1987 Map of Rays

About this map

The San Antonio Mountains dominate this high-desert landscape in central Nevada, where 1980s infrastructure intersects with earlier mining and ranching traces. The map documents a rugged transition from high peaks like Rhyolite Peak and Red Mountain to the arid flats marked by water sources essential for survival, including Fraziers Well, Henrys Well, and the remote Slaughterhouse Spring. Mining activity is evidenced by numerous prospects and Gravel Pits scattered near the Military Reservation, while the historic Rays (Site) marks the location of a former settlement. Transportation is limited to a network of 4wd trails that cross the terrain, often following the path of utility infrastructure like the Aqueduct and high-voltage transmission lines. This survey provides a look at the mid-to-late 20th-century development of the region, where the search for minerals and the management of scarce water resources defined the human presence.