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1987 Map of Cerro Gordo Peak

Name: 1987 Topographic Map of Cerro Gordo Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Mining operations dominate the high elevations of the Inyo Mountains in this 1980s survey, centered on the storied silver and lead deposits of the Cerro Gordo Mine. The landscape is a network of industrial excavations and infrastructure, including the Omega Tunnel, Estelle Tunnel, and a Tram tower, alongside numerous unnamed prospects and mine dumps. At an elevation of over 9,000 feet, Cerro Gordo Peak towers over the surrounding terrain, where water sources like Mexican Spring and Cerro Gordo Spring were critical for both life and industry in this arid environment.

Transportation through the steep canyons is limited to rugged 4wd routes, connecting the mining sites to remote outposts like Harts Camp. The southern portion of the map transitions into the distinctive geological formation of Conglomerate Mesa, while deep drainages such as Daisy Canyon and San Lucas Canyon carve through the limestone and shale. This map captures the technical footprint of late-century mining efforts near the Holiday Mine and Morning Star Mine, showing how the search for minerals shaped this part of Inyo County.