Las Tablas: Tourmaline Rockhounding in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

Updated June 2026

Las Tablas is a mapped rockhounding spot in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. Reported finds include tourmaline. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Rio Arriba County
State: New Mexico
Nearest road: Jarita Meza Road
Postcode: 87554
Coordinates: 36.53165, -106.05044

Geology at Las Tablas

This spot sits on rhyolite and felsic volcanic schist, mapped as schist and metarhyolite that formed roughly 1800 to 1600 million years ago. Volcanic ground like this weathers into rocky slopes and float, and fresh exposures in cuts and drainages are usually the most productive places to look.

Mapped unit: rhyolite and felsic volcanic schist
Age: 1800–1600 Ma (Paleoproterozoic)
Rock types: schist and metarhyolite
Elevation: 8,130 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Las Tablas

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 81°F in midsummer and 38°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 8°F. At about 8,130 ft, snow can block access from late fall well into spring, so check conditions outside of summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, TRES PIEDRAS station (9 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

Rockhound State Park, Collection rules
BLM New Mexico
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Las Tablas

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Tourmaline Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Las Tablas.

Across the state line from Las Tablas

Las Tablas is close enough to the New Mexico border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Las Tablas FAQ

Where is Las Tablas?+

Las Tablas is in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, at 36.53165, -106.05044. Nearest road: Jarita Meza Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Las Tablas?+

Las Tablas is reported to produce Tourmaline.

Is collecting allowed at Las Tablas?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Las Tablas?+

A rock hammer, a pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses suit pegmatite ground. Work weathered zones and check dump piles; coarse crystals often sit in decomposed rock.

When is the best time to visit Las Tablas?+

The most comfortable months at Las Tablas are March to November. At about 8,130 ft, snow can block access from late fall well into spring, so check conditions outside of summer.

How do I get to Las Tablas?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 36.53165, -106.05044 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Jarita Meza Road.

More rockhounding in New Mexico

See all 143 New Mexico spots →

Open Las Tablas on the map

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