ore
from the Old Western mine.14 It is unclear how success-
ful the small mill was, but Ransome’s production summary
shows Telluride ore being shipped to the larger local mills
in 1923 and 1930.
According to Huttl,15 the Tom Reed was operating as a
custom mill in 1936 and the Gold Road mine was the larg-
est shipper at 1,500 tons per month, followed by 1,000 tons
from Oatman Eastern, 800 tons from the Pioneer Group,
and 800 tons from leasers of Tom Reed Company mines.
Altogether, there were “…about 100 shippers,” according
to Huttl.
In pursuit of improved economics, USSR&M con-
structed a 300-ton/day mill at Goldroad (renamed ca.
1936) and operation began on February 15, 1937.16
Figure 3 is a photograph taken by the author’s mother in
1941. North is at the top of the photo and Highway 66
10. Personal observation in 2005.
11. Ransome, Ibid, p. 8 and Plate X, p. 41.
12. “Annual Commodity Statistics,” U. S. Geological Survey
13. Huttl, J. B. (1936), “Renewed Mining Interest in Oatman,”
Engineering &Mining Journal, Vol. 137, No. 5, p. 251.
14. Huttl, Ibid, pp. 250–251.
15. Huttl, Ibid, p. 251.
16. Staff (1937), “Notes on Arizona,” Engineering &Mining
Journal, August, p. 429.
is in the foreground as it wound into town and passed
beneath the conveyor that delivered run-of-mine ore to the
primary crushing and screening plant.
In October 1942, War Production Board Order L-208
closed all domestic precious metal mines to release work-
ers for mining and processing of copper, lead, and zinc
for the military use. The Goldroad mine headframe, mill,
and all employee housing were dismantled and trucked to
Vanadium, New Mexico, the site of the new Bullfrog lead/
zinc mine and mill that was being completed by USSR&M.
Many employees were transferred to Vanadium with
the same jobs, including Leo Duriez (manager), Paris
Brough (mill superintendent), Ivan Lee (Chief Chemist),
Don Johnson (Surveyor), and John McNulty (Fire Assayer).
DISTRICT GEOLOGY
Geology of the gold deposits remained a mystery until
1916 when exploration by diamond drilling began17 and
systematic interpretation of host rock and vein geology
began. Ransome’s 1920–1921 investigation was prompted
by extensive diamond drilling late in the second decade of
the 20th century.18
A decade after Ransome’s investigation, Lausen19 com-
pleted a detailed geologic map with structure sections. The
following brief summary is based on Lausen’s report.
The southern portion of the Black Mountains is a
strongly dissected eastward-dipping block of Tertiary volca-
nic rocks resting on a basement of pre-Cambrian gneiss and
granite. The Oatman district is in rugged foothills at the
western base of the mountains between 2,000- and 3,200-
feet elevation. Eastward, the mountains rise to 5,000 feet.
17. Ransome, Ibid. p.1 ff.
18. Ransome, Ibid., p. 1ff.
19. Lausen, C. (1931), “Geology and ore deposits of the
Oatman and Katherine districts, Arizona,” Arizona Bureau of
Mines Bulletin No. 131.
Figure 3. Goldroad Mill in 1941
the latter’s 300-ton mill to reduce expenses. An aerial tram-
way delivered the Big Jim ore roughly 50–100 feet above
the town10 for approximately 5,000 feet.11
Since the Big Jim mine was clearly related to the Tom
Reed’s Grey Eagle vein, at least geologically, it was inevitable
that owners of the Tom Reed would sue. They did, but the
suit was dismissed after appeals because the courts became
convinced that the displacement (“throw”) of the fault
separating the vein members—about 400 feet—exceeded a
reasonable interpretation of Apex rights.
Gold Road reopened briefly during 1922–1923, then
closed (temporarily) after producing $6,654,000 in bullion
during its sporadic 20-year life. There was a small cyanide
mill on the property and some ore may have been hauled
to the Tom Reed.
1934–1941
Many mines and mills closed in the early years of the Great
Depression when the gold price was $20.67/troy ounce.
However, the price was increased to $32.32 in 1933 and
$35.00 in 193412 and the improved economics allowed
re-opening of furloughed operations. Other improvements
included better roads and cheaper electricity.13
A complete record requires mention of a 50-ton cya-
nide mill built by the Telluride Company owners for ore
from the Old Western mine.14 It is unclear how success-
ful the small mill was, but Ransome’s production summary
shows Telluride ore being shipped to the larger local mills
in 1923 and 1930.
According to Huttl,15 the Tom Reed was operating as a
custom mill in 1936 and the Gold Road mine was the larg-
est shipper at 1,500 tons per month, followed by 1,000 tons
from Oatman Eastern, 800 tons from the Pioneer Group,
and 800 tons from leasers of Tom Reed Company mines.
Altogether, there were “…about 100 shippers,” according
to Huttl.
In pursuit of improved economics, USSR&M con-
structed a 300-ton/day mill at Goldroad (renamed ca.
1936) and operation began on February 15, 1937.16
Figure 3 is a photograph taken by the author’s mother in
1941. North is at the top of the photo and Highway 66
10. Personal observation in 2005.
11. Ransome, Ibid, p. 8 and Plate X, p. 41.
12. “Annual Commodity Statistics,” U. S. Geological Survey
13. Huttl, J. B. (1936), “Renewed Mining Interest in Oatman,”
Engineering &Mining Journal, Vol. 137, No. 5, p. 251.
14. Huttl, Ibid, pp. 250–251.
15. Huttl, Ibid, p. 251.
16. Staff (1937), “Notes on Arizona,” Engineering &Mining
Journal, August, p. 429.
is in the foreground as it wound into town and passed
beneath the conveyor that delivered run-of-mine ore to the
primary crushing and screening plant.
In October 1942, War Production Board Order L-208
closed all domestic precious metal mines to release work-
ers for mining and processing of copper, lead, and zinc
for the military use. The Goldroad mine headframe, mill,
and all employee housing were dismantled and trucked to
Vanadium, New Mexico, the site of the new Bullfrog lead/
zinc mine and mill that was being completed by USSR&M.
Many employees were transferred to Vanadium with
the same jobs, including Leo Duriez (manager), Paris
Brough (mill superintendent), Ivan Lee (Chief Chemist),
Don Johnson (Surveyor), and John McNulty (Fire Assayer).
DISTRICT GEOLOGY
Geology of the gold deposits remained a mystery until
1916 when exploration by diamond drilling began17 and
systematic interpretation of host rock and vein geology
began. Ransome’s 1920–1921 investigation was prompted
by extensive diamond drilling late in the second decade of
the 20th century.18
A decade after Ransome’s investigation, Lausen19 com-
pleted a detailed geologic map with structure sections. The
following brief summary is based on Lausen’s report.
The southern portion of the Black Mountains is a
strongly dissected eastward-dipping block of Tertiary volca-
nic rocks resting on a basement of pre-Cambrian gneiss and
granite. The Oatman district is in rugged foothills at the
western base of the mountains between 2,000- and 3,200-
feet elevation. Eastward, the mountains rise to 5,000 feet.
17. Ransome, Ibid. p.1 ff.
18. Ransome, Ibid., p. 1ff.
19. Lausen, C. (1931), “Geology and ore deposits of the
Oatman and Katherine districts, Arizona,” Arizona Bureau of
Mines Bulletin No. 131.
Figure 3. Goldroad Mill in 1941