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1957 Map of Goat Mountain

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Goat Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The high desert landscape of McKinley County during the late 1950s is defined by a dense cluster of uranium-era mining operations. Names like Homestake Sapin Mine No 15, Kermac Mine No 10, and the Febco Tunnel No 1 reveal an industrial geography deeply integrated into the rugged terrain. These workings are interspersed among prominent geological features such as the massive Mesa Redonda and Goat Mountain, highlighting the intersection of New Mexico's natural topography and its mid-century mineral boom.

Evidence of ranching life persists alongside the industrial sites, with the Berryhill Ranch and Willcoxson Ranch appearing as isolated outposts. A significant Pipeline cuts across the quadrangle, emphasizing the infrastructure required to support these remote operations. From the heights of Lassa Point to the broad expanse of Mesa Montanosa, this survey documents a period of rapid change when traditional cattle grazing shared the land with a burgeoning atomic-age mining economy.