Anza-Borrego Central: Mines & Geology

Photo of the morning sun touching the top of Split Mountain
The Morning Sun Reaches the Top of Split Mountain

People from all over the world come to Anza-Borrego to marvel at and try to understand its geology, some of the most outstanding examples of which are:

Split Mountain Gorge

Unites States Gypsum Corporation Quarry

Fish Creek Wash

Borrego Badlands

Central Anza-Borrego also has its share of mines. The area abuts the old gold-mining country around Julian.

Lindsay (Anza-Borrego A to Z) points out that the Oriflamme Mine, on the west side of Oriflamme Creek Canyon, was the only gold-producing mine in the present Anza-Borrego Desert State Park area.

In her Hornblende Canyon walk description, Halford writes of abandoned mines along the way.