1948 Map of Gypsum Gap

About this map

The Atomic Energy Commission collaborated with the Geological Survey to map this mineral-focused landscape in the late 1940s, a period when uranium and vanadium exploration was intensifying in southwest Colorado. The rugged topography is defined by the sharp transition at Gypsum Gap, where the drainage of Big Gypsum Valley Creek meets the dramatic expanse of Disappointment Valley. Mining activity is evident throughout the terrain, with several operations such as Long Ridge Mines, Bald Eagle Mines, and Pitchfork Mines situated along the ridges and slopes. Water sources in this arid environment are critical markers, including Larson Spring and a series of small structures labeled simply as Dam that suggest efforts to manage runoff from the West Fork Dry Creek and other intermittent systems.