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1979 Map of Cerro Colorado

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Cerro Colorado
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Cerro Colorado Mountains and the Las Guijas Mountains dominate this high-desert Arizona landscape, revealing a territory defined by hard-rock mining and cattle ranching. Numerous mining operations dot the terrain, from the Liberty Mine and New Colorado Mine near the center of the quadrangle to the Arivaca King Mine in the southwest. These workings, alongside various prospect points like the Black Princess Mine, indicate a significant history of mineral exploration in Pima County.

Water management is central to life in this arid environment, evidenced by an extensive network of infrastructure such as the Aqueduct and various catchments like Rancho Seco Tank and Diving Board Tanks. The settlement pattern is sparse, centered on working ranches like Rancho Seco and Montano Ranch. A complex system of dry washes, including Bolas Blancas Wash and Arroyo Seco, dictates the natural drainage and dictates the placement of the few roads, such as Arivaca Road.