1988 Map of Horse Bench West

About this map

San Rafael River carves a winding path through the arid heart of Emery County, defining a landscape of stark contrasts and mineral potential in the late 1980s. To the east, the elevated plateau of Horse Bench dominates the horizon, while the southwestern portion of the map transitions into the expansive San Rafael Desert. The terrain is marked by numerous resource extraction attempts, including an Open Pit Mine and scattered Prospects in the northern hills. These markings reflect the region's long history of small-scale mining and exploration within the San Rafael Swell's rugged geology. Seasonal drainage patterns are recorded through features like Iron Wash and Cottonwood Wash, which represent the primary erosional forces shaping the local topography. This provisional data captures the area prior to later developments, preserving the original surveying detail of this remote Utah corridor.