Surprise Venture Mill Site
Posted by: 
Azbarite
N 33° 31.200 W 111° 39.350
12S E 439096 N 3709129
This is the site of an abandoned mill associated with a mine listed as Surprise Venture with the Arizona Geological Survey. It is located south of Bush Hwy in the Salt River Recreation Area. AKA Big Red Mining Co.
Waymark Code: WMQ5TD
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 12/25/2015
Views: 10
According to a 1962 Arizona Dept. of Mines and Mineral Resources (ADMMR) report (see link below), the owners were extracting granitic rock that contained specks of hematite and scheelite (see possible sample in attached photo of map. The sample was picked up along the haul road near the mine.). Scheelite is a tungsten ore and tungsten was the primary commodity of interest. There's some discussion in the owner docs of gold and silver being trace elements in the ore but I get the feeling that it may be exaggerated for any potential investors. The original claims were filed as Surprise Venture in the 1970's but the land was withdrawn from mineral exploration due to plans for Orme Dam. The original claim consisted of a single shaft in T2NR7E Section 17 that was being mined as early as 1962. The plans for Orme Dam were subsequently dropped and claims were refiled as Big Red Mining Co. in the early 1980's. The new proposal included a mill site (separate waypoint to the west) and plans to strip mine the ore instead of using a shaft mine. As of 1985, the only production consisted of a trial run and the sites caretaker was proposing further improvements to get the shutdown facility back in operation. Much later in 1994, there was a response from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to a proposal for processing facility improvements. There doesn't seem to be any further documentation beyond 1994. As far as I can tell, the owners and operators have been part-timers.
There is evidence of what was probably and admin trailer site and several spoil piles in the area.
To locate the site from Mesa Arizona, drive north on Power Rd. to Salt River Recreation Area. Power Rd. turns into Bush Hwy. in the recreation area. Driving east on Bush Hwy., as you climb onto a terrace from the river bottom park on the south side of the road at a turnout approximately 1.5 miles from Granite Reef Dam picnic area. Follow a south trending trail approx. 0.5 mile then follow GPS coordinates overland to GPS coordinates. The site is located along a relatively wide wash.
Reference:
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visit link)