Midvale, UT

(Associated names include Kennecott Corporation, United States Smelting Company, United States Mining Company, United States Stores Stores Company, Lark Mine, U.S. Lark Mine, U.S. Mine, UV Industries)

Jobsite

The United States Smelting, Refining & Mining Company (USSR&M) operated several mines in Bingham Canyon as well as copper and lead smelters in Midvale (f/k/a Bingham Junction) beginning in the early 1900s. Additionally, the USSR&M wholly owned the United States Stores Company which purchased supplies for all of USSR&M’s various properties.  The mining properties were eventually purchased by Kennecott Corporation, and the smelters were closed in the early 1970s.

Address or general location

The mines were located in Bingham Canyon of the Oquirrh Mountains west of Salt Lake City.  The smelters were located in Midvale.

Detail

In 1899, the United States Mining Company, a predecessor of the United States Smelting, Refining and Mining Co. – “USSR&M”) was founded to mine the Jordan and Galena, Niagara, and Telegraph properties (with a total of 62 claims) in the Galena Gulch and Bear Gulch of Bingham Canyon.  In the early 1900s, the USSR&M completed its construction of copper and lead smelters in Midvale.  In 1929, USSR&M acquired the Bingham Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company’s mines, including the Lark Mine.

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In addition to USSR&M’s mining and smelting operations, USSR&M’s success was due in part to its establishment of its wholly owned United States Stores Company which purchased supplies for all of USSR&M’s properties.  In addition to increasing USSR&M’s ability to buy supplies in bulk at a reduced rate, the United States Stores Company was able to reduce delay in the acquisition of supplies needed at the properties, especially when supplies were difficult to buy, such as during embargoes and supply scarcity.  Having quicker access to supplies than other mining and smelting operations in the region, gave USSR&M an advantage other companies did not have.

For a good portion of its operation, USSR&M made mutually beneficial agreements with Kennecott Corporation in order to exchange access and mineral rights to each other’s properties and jointly constructed the Bingham-Lark Tunnel used for the transportation of ores from Bingham Canyon to the area smelters. In 1971, USSR&M closed the smelters in Midvale, and in 1972, changed its name to UV Industries, Inc. In 1977, Kennecott purchased the Lark property from UV Industries. Throughout its operation, hundreds of workers were employed at both the mines and the smelters.