The history of Utah mining weaves fantastic tales of bonanza discoveries, mining booms and busts, swindles, and scandals. In "All Veins, Lodes, and Ledges Throughout Their Entire Depth "William Parry traces the colorful histories of these miners, prospectors, and land owners as they fight for claim locations and the mining rights to the best ore.

The apex law of 1866 and 1872 granted to the claim owner the right to pursue "all veins . . . throughout their entire depth" even though these veins or lodes might pass under the claim of another. Discovery of the ore was not enough. The...