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1986 Map of Spruce Mountain

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Spruce Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Spruce Mountain dominates this Nevada landscape, where the high peaks of the Spruce Mountain Ridge are etched with the remnants of industrial exploration. This 1986 survey records a high concentration of mineral prospecting, evidenced by numerous labels for Mine Shaft, Prospect, and Pit scattered across the steep slopes. The distribution of these workings relative to water sources like Townsite Spring suggests a history of localized mining camps and high-altitude operations where water was a critical resource.

Downslope, the terrain transitions into drainage basins carved by Latham Creek and Cole Creek. The presence of several named springs, including Latham Spring, Spruce Spring, and Basco Spring, highlights the essential hydrology of the Elko County high desert. While a Radio Tower marks modern infrastructure, the inclusion of a Corral and various Drill Hole markers points to a landscape balancing traditional ranching uses with modern geological survey and resource extraction.