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1987 Map of Crescent Dunes

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

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

The Sand Dunes of the Big Smoky Valley dominate this high-desert landscape in the late 1980s. This region, straddling the line between Nye Co and Esmeralda Co, is defined by its arid terrain and extensive mining activity. Numerous Prospects are scattered across the slopes of the San Antonio Mountains, indicating a period of active mineral exploration or historic claims. The infrastructure is minimal, characterized by a network of 4wd tracks that provide the only access through the valley and into the mountain canyons.

A single Corral and a scattered presence of technical features like a Drill Hole and Borrow Pit suggest a landscape used for both light ranching and industrial surveying. The survey also identifies precise markers like BM 5344, which would have been critical for the geological and topographical recording of this shifting sandy environment. The concentration of mining prospects along the eastern mountain range offers a clear look at the industrial interests that shaped this portion of Nevada.