1982 Map of Trona East

About this map

The industrial and mineral landscape of Searles Lake dominates this 1980s topographic study, where the extraction of borax and other minerals shaped the development of Trona and its surrounding communities. The map highlights an extensive network of Evaporators and a Salt Evaporator served by roads on levees and various pipelines. These specialized operations were essential for harvesting salt from the dry lake bed. To the north and west, the terrain rises into the Argus Range and Slate Range, where mining history is marked by the Ophir Mine, Gold Bottom Mine, and Stockwell Mine. This era shows the region during the height of the Cold War, evidenced by the proximity of the China Lake Naval Weapons Center. Small residential clusters at Pioneer Point and Point of Rocks provide a glimpse into the local settlement pattern tied directly to the potash and chemical industries of Searles Valley.