1969 Map of Cerro Colorado

About this map

Mercey Mine and several other prospecting sites punctuate the high, arid ridges of the Las Aguilas Mts during the late 1960s. This survey by the Geological Survey and the California Department of Water Resources documents a landscape defined by seasonal water sources and mining activity. Mercey Creek and its South Fork cut through the northern elevations, while numerous named springs like Vasquez Spring provide the only reliable water for the area's cattle and mining operations. The map details a network of jeep trails and survey markers, such as BM 1320, tracing the remote topography of Slacks Valley and the Real de las Aguilas. Geologic interest is evident along Glaucophane Ridge, while the southern reaches feature the Lucky Strike Mine and Lone Oak Mine near Las Aguilas Canyon, indicating the persistent search for minerals in this section of the Inner Coast Ranges.