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1995 Map of Dos Lomas

Name: 1995 Topographic Map of Dos Lomas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1997
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1997

About this map

The high desert landscape of McKinley and Cibola Counties is defined by a dense concentration of uranium and mineral extraction sites during the late twentieth century. Industrial operations like the Anaconda Section Nine Strip Mine, Zia Mines, and Poison Canyon Mine dominate the central basin, highlighting the region's importance to the mining economy. This network of industrial development is set against the sprawling Cibola National Forest and Navajo Indian Land, illustrating the proximity of commercial extraction to protected and tribal territories.

Transportation corridors follow the terrain, with the Ambrosia Lake Road and San Mateo Road connecting remote outposts like Rancho del Puerto and Roundy Ranch. The terrain itself is a sequence of dramatic elevations, from the broad La Jara Mesa to the distinct Round Butte, with the seasonal San Mateo Creek cutting through the valley floor. These features provide a clear record of how land use in New Mexico shifted to balance traditional ranching with massive industrial strip mining.