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New Mexico is known for its abundance of gemstones, rocks, minerals, crystals, and fossils, as well as its diverse culinary scene; it’s one of the top rockhounding destinations in the United States, with many areas where gathering is legal.
The best rockhounding locations are the various National Forests, mining dumps, wilderness areas, or stream gravels. In New Mexico, you can find geodes, obsidian, turquoise, gold, diamonds, opal, jasper, agate, moonstones, apache tears, amethyst, shark teeth, staurolite, and various other items.
Though New Mexico is an excellent place to explore, particularly for rock collectors, some locations are more profitable than others. Let’s look at what you can find in New Mexico and where to go!
If you are interested in checking out the best rockhounding book about rockhounding in New Mexico, you can find it here (Amazon link).
Best Rockhounding Locations in New Mexico
The best rockhounding locations in New Mexico are the Rockhound State Park, Jarilla Mountains, Abiquiu Lake, Elk Horn Park, Sante Fe National Forest, Pecos River, Pedernal Park, Jemez National Recreation Area, Kilbourne Hole, Harding Pegmatite Mine, Burro Peak, Oscura Mountains, to name few.
Let’s take a closer look at some of these locations and see what you can find!
Sante Fe National Forest
For rockhounding enthusiasts, the Sante Fe National Forest and the areas in northeastern New Mexico are two of the best places to visit. You can find agate, obsidian, jasper, or apache tears in the park. You can find gold, pyrite, pyrrhotite, or chalcopyrite at Moreno or Ute Creek.
People know the Mexican Gulch area for its agate and apatite rocks. You can also find rare gemstones like searlesite and fluorescent Villiaumite in the Point of Rocks area.
If you’re interested in amber, go to the Sugarite Mine and look around in the coal mines. Gem lovers can find garnet, actinolite, mica, bornite, pyrite, and even tourmaline in the mine dump near Willow Creek in Pecos. In Union County, you can find petrified wood and rose-colored agates.
Jarilla Mountains
The Jarilla Mountains are situated in southwestern New Mexico and are excellent locations for rockhounds. Here, enthusiasts can find beautiful garnet specimens in the hilly area southwest of the Jarilla Mountains.
The area mines, however, are the real deal. You can find chalcopyrite, galena, gypsum, turquoise, chalcocite, chrysocolla, jarosite, limonite, or malachite specimens.
Oscura Mountains
The Oscura Mountains in southwestern New Mexico is yet another fantastic place to explore. Enthusiasts can head up to the area mines or, by paying a fee at the Blanchard Rock Shop, find barite, azurite, atacamite, chrysocolla, chalcocite, celestite, dolomite crystals, cerussite, galena, limonite, malachite, or quartz crystals.
Burro Peak
Burro Peak is among the best places to rockhound in New Mexico. The area mines here reveal beautiful specimens of azurite, onyx, pyrite, chalcocite, chalcopyrite, pyrargyrite, chrysocolla, fluorite, galena, malachite, or pyrite.
Harding Pegmatite Mine
The Harding Pegmatite Mine in northwestern New Mexico is something every rockhound enthusiast should experience. Here, you can find blue apatite specimens, purple lepidolite, rose muscovite, green tourmaline, bityite, eucryptite, quartz crystals, and spodumene.
TIP: New Mexico is full of earthquake zones where you can find specific rocks and minerals. Check out the list of the most common rocks and minerals from earthquake zones in the article below:
Eight Most Common Rocks You Can Find In Earthquake Zones
What Kind of Rocks Are in New Mexico?
