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1967 Map of Saltdale NW

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Saltdale NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Indian Wells Valley and the northern reaches of the El Paso Mountains dominate this 1967 survey, capturing a landscape defined by industrial extraction and remote desert habitation. The map provides a detailed record of mining operations such as the Cudahy Old Dutch Cleanser Mine and the Copper Basin Mine, alongside the intriguing Burro Schmidts Tunnel. These features, coupled with the Cudahy Camp (Site) and Bickel Camp, suggest a persistent human presence focused on the mineral wealth found within Last Chance Canyon and the surrounding Red Buttes.

Transportation and infrastructure are represented by the Los Angeles Aqueduct cutting across the western valley and the Red Rock Inyokern Road. A network of Jeep Trails provides access to the interior of the Black Hills, where numerous unnamed mines and prospects indicate widespread exploration. This survey serves as a vital record for those studying the intersection of early 20th-century mining history and desert survival in Kern County.