Rockhounding in New Mexico

119 mapped spots across 26 counties. New Mexico is strong high-desert rockhounding country. Rockhound State Park near Deming, Round Mountain, and broad BLM tracts produce thundereggs, jasper, agate, perlite, Apache tears, and pumice.

New Mexico rockhounding photos

Representative spot and material photos from locations in this state, shown where verified public image records are available.

5 photos

Map showing 119 rockhounding spots in New Mexico

Top minerals found in New Mexico

Counts reflect how many spots in this list mention each mineral.

Notable areas: Rockhound State Park, Apache tears at Round Mountain, and Luna County agates are common New Mexico targets.

Geology behind New Mexico rockhounding

Southwest New Mexico's Tertiary volcanic field produces many of the state's common targets, including thundereggs, agate, jasper, perlite, and Apache tears. The Rio Grande Rift exposes Precambrian and Paleozoic mineralization through central New Mexico. The San Juan Basin in the northwest has petrified wood and Cretaceous invertebrates. The Pecos and Sangre de Cristo ranges add pegmatite minerals.

Best regions to focus your search

Southwest (Rockhound State Park, Deming, Bisbee Hills)

Rockhound State Park (where the state actively encourages visitors to take a small amount of material), Spring Canyon, the Florida Mountains, and Apache tears at Round Mountain. The state's main collecting hub.

Central New Mexico (Magdalena, Socorro, Mockingbird Gap)

Smoky quartz, fluorite, mine-dump barite, and selenite. The Magdalena and Kelly mining districts produce a long list of secondary minerals.

Northwest (San Juan Basin, Bisti)

Petrified wood and Cretaceous invertebrate fossils on BLM. The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is closed to collecting; surrounding BLM is open under the standard rule.

Best season

October through April for the southwest deserts; summers are hot. The Sangre de Cristo and Jemez highlands are easier from May through October.

What to bring

Water, sun protection, and a rake for surface-picking thundereggs and Apache tears in the southwest. The Florida Mountains are steep and in snake country, so wear sturdy boots.

Local collecting history

Rockhound State Park near Deming, established in 1965, was the first state park in the U.S. created specifically for rockhounding. New Mexico designated turquoise as its state gem in 1967; the historic Cerrillos turquoise mines south of Santa Fe are mostly closed but a few still offer occasional tours.

Rockhounding near major New Mexico cities

Day-trip range. Each section lists the closest mapped rockhounding spots within about 150 miles of the city — most are inside a 2 to 3 hour drive.

Neighboring states with rockhounding

Geology rarely respects state borders. These states share mapped rockhounding country with New Mexico — useful when New Mexico is the start, not the whole trip. Each card links to the closest county across the line.

Rockhounding by county in New Mexico

County pages are linked once we have at least 3 mapped spots for a focused guide with coordinates, mineral notes, and nearby spots.

Top picks in New Mexico

10 best spots

Hand-picked standouts from the New Mexico list, chosen for unusual mineralogy, documented public access, or both. Each card links to coordinates, access notes, and what to look for.

Every rockhounding spot in New Mexico

Sorted by county. Tap coordinates to open in Google Maps, or open RockHoundR for the full map view with land overlays and weather.

