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1983 Map of Marl Mountains

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Marl Mountains
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Marl Mountains and the basaltic flows of the Lava Beds define this segment of the Mojave Desert in the early 1980s. The landscape is a study in volcanic geology, centered on a prominent Cinder Cone and the transition into the broad, sloping profile of Cima Dome. Human activity is marked by resource extraction and desert survival, evidenced by a Cinder Pit in the northern flows and several Prospects and a Shaft further south.

Water sources are critical landmarks in this arid environment, with Marl Spring, Sheep Spring, and Rainbow Wells providing vital points of reference. Near the spring, the presence of Ruins suggests the long-standing importance of these reliable water stops for travelers and prospectors navigating the terrain between Black Wash and Willow Wash. A corridor of Steel Tower Transmission Lines cuts diagonally across the southern half of the map, representing modern infrastructure imposed upon the ancient volcanic features.