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1949 Map of Mt. Tom

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Mt. Tom
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Mining operations for tungsten and vanadium dominate the steep eastern face of the Sierra Nevada on this late 1940s survey. The industrial activity is centered heavily in the Tungsten Hills and around the massive Pine Creek Mine, where the Pine Creek Tungsten Mill and several adits are detailed. This concentration of heavy industry in the high mountains contrasts with the pastoral settlement of Round Valley below, which is served by the Round Valley School and supports the community at Rovana.

High-altitude lakes like Dorothy Lake, Rock Creek Lake, and Kenneth Lake dot the wilderness landscape to the west, while the Owens River Gorge cuts through the Volcanic Tableland in the northeast. The presence of numerous specialized mines such as the Lucky Strike Mine, Jackrabbit Mine, and Aeroplane Mine indicates an era of intense mineral extraction. Researchers will find a terrain transition from the high peaks of Mt Tom and Mt Humphreys down to the ranching and gaging stations of the valley floor.