SpotCountyMineralsCoordinatesAccess
Isleta PuebloTribal Road 12Bernalillo County34.9075, -106.6744Public
Pajarito MesaOld Pajarito RoadBernalillo County34.9948, -106.7656Public
Rio Puerco ValleyBernalillo County35.0755, -106.9489Public
Tijeras CanyonMountain RidgeBernalillo County35.0717, -106.3978Public
Black MountainSam Martin Trail #23Catron County33.3807, -108.2899Public
Elk Horn ParkCatron County33.8854, -108.6877Public
Glenwood & PleasantonShelton Canyon RoadCatron County33.2973, -108.8702Public
Golden Eagle & Handcar MinesMineral Creek Trail #201Catron County
  • Tetradymite
33.4150, -108.8095Public
Horse Camp CanyonNew Mexico 36Catron County34.5144, -108.3803Public
Lee Russell & Kerr CanyonsToriette Lake RoadCatron County33.9167, -108.6726Public
Leggett PeakUS 180Catron County33.7151, -108.9040Public
LunaUS 180Catron County33.8197, -108.9853Public
Luna (agate area)Bill Knight Gap RoadCatron County33.8189, -108.9548Public
MogollonBursum RoadCatron County33.3899, -108.8022Public
Plains of San AgustinCatron County33.8840, -108.2586Public
QuemadoUS 60Catron County34.3416, -108.4927Public
San Francisco RiverOld Highway RoadCatron County33.8284, -109.0213Public
Lake ArthurChaves County32.9744, -104.0913Public
RoswellRiver RoadChaves County33.3950, -104.3999Public
LagunaNM 124Cibola County35.0488, -107.4057Public
Zuni MountainsCounty Road 149Cibola County35.1422, -108.3258Public
Mexican GulchUS 64Colfax County36.5393, -105.1439Public
Moreno CreekCounty Road B-24Colfax County36.5971, -105.2708Public
Point of RocksColfax County
  • Searlesite
  • Fluorescent Villiaumite
36.4251, -104.1520Public
Sugarite Mine & coal fieldsNM 72Colfax County36.9098, -104.3463Public
Ute Creek4WDColfax County36.6083, -105.1595Public
Fort SumnerSouth 9th StreetDe Baca County34.4591, -104.2396Public
Fort Sumner (Pecos diamonds)US 60De Baca County34.4731, -104.7230Public
Grandview CanyonWsmr South Route 306Doña Ana County32.9812, -106.5475Public
HatchDoña Ana County32.7108, -107.1072Public
Hatch (goethite area)County Road 0068Doña Ana County32.7569, -107.1355Public
Kilbourne HoleDoña Ana County
  • Augite
  • Peridot
31.9734, -106.9660Public
Las CrucesPearl Harbor Memorial HighwayDoña Ana County32.0615, -106.6033Public
OrganBaylor Canyon PassDoña Ana County32.4040, -106.6010Public
ArtesiaEddy County32.8313, -104.3178Public
Whites CityCarlsbad Cavern HighwayEddy County
  • Onyx
32.1759, -104.3769Public
Alum MountainGrant County33.1326, -108.2192Public
Burro PeakRustlers TrailGrant County32.5718, -108.4007Public
Fort BayardGrant County32.8027, -108.1392Public
GeorgetownGeorgetown RoadGrant County
  • Argentite
  • Descloizite
32.8467, -108.0225Public
HachitaContinental Divide TrailGrant County31.8954, -108.4254Public
Meerschaum area surfacesNM 15Grant County33.0511, -108.1947Public
Mule CreekHarden CienegaGrant County
  • Apache Tears
33.1381, -109.0336Public
RedrockGrant County
  • Ricolite
  • Banded Serpentine
32.7357, -108.6527Public
Santa RitaNM 152Grant County32.8030, -108.0665Public
Sapillo CreekSapillo Loop RoadGrant County33.0345, -108.1871Public
Apache MineNM 81Hidalgo County31.8448, -108.3053Public
Big Hatchet Mountainscdt Ley bushwackHidalgo County31.6215, -108.3640Public
Granite GapNM 80;US 80 HistHidalgo County32.0792, -108.9799Public
Playas LakeHidalgo County31.8416, -108.5772Public
Pyramid MountainsHidalgo County32.1946, -108.7222Public
Pyramid PeakHidalgo County32.2620, -108.7780Public
Shakespeare Ghost TownPipeline RoadHidalgo County32.3239, -108.7612Public
AnchoA036Lincoln County33.9375, -105.7305Public
White OaksCounty Road A044Lincoln County33.7520, -105.7579Public
Big Diggins MineCounty Road C018Luna County32.0459, -107.9433Paid / fee
ColumbusLuna County
  • Onyx
31.8260, -107.7137Public
Cookes PeakCookes Peak TrailLuna County32.5570, -107.7250Public
Cookes Peak areaCookes Peak TrailLuna County32.5260, -107.7014Public
General Area (calcite)County Road A016Luna County32.3935, -107.7067Public
General Area (Luna County)Luna County32.3316, -107.7059Public
Massacre MountainLuna County32.4447, -107.6751Public
Rockhound State ParkThunder Egg TrailLuna County32.1873, -107.6126Public
Tres Hermanas MtscdtLuna County31.9307, -107.7255Public
GrantsSan Mateo RoadMcKinley County
  • Radioactive Minerals
35.3426, -107.7590Public
ThoreauMcKinley County35.4435, -108.1281Public
RociadaFR 18Mora County35.8638, -105.4197Public
BentMauer DriveOtero County
  • Mexican Onyx
33.1550, -105.8502Public
Jarilla Mountains (copper)County Road A003Otero County32.4055, -106.1005Public
Jarilla Mountains (garnet)Otero County32.3952, -106.1161Public
Abiquiu LakeNM 96Rio Arriba County36.2348, -106.4321Public
CoyoteNM 96Rio Arriba County36.1657, -106.6162Public
Ghost RanchRio Arriba County36.3050, -106.4804Public
La MaderaRio Arriba County36.3978, -106.0212Public
La Madera (dumortierite area)Rio Arriba County
  • Dumortierite
  • Specularite
  • Chert
36.3810, -106.0346Public
La Madera MineNM 519Rio Arriba County36.3961, -106.0242Public
Las TablasJarita Meza RoadRio Arriba County36.5317, -106.0504Public
Pedernal ParkRio Arriba County36.1920, -106.4898Public
PetacaForest Road 45Rio Arriba County36.5033, -106.0235Public
Sunnyside MineRio Arriba County36.4539, -106.0494Public
YoungsvilleEncino RoadRio Arriba County36.1841, -106.5584Public
Blanco Trading PostState Highway 57San Juan County36.3467, -107.8253Public
NW San Juan CountySan Juan County36.7617, -108.6553Public
Las VegasSan Miguel County35.6577, -105.2327Public
PecosDavis Willow T.S. RoadSan Miguel County35.7572, -105.6660Public
AlbuquerqueSandoval County35.2121, -106.8623Public
CubaEureka Mesa RoadSandoval County35.9972, -106.9001Public
Jemez National Recreation AreaEast Fork Trail (137)Sandoval County35.8283, -106.6416Public
Nacimiento MountainsEureka Mesa RoadSandoval County35.9988, -106.8941Public
Mount ChalchihuitlGravel Pit RoadSanta Fe County35.4701, -106.1126Public
San Pedro MountainsCounty Road 7BSanta Fe County35.2555, -106.1880Public
Santa Fe National ForestSanta Fe County35.6998, -106.2160Public
Turquoise Hill and surrounding areaBonanza Creek RoadSanta Fe County35.5135, -106.0956Public
Caballo MountainsCounty Road A003Sierra County32.9120, -107.2236Public
CutterSierra County33.0643, -107.0027Public
DerryLost HillSierra County32.7883, -107.2531Public
Elephant ButteNM 51Sierra County33.1729, -107.0448Public
Fra Cristobal RangeSierra County33.4003, -107.1203Public
HillsboroNM 152Sierra County
  • Rhyolite
32.9156, -107.6058Public
Jornada ValleyUpham RoadSierra County33.1363, -107.0245Public
KingstonKingston RoadSierra County32.9312, -107.7106Public
Mimbres MountainsTrail #135Sierra County32.8441, -107.7360Public
Mud Springs MountainsSierra County33.1665, -107.2975Public
Kelly Ghost TownForest 190C RoadSocorro County34.0690, -107.1951Public
Mockingbird GapWsmr P Route 7Socorro County33.5458, -106.4527Public
Oscura MountainsWsmr South Route 3501Socorro County33.8118, -106.3750Public
Red Rock SpringSocorro County
  • Agatized Picture Wood
  • Petrified Cycad
  • Petrified Palm
34.3506, -107.2989Public
Silver HillSocorro County34.1253, -107.3037Public
Strawberry PeakSocorro County
  • Satin Spar
34.1056, -107.0043Public
Gold HillGold Hill Trail #64Taos County36.6430, -105.4558Public
Harding Pegmatite MineTaos County
  • Blue Apatite
  • Bityite
  • Eucryptite
  • Purple Lepidolite
  • Rose Muscovite
  • Quartz
  • Spodumene
  • Green Tourmaline
36.1933, -105.7950Public
Harding Pegmatite outcropsTaos County36.1932, -105.7948Public
PicurisCamino de la LomaTaos County36.1951, -105.7008Public
Pilar (garnet)NM 68Taos County36.2365, -105.8409Public
Pilar (thulite)NM 68Taos County
  • Thulite
36.2631, -105.7945Public
Estancia Dry LakeTorrance County
  • Epsomite
  • Glauberite
34.7312, -105.9992Public
Union CountyUnion County36.9940, -103.0078Public
Belen to Los LunasSedillo RoadValencia County34.7147, -106.7467Public
Los LunasValencia County34.7575, -106.8935Public

