1986 Map of Mineral Hill

About this map

Mineral Hill Mines and the surrounding high-desert mining district dominate this mid-1980s landscape, illustrating a classic Nevada mineral extraction economy. The complex topography of the Sulphur Spring Range and Union Mountain is dotted with numerous mines, mineshafts, and open pits, including the prominent Bell mine. Settlement patterns are sparse, defined by remote outposts such as Plummer Ranch and Bruffey Ranch, while the area's limited water sources are marked by various springs, including Hot Springs and Warm Spring. Near the primary mining operations, a small Cem (cemetery) serves as a poignant reminder of the early prospectors and families who inhabited this arid region. The network of canyons, from Slaughterhouse Canyon to Bruffey Canyon, reveals the difficult access routes utilized by 20th-century miners and ranchers.