2018 Map of Aztec Mines

About this map

Aztec Mines sit at the southern edge of the Chuckwalla Mountains in Riverside County, marking a site of industrial effort in the arid California interior. This 2018 survey documents the relationship between the elevated mountain terrain and the expansive Chuckwalla Valley to the north, where the ephemeral Ship Creek drains through the alluvial landscape. The area is defined by a network of desert routes, including Chuckwalla Valley Rd and Dupont Rd, which facilitate access through these township and range divisions. The map reveals the stark topography of the region, where drainage patterns from the mountains intersect with the vast basins below, providing a record of local mining geography and desert infrastructure in the early twenty-first century.