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2011 Map of Wind Mountain

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Wind Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Wind Mountain dominates the landscape of this high-desert mining district, where industrial activity and ranching operations define the Grant County terrain. The northeastern corner is marked by massive infrastructure, including Phelps Dodge Tailing Dam Number Three, supporting the nearby Phelps-Dodge Open Pit Copper Mine. This mineral wealth is further evidenced by a dense concentration of smaller claims and workings such as the Missouri Girl Mine, the Nellie Bly Mine, and the Turquoise Mine, indicating a long history of exploration for copper, gold, and turquoise.

Water management is central to the area's utility, with several family-named ranching outposts like Fleming Ranch and Ridout Ranch situated near vital sources such as Mangas Creek and Willow Creek. Historical prospectors left their mark across named canyons like Whitewater Canyon and Sawmill Canyon, while infrastructure like Silver Dale Windmill and Granite Windmill provided the necessary resources for livestock and mining camps in this arid New Mexico environment.