The rock diversity in New Mexico is quite generous, especially for the trained eye. You can find geodes, obsidian, agate, flint, moonstones, apache tears, staurolite, sandstone, limestone, chert, and other types of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.
| Rock | Location |
|---|---|
| Geodes | La Madera, Luna, Sapillo Creek, Alum Mountain |
| Obsidian | Sante Fe National Forest, Jemez National Recreation Area, Los Lunas |
| Agates | Abiquiu Lake, Union County, Plains of San Agustin |
| Flint | Pedernal Park, Turquoise Hill, Mimbres Mountains |
| Moonstone | Rabb Canyon, San Lorenzo, Jimenez Mountains |
| Apache Tears | Sante Fe National Forest, Mule Creek, Los Lunas |
| Staurolite | Picuris, Pilar, Velarde |
You can find some very beautiful geode specimens in New Mexico. Regular geodes can be found in La Madera, in the area of hillsides to the northeast. In southwestern New Mexico, head towards Luna, 2 miles west on the ridge, to find amethyst geodes.
You can also go to Sapillo Creek and search the stream gravels for banded agate geodes or go to Alum Mountain, where you can also find these types of geodes in the area.
Obsidian is often termed black rock in New Mexico, and the northwestern parts of the state are the most abundant in it. You can find obsidian at the Sante Fe National Forest or the Jemez National Recreation Area near Battleship Rock.
Obsidian is also present in Los Lunas, the southwestern area. The south area of Las Cruces of southwestern New Mexico is also filled with obsidian.
Agate is found in over 40 locations across New Mexico. It’s almost everywhere in the state. To name a few, let’s start with regular agate specimens, which you can find on the south side of Abiquiu Lake, Sante Fe National Forest, or the Mexican Gulch area.
Gem-quality agates are found in the region from Belen to Los Lunas, in the area of gravel and washes, or Youngsville. Red-banded agates are located in the southwestern area of Los Lunas. The rose-colored agates are located in Union County, in the northeastern parts.
Gem-banded agate is commonly found in the San Francisco River, north of Highway 180. To find moss agate, you can go to the Plains of San Agustin, where the volcanic tuff is exposed.
High-quality seam agate, or sagenitic, can be found at the Big Diggins Mine, however, you have to pay a small fee, or at the Rockhound State Park.
To find flint in New Mexico, you can go to the northwestern parts of the state at Pedernal Park. The northern areas of the park are an excellent place to find it.
Another great area is Turquoise Hill and the regions surrounding it. In southwestern Mexico, you can find flint in the Mimbres Mountains on the west slopes.
For beautiful moonstone specimens in New Mexico, you should head to the Jemez Mountains. However, the best place is the Rabb Canyon Moonstone Pegmatites Gemstone Mine, situated near San Lorenzo.
You can locate Apache Tears in New Mexico near the Sante Fe National Forest. Apache tears can also be seen in Los Lunas’ northeastern areas. Apache tears can be found at Mule Creek, southeastern New Mexico. Search in the west, near the state border.
Finding staurolites in New Mexico is simple. Go to Picuris and look for gravel, or go to Pilar and start digging along both sides of the roadway to Velarde.
TIP: With diverse landscapes and treasure troves of unique rocks and minerals, it’s no wonder that New Mexico is on every rockhound’s itinerary.
11 Common Rocks & Minerals You Can Find in New Mexico
What Gemstones Are Found in New Mexico?
New Mexico has an abundance of gemstones that can be discovered around the state. Turquoise, opal, amethyst, jasper, onyx, aquamarine, tourmaline, feldspar, beryl, pyrite, garnet, villiaumite, quartzite, apatite, lepidolite, and muscovite are among the most popular gemstones in the area.
| Gemstone | Location |
|---|---|
| Turquoise | Mount Chalchihuitl, Apache Mine, Jarilla Mountains |
| Opal | Big Hatchet Mountains, Fort Bayard, Isleta Pueblo |
| Amethyst | Leggett Peak, Black Mountain |
| Jasper | Massacre Mountain, Pajarito Mesa, Laguna |
Beautiful turquoise specimens can be found in New Mexico. It is the state’s officially designated gemstone. You may find turquoise at Mount Chalchihuitl, in the slopes and draws area.
Head towards the Apache Mine, near Hachita, in southwestern New Mexico, to find turquoise, or you can try the Jarilla Mountains. There, search for the gem in the area of the mines.
