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1971 Map of Amarilla Mountain

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Amarilla Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The rugged quicksilver mining district of the Trans-Pecos comes into focus in this 1971 survey of the Big Bend region. Centered on the Lone Star Mine and the Mariposa Mine, the map documents an arid landscape defined by deep structural features like the Terlingua Sinkhole and the high vantage of Amarilla Mountain. The presence of the Colquitt-Tigner Mine and scattered pits near California Hill illustrates the intense geological prospecting that defined Brewster County's early industrial history.

Surface water remains scarce, marked primarily by seasonal drainages like Contrabando Creek and Comanche Creek, with the important Comanche Spring serving as a vital landmark. A network of trails and pack trails crisscrosses the terrain between Tres Cuevas Mountain and the Reed Plateau, reflecting the difficult logistics of moving ore and supplies through the Sierra de Cal. The isolated settlement of Coitrias Camp stands as a testament to the remote outposts required for life in this limestone-heavy desert environment.