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1950 Map of Anderson Mesa

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Anderson Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The Dolores River carves a deep, winding path through this corner of Montrose and San Miguel Counties, defining a landscape of high plateaus and industrial activity. Surveyed at the dawn of the atomic era, this map highlights the region's mineral importance through the presence of Morning Star Mine, The Raven Mine, and the Gyp Mine. These sites, tucked into the complex topography near Silveys Pocket and The Hat, reflect the intense post-war search for uranium and vanadium coordinated by the United States Atomic Energy Commission.

Water management in this arid environment is evidenced by the Skein Spring Reservoir on Skein Mesa and various springs like East Island Mesa Spring. The transition from the high elevations of Anderson Mesa down into the Gypsum Valley reveals a rugged drainage network including Leach Creek and Coyote Wash. The map meticulously details the sharp turns of the river, most notably at Muleshoe Bend, alongside numerous prospect pits and mine trails that crisscross the mesa tops.