New Mexico rockhounding FAQ

Is rockhounding legal in New Mexico?+
Yes on BLM and USFS land under the standard BLM rule (25 lb/day, 250 lb/year). New Mexico is also unusual in that Rockhound State Park near Deming actively encourages collecting, with a posted 15-pounds-per-visit limit. Most other state parks, all national parks, and tribal lands are closed.
How much can I take from Rockhound State Park?+
Rockhound State Park near Deming posts a 15-pound-per-person-per-visit limit on rocks and mineral specimens. You may not dig pits or use heavy tools; hand picking and small hand tools only. Unlike most state parks, this park specifically allows limited collecting.
Where can I find Apache tears in New Mexico?+
Round Mountain in the Black Range and surrounding BLM ground produces large quantities of Apache tears (small obsidian nodules weathered out of perlite). The trail to the perlite slopes is well used; the apache tears come from weathered surface scree.
Can I dig in the Bisti badlands?+
No. The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is closed to all collecting. You may walk through and photograph the area. Adjacent BLM ground outside the wilderness boundary is open under the standard 25 lb/day rule.
What rocks and minerals can you find in New Mexico?+
Common targets include thundereggs (Rockhound State Park, Spring Canyon), Apache tears (Round Mountain), agate and jasper across the southwest, perlite, fluorite, petrified wood (San Juan Basin BLM), and turquoise (historic Cerrillos and Burro Mountains — mostly on claims).

Map every New Mexico spot in the app

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