Mining in the West Utah Construction/Utah International Symposium Weber State University Stewart Library October 9-10, 2002 Mining in the West a photographic exhibit of the Weber State University Stewart Library Utah Construction/Utah International Symposium October 9-10, 2002 Navajo Coal Mine, UC/UI Collection. After years of building tunnels, railroads, and shafts for mining operations, in 1944 the Utah Construction Company acquired its first mining enterprise at Iron Springs near Cedar City, Utah. At the Iron Mountain tower, screened ore was loaded directly on to railroad cars. The Colorado Fuel & Iron Company became a major client. In the late 1940s, Utah Construction mined more than $5 million in iron ore for Colorado Fuel & Iron. By 1968 the blowout pit had become gigantic. After years of building tunnels, railroads, and shafts for mining operations, in 1944 the Utah Construction Company acquired its first mining enterprise at Iron Springs near Cedar City, Utah. At the Iron Mountain tower, screened ore was loaded directly on to railroad cars. Blasting was done to fracture the overburden so the ore beneath could be recovered. In the early days, wagon drills prepared the earth for blasting and explosives were set by hand. After the workers took cover, the explosives were ignited from a distance. In later decades a rotary drill rig bored blast holes to break up the overburden. Shown are boxes of Atlas blasting powder scattered about the rig. By 1955 the proliferating operations at the Iron Springs Mine had shipped some 506,000 tons of iron ore to the steel industry. continued -> The Colorado Fuel & Iron Company became a major client. In the late 1940s, Utah Construction mined more than $5 million in iron ore for Colorado Fuel & Iron. By 1968 the blowout pit had become gigantic. The Iron Springs personnel adapted to a rural location crisscrossed by sheep and cattle trails. A company newsletter featured this pastoral view of the so-called Iron Springs Country Club and Golf Course, shared by local livestock.