This is an 1879 Henry Newton geological map of the Black Hills during the height of the Black Hills Gold Rush. The Black Hills are a spectacular mountain range in the northern plains states of South Dakota and Wyoming. Per Carl Wheat, the map depicts from 102 degrees 10 minutes to 105 degrees [west longitude] and from 43 degrees 15 minutes to 45 degrees [north latitude]. Contouring is employed as the basis of the map, with different colors of shading used to denote different geological formations. Eleven different colors are present on the map, illustrating fourteen different types of formations, as cretaceous numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5 are grouped together. Other formations noted include igneous, cretaceous number 1, carboniferous, potsdam, and granite.

From a geographical standpoint, several rivers are depicted and labeled, including both the North and South Fork of the Cheyenne River, the White River, and the Big Cheyenne River. Several peaks, such as Terry's Peak and Custer's Peak, are labeled, along with numerous buttes.

Gold was discovered in the Black Hills in 1874 by the Black Hills Expedition, which was led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, who would later meet his end at the Battle of Little Big Horn. An expedition, led by Henry Newton and Walter P. Jenney, was sent to investigate the uncharted regions of the Black Hills by the United States Geological Survey in response to this discovery and the ensuing gold rush. Created during the height of the Black Hills Gold Rush, this map was published in an atlas which accompanied a government report titled Topographic and geological atlas of the Black Hills of Dakota to accompany the report of Henry Newton, E.M. assistant geologist.The expedition, led by Walter P. Jenney, E.M., Per Wheat, who quoted J.S. Newberry

When presented to Congress its publication would have been immediately authorized except for a selfish and heartless opposition it encountered springing from the fear that it would betray the inaccuracy of previously published descriptions of the geology of the region. [A scarcely veiled crack at F. V. Hayden.] This opposition cost Mr. Newton his life, for when Congress deferred action on his report till another session he determined to employ a part of the interval in revisiting the Black Hills, repeating some of his observations and recording the results of the rapidly-developing mining industry. While engaged in this work he was attacked by typhoid fever, and died at Deadwood, August 5, 1877.

This map was published by Julius Bien in New York, 1879.