Vipont Mine area (NW corner of Utah)

[Rubyredvet]

Thinking of heading up to the northwest corner of the state to find the Vipont Mine. Does any one have any information on that area. I believe that there are a few mines up there.

[ExpUt]

Corey Shuman (Gold Rush Expeditions) would be your best contact, he's given me quite a bit of beta on the Vipont District.

[rhartill]

Vipont Mine stuff

Ashbrook Mining District

http://sec.edgar-online.com/aurora-oil--gas-corp/10ksb-annual-report-small-business-issuers/2001/01/16/Section3.aspx

Company doings Aurora Oil and Gas Corp; Royal Silver Mines, Centurion Mines, etc.



Vipont Mine listing in mindat: Has several Brent Thorne photos of silver and anglesite:

http://www.mindat.org/loc-35983.html

The Ashbrook District has about eight different "occurances" [can be mines, prospects, tunnels, etc.] listed in mindat [also has a GPS enabled map of area]:


http://www.mindat.org/loc-37339.html


BS Thesis on tungsten mineralization near Vipont Mine:

http://etd.lib.ttu.edu/theses/available/etd-08212009-31295002625761/unrestricted/31295002625761.pdf

Peterson, Victor Edwin 1942 Study of Geology and ore deposits of the Ashbrook Mining District:

http://econgeol.geoscienceworld.org/...tract/37/6/466


This publication available on CDROM for $20 at the UTAH DNR Map Bookstore, and has at least two articles of interest to mine explorationists:

A history of the Vipont mine, and this article: Copper-Gold and Other Polymetallic Mineralization at the Dugway Mining District, Northern Dugway Range, Eastern Great Basin, Utah, by H. R. Klatt

http://www.mapstore.utah.gov/uga34.html

Ken Krahulec's GSN abstract on Vipont and Mercur in Utah:

http://www.gsnv.org/symposium/Venue/TechnicalSessions/Session01/Abstract0105/tabid/320/Default.aspx

[Stuart]

I have heard that it is a HUGE mine and definitely worth checking out. On the other hand I have also heard that it may be collapsed... definitely need to have someone go check it out and give an update.

[Rubyredvet]

My brother and I were gonna take 4-wheelers to that area last weekend. The weather didn't cooperate. Maybe next weekend? I'll report back.

[lobster68w]

Looking at the Google Earth sat views of the area, there are a few large properties in the area. Looks like it would be well worth checking out!!

[one_bad_rover]

Just as an FYI, the few mines that are remaining "open" out there are filled completely with water. It is a soggy mess with no real drainage so the mines fill with the stagnant nasty water, Add to that, the mines are all inclines, you end up with a weekend of frustration because everything is full of water as soon as it starts to decend. We found some small adits (30-40 ft.) that were accessible, but all of the big ones are water logged or completely closed. On a good note, this is the only place I have ever encountered weasels. We saw about 8 weasels in the week we were up there. Also a shitload of cows.
Not to detract, just to let you know if you are planning on going into some mines, this isnt the place to go. If you want to see a few cool old buildings and a really neat cabin that is maintained, you will be in the right place. Ideally your best way in is from the City of Rocks area. Its faster, better roads and easier to find.

[Rubyredvet]

Thanks for the info. Disappointing to say the least. I was hoping that the area being so remote might have provided some cool mines to explore that were relatively untouched. Might go anyway and just take some pics of buildings.

[pegleg]

I am the current owner of the vipont mine. This is posted private property and you will be prosecuted if caught on the vipont property. All of the portals and tunnels are also private and I strongly advise that you do not enter these tunnels for your own safety.

[Kiel]

Hey, welcome to the forum

[Rubyredvet]

I am the current owner of the vipont mine. This is posted private property and you will be prosecuted if caught on the vipont property. All of the portals and tunnels are also private and I strongly advise that you do not enter these tunnels for your own safety.

I haven't been there but would have respected the "private property" signs had I visited the area. Would you ever consider giving permission for photography on the Vipont property?

[Joanne]

I am the current owner of the vipont mine. This is posted private property and you will be prosecuted if caught on the vipont property. All of the portals and tunnels are also private and I strongly advise that you do not enter these tunnels for your own safety.

Although not in your area, I also respect No Trespassing signs. As the owner you have the absolute right to keep people off of your property. I realize that it has no impact on your position, but those of us in this group are mine history buffs who also want to protect the landowner's right to own and operate mines on their property. It seems that the government has a very different viewpoint than we do.

One brief question though, would you have any history or photos of the Vipoint mine that you would be willing to share with us?

Thanks,
Joanne

[rhartill]

Welcome to the MU forum Pegleg! I am certain that the majority of the members of MU do respect private property rights, and are primarily very enthusiastic supporters of the preservation and dissemination of mining history and heritage. If any info or history can be shared, we would be happy to help interview, scan, record, document or otherwise save and/or publish the rich history of the Vipont, as we believe we can be of some help in this regard.

If the Vipont is currently under lease by publically traded companies, we would be happy to obtain stockholder information on such companies and
their project status for the Vipont.

According to our latest information, the Vipont Mines are 25% owned by Centurion Mines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aurora Oil and Gas Corp, currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. We do not have any information on who controls the remaining 75% of the Vipont, but would be happy to learn more! Having a degree in oral history I am always interested in interviewing mineowners and in sharing information to the extent mineowners are willing. Again, welcome to the forum!

Russ Hartill

http://www.adoptamine.org

[pegleg]

I appreciate the respect of private property. My father and my family are the current owners. My father purchased the vipont in the 60s and has owned it ever since. We have had problems with property damage, property destruction and property theft in the past. I am also a huge fan of mining history and understand the desire to see and explore history. My username is after the name of an old mine in the area. I will see if I can post some historical pictures of the property, we have close to a hundred or more pictures.

[KDT1970]

Sweet, Looking Foward To Seeing them.