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1996 Map of Gap Tank

Name: 1996 Topographic Map of Gap Tank
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2003
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2003

About this map

The West Silver Bell Mountains dominate the northeastern portion of this Sonoran Desert landscape, where the peaks descend into the broad Aguirre Valley. This area, managed as part of the Ironwood Forest National Monument, reflects a history of both resource extraction and cultural boundaries. Evidence of mineral exploration is scattered across the slopes in the form of various prospects and a specific Mine Shaft located near the eastern boundary.

To the south, the terrain crosses into the Tohono O'Odham Indian Reservation, highlighting the region's complex land management. Water is a defining scarce resource here, marked by seasonal drainages like Mammoth Wash, El Tiro Wash, and Aguirre Wash. The presence of Gap Tank and isolated wells indicates the essential infrastructure required for desert survival and livestock in this arid Pima County environment during the late twentieth century.