Opals are another beautiful gemstone that you can find in New Mexico. You can try your luck at Isleta Pueblo, in the area surfaces, draws, or washes to find it.
Fort Bayard, in southeastern New Mexico, has both common and fire opals. Moss opals can be found in the Big Hatchet Mountains in the area.
Finding amethyst in New Mexico can be a bit hard, as there are few locations where this gem was reportedly unearthed. You can try to find amethyst at the Black Mountain, in the west slopes and draws, or head towards Leggett Peak, north of Highway 180, in southwestern New Mexico.
Jasper is quite common in New Mexico, being present throughout the state. If you want to find gem-quality jasper, go to Cutter and search for it on the eastern side of the road.
Dendritic jasper can be found at Mockingbird Gap, on the western side. A deep-red specimen of jasper is commonly found in the Massacre Mountains.
What Crystals Are Found in New Mexico?
You can find various crystals in New Mexico. Some of them are quartz crystals, peridot crystals, rock crystals, dolomite crystals, aragonite crystals, Pecos diamonds, calcite crystals, limonite crystals, spodumene, chrysocolla, glauberite, fluorite, or sphene, among many others.
| Crystal | Location |
|---|---|
| Quartz Crystals | Harding Pegmatite Mine, Leggett Peak, Kingston, Oscura Mountains |
| Chrysocolla | Nacimiento Mountains, Organ, Mimbres Mountains |
| Fluorite | Glenwood, Mogollon, Burro Peak, Playas Lake |
Quartz crystals can be found in a couple of locations across New Mexico. Double-terminated quartz crystals can be found at Kingtone, just one mile away in the northern parts.
Quartz crystal clusters can be found north of Highway 180, near Leggett Peak. Pecos diamonds, which are also quartz crystals, are located in Artesia, the hills near Pecos River, or Fort Summer, about 28 miles west along US 60.
BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? The books listed below are the best ones you can find on the internet (Amazon links):
- Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals
- Gemstone & Crystal Properties (Quick Study Home)
- Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals (National Geographic Kids)
What Minerals Can Be Found in New Mexico?
New Mexico shines in its variety of minerals. You can find gold, diamond, garnet, chalcedony, malachite, azurite, carnelian, gypsum, silver, goethite, topaz, copper minerals, apatite, or even rare minerals such as villiaumite, mica minerals, and many others.
| Mineral | Location |
|---|---|
| Gold | White Oaks, Moreno Creek, Ute Creek |
| Garnet | Jarilla Mountains, Silver Hill, Pecos |
| Chalcedony | Blanco Trading Post, Turquoise Hill, Quemado |
You can find gold in New Mexico in places such as White Oaks, mines, and deposits in southeastern New Mexico. Some other popular locations where you might find gold in New Mexico are the areas around Moreno Creek or Ute Creek, northeastern New Mexico.
True diamond gemstones are quite hard to find in New Mexico, especially due to the confusion of Pecos diamonds, which are double-terminated quartz crystals.
Diamonds haven’t been found in New Mexico, however, the discovery of several kimberlite pipes and at least one lamproite pipe in the state, leads to the possibility of finding diamonds in the western parts of the state.
Some possible diamond areas in New Mexico might be Potrillo Mar, Dog Canyon, Raton, Maxwell, Red Mesa, Moses, Buell Park, or Green Knobs, east of Navajo.
TIP: Check out the article below if you are interested in the complete guide on gold prospecting in New Mexico:
Gold Prospecting in Mexico: 7 Best Locations & Laws
Are There Fossils in New Mexico?
There are various fossils that you can find in New Mexico, including plant fossils, marine fossils, dinosaur bones or tracks, and more. The area surfaces around the Zuni Mountains contain petrified wood, or you can try your luck at Mount Chalchihuitl, where the area slopes and draws.
You can also find petrified cycads or petrified palm trees at Red Rock Spring