1985 Map of Kilbourne Hole

About this map

Kilbourne Hole dominates this high-desert landscape in southern New Mexico, representing one of the finest examples of a volcanic maar on the continent. The 1985 survey illustrates the stark, dramatic contours of this depression and its neighbors, Hunts Hole and Phillips Hole. To the south, an expansive field of Lava flows stretches across the basin, punctuated by the New Mexico Principal Meridian which bisects the eastern portion of the sheet. Human presence is minimal, marked primarily by rugged 4 WD trails and the isolated Farm Tank in the southwest quadrant. The map reveals the intricate drainage patterns of this arid environment, where seasonal water collects in features like Dry Lake within the central crater, highlighting the geological complexity of the Potrillo volcanic field.