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Show May Local teacher knows mining MT. PLEASANT Bob Mackenzie does not look like a typical prospector. Clad in a plaid shirt and blue jeans, and usually accompanied by his toddler son, he looks the part of a teacher, geologist and father. Yet, with a twinkle in his eye, Mackenzie admits he is a prospector and has spent years successfully looking for treasures. He now owns part of what was once one of the richest silver mines in Nevada, the El Dorado, and hes willing to share that mine with others. Mackenzie has the El Dorado into square foot interests and plans to sell "shares" as a novelty for those who want to have a "piece of the Old West". Profits from the sale of those shares will be donated to . sub-divid- charity, to help those who are hungry build solar greenhouses. "A lot of people go to the Food Bank at Wasatch Academy," he said. "The greenhouses will help them raise food and also heat their homes." The name, El Dorado, is synonymous with mental images of untapped riches. In Spanish, the name means, "the gilded one", and was used to refer to a place of fabulous wealth, abundance, or opportunity. Spanish explorers were looking for "El Dorado", the fabled seven cities of gold, when they visited America. Gold and silver mines throughout the West were frequently named El Dorado by prospectors who filed the claims hoping for the "Mother ed Lode". WE HAVE ALL YOUR Mackenzies El Dorado, is located in Nevadas Eureka Mining District, on what is WINDOW NEEDS A known as "Prospect Mountain", discovered in 1864. Interest in Nevadas silver followed an almost accidental rich silver strike in the nearby "Comstock Lode". Individuals DRAPERIES HAS ALL mining the Comstock and looking for gold, were troubled by a pesky black "sand" that filled up sluice boxes and had to be continually hauled away by more than willing workers who were turning a tidy profit from the "sand". Suspicious by the eagerness of the workers, samples of the black sand were taken to the assayer, and the operation changed from gold to silver mining. The Eureka District became the biggest silverlead district in the West and smelters were built. Eureka became known as YOUR WINDOW NEEDS Draperies Fabrics & Hardware off 60 Mini Blinds Pleated Shades and Verticals Set Ends June 30 FREE ESTIMATES IN THE CONVENIENCE OF YOUR HOME CALL TAMMY FOR APPOINTMENT 283-627- 0 OPEN ALL YEAR 'S GREE& FRESH CUT FLOWERS FOR MEMORIAL DAY "the Pittsburgh of the West". Silver, lead and gold from El Dorado were hand picked and packed by mule train to the smelters. Mackenzie explains that El Dorado, worked in the 1870s and 1880s, was a "rich claim", with ore valued at up to $100 a cubic foot. The mine was only abandoned after pumps failed to keep underground water supplies from flooding the mine. "They had run through the best ore....but some old timers say they quit too soon," he said explaining some believe a rich undeveloped silver vein may still be buried about a half mile beneath the earths surface. Mackenzie ran across the abandoned, flooded El Dorado while prospecting with a part- -' ner, located an early claim patent, and bought it. Since then, others have purchased similar patents for nearby claims, but Mackenzie and his partners have the undisputed right to the riches of "El Dorado". Mackenzie doubts anyone will ever work the mine again, however, because the lower reaches are flooded and inaccessible. But if the mine is ever "shareholders" will have an allotment of the profits. Born and raised in Chicago, Mackenzie developed an interest in geology when very young, "from my grandfather". He was a geology major at Wheaton College in Illinois and earned his masters in exploration geo physics from the University of Wyoming. He worked as a solar and wind area consultant in Wyoming then came to Utah in 1981 with a mining company to do ver and lead prospects. Quartz crystals can be found north of Gunnison, and agates in the forested Skyline Drive area," he explains. Sanpete also has one of the most unique geological formations in Central Utah, Maple Canyon. It was formed by eroded material from a large ancient mountain range which was in what is now Utahs West Desert, he explains. A resident of Mt. Pleasant, Mackenzie teaches math and .geology at Wasatch Academy. He and his wife, Doni, have three children. For more information Mackenzie may be reached at El Dorado Mines, Ltd., P.O. Box 55, Mt. Pleasant, Utah 84647. 