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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

Mining operations and remote desert outposts dominate this Pima County landscape, reflecting a region defined by mineral exploration in the late 1970s. The Cerro Colorado Mountains and Las Guijas Mountains harbor a dense concentration of historical claims, including the Liberty Mine, Silver Hill Mine, and the Black Princess Mine. The presence of New Colorado Mine and several prospects suggests a persistent interest in the precious metals of the Arizona desert long after the initial booms of the previous century.

Water management is critical in this arid environment, evidenced by an extensive network of drainage features like Bolas Blancas Wash and numerous man-made catchments such as Burro Tank and Fernstrom Tank. The Montano Ranch serves as a lone hub of habitation, connected to the wider world by the Arivaca Road. A prominent Aqueduct cuts through the northern sections, illustrating the infrastructure required to sustain industrial or agricultural efforts in the Sonoran desert.