1989 Map of Gap Tank

About this map

The Papago Indian Reservation occupies the southeastern portion of this landscape, where the arid floor of the Aguirre Valley meets the rising slopes of the West Silver Bell Mountains. This 1989 provisional edition reflects a territory defined by complex water management and resource extraction, illustrated by an Abandoned Ditch, a Levee, and the namesake Gap Tank. Mining activity is concentrated in the eastern foothills, where researchers can identify several prospects, an adit, and multiple mine shafts tucked into the canyons. Drainage patterns like Aguirre Wash and Mammoth Wash indicate the seasonal flow of water through this high-desert environment, while the presence of a Corral and various wells suggests the intersection of traditional land use and industrial exploration in Pima County.