1990 23, Sanpete Page Three Shopper Bob Mackenzie and young son Ben enjoy a Sanpete County outing. Mackenzie, a teacher at Wasatch Academy at Mt. prospector who has Pleasant, is a geologist and modern-da- y and Nevada. He is In Utah mined metals precious successfully er of the famed Nevada El Dorado silver mine and is selling novelty shares to help raise money for charity. part-own- Hedelius earns medal COME ONE - COME ALL WEST GERMANY Staff Ryan K. Hedelius, son of Robert K. Hedelius, Ephraim, has been decorated with the Air Force Achievement Medal TO THE Sgt. FOUNTAIN GREEN LIONS' CLUB here. He is a medical administration supervisor with the 66th Combat Electronic Wing Clinic. ed, The Achievement Medal is awarded to airmen for meritorious service, acts of courage or other accomplishments. SWIMMING LESSONS exploration for industrial erals and precious metals. In 1984 he formed his own company, Front Range Minerals, and continued his exploration in Nevada where he discovered mining districts containing disseminated gold. He worked those properties before ultimately leasing them to various mining companies. While working the claims, however, he and his partner experienced some of the Old West most people only read about, nt Mackenzies interest in the old mining districts often drew other fortune seekers, some of which were affiliated with Breakfast Fountain Green City Park May 28 from 7 am to 1 1 am Serving: Ham & Eggs Hot Cakes BEGIN' min- Memorial Day JUNE REGISTFR NOW and Juices CALL: 436-863- 3 ADULTS FLO $3.50 CHILDRENS $2.00 Bring Your Own Dishes MITCHELL ALSO WATER AEROBICS For some good vittles and great company ( POTTED FLOWERING MUMS Florist-qualit- plants and flowers available May y 25 afternoon, through Memorial Day, May 28 9 a.m. to 7 p.nt. Sat 9 a,m. to 9 p.m. Mon-F- ri Closed Sunday 462-327- 6 BEDDING, VEGETABLES, HOUSE PLANTS TREES, SHRUBS & SEEDS 3a Mt. Pleasant miles west on Hwy 1 16 SNOW COLLEGE ACTIVITY CENTER Sign up for swimming lessons now . large well-kno- companies. Claim jumpers were common, and many would gather in the evening to listen to and prospectors geologists compare notes and then rush off the next day to stake their own claim. Mackenzie and his partner often fed them wrong information and then watched and chuckled as the claim jumpers went off on their wild . goose chases. One day his partner was accosted by a man who ordered him off their; own claim. His partner had the legal claim description; the man had a His partner left, but Mackenzie said they contacted the company the claim jumper worked for, and they were soon back working their claim. six-shoo- ter. Scout Swim May 29 - June Regular Lessons Second Session - June 4 - June 15 Third Session - June 18 - June 29 Fourth Session - July 9 - July 20 Fifth Session - July 30 - August 10 Call Snow College for information 283-402- 1 Ext. 381 or 371 Flowers for Memorial Day Open 8 am - 12 noon May 28 Wreaths, Flowers, sprays and baskets Limited supply of fresh potted mums and daisies. 462-253- 3 14 West Main - Mt. Pleasant Reor Entrance Consolidated Exchange 1 Another time, Mackenzie and his partner saved a small Nevada ghost town occupied mainly by senior citizens. A large company had staked a lode claim for mineral deposits beneath the town and ordered everyone to move so the town could be razed and the ore mined. The company had not staked "placer" claims, however, to give them mineral rights to surface mining, so Mackenzie and his partner did and saved the town. Mackenzie still owns mines in Nevada and is developing a placer mine in Utah. Mackenzie enjoys Sanpete County and the rich natural treasurers close by. Although there is no gold in Sanpete, there is "lots of coal", natural gas, and numerous rock hunt- ing places. "By Mt. Nebo, near one of the campgrounds, one can get onyx. There are also some sil (QJTU2y IXOmI' Caii fcX wrunov ScJxaaiy First Session June 11- - U2ALTII TIP... Clu.t To Alzheimer's: Although scientists or. beginning to understand what happens in the brain with Alzheimer's disease, treatments still center around drugs to control behavioral changes. Because the chemical acetylcholine has been found locking In the brains of people with this disease, investigations are aimed at slowing its breakdown in the body. Some drugs that do this are being tested, but the results vary widely. It is now thought that possibly a combination of chemicals may be required to treat the disease, but this theory is still far from practical treatment. Amtrkm Kttftii (January February) July 20 Small SKYLINE F1IARMACY 1 VY. Mein, Mt. Fleesent 442-243- 4 with their principals High School Graduates, and High School juniors and seniors permission can get a head start on their college degree. For teachers requiring recertification. For employment upgrading. Just for the fun of it For more information or a complete summer school booklet stop by the Office of Ext 256, 237 or 238 Admissions and Records in the Noyes Building or call 283-402- 1, |