1987 Map of McMahon Ridge

About this map

McMahon Ridge and the surrounding Goldfield Hills define this high-desert mining landscape on the border of Esmeralda and Nye counties. This provisional study reflects the intense geological exploration of the late 1980s, revealing a dense concentration of prospects, mine shafts, and an adit scattered across the arid terrain. The map captures the infrastructure of mineral extraction and transit, from the modern Silver Peak Road to the historic Old Railroad Grade running through the western sections. Water management in this dry environment is evidenced by the presence of the Aqueduct and Ramsey Well. Rising above the desert floor, prominent landmarks such as Kendall Mtn and Black Butte provide topographic anchors for a region defined by its industrial subsurface activity and sparse surface water sources like Big Wash.