1988 Map of Ninemile Wash

About this map

The Chocolate Mountains dominate this California desert landscape, defined by a heavy industrial and military presence in the late twentieth century. Large portions of the terrain are designated as part of the Naval Aerial Gunnery Range, reflecting the area's role in mid-century defense operations. The map reveals an intensive history of resource extraction, centered around major operations like the Mesquite Mine and smaller ventures such as the Rainbow Mine, Vista Mine, and the Old Channel Mine Shaft. The drainage of Ninemile Wash cuts through the arid basins between the peaks of Black Mountain and the main range, where numerous unnamed prospects indicate the persistent search for minerals across these public and reservation lands. A complex network of 4wd tracks and a prominent Trans Line provide the only infrastructure in this sparsely settled mining corridor.