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1996 Map of Swisshelm Mountain

Name: 1996 Topographic Map of Swisshelm Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2003
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2003

About this map

The Swisshelm Mountains dominate this high-desert landscape in Cochise County, defined by a legacy of heavy prospecting and mineral extraction. This study reveals a topography dense with mining infrastructure, ranging from an Open Pit Mine and various Mine Shafts to numerous Adits and Prospects scattered across the elevations. The presence of Usmm 12 suggests a formal mineral monument used for early surveying of these mining claims.

Water sources are sparse, concentrated around Whitewater Draw to the northwest and the remote Gila Springs tucked within the range. The transition from the rugged slopes of Swisshelm Mountain to the flats is marked by isolated human markers like a Corral and several remote wells. The descent into Monster Canyon provides a clear view of how prospectors navigated the steep terrain, leaving behind a network of 4wd tracks that connect the various dig sites and shafts across the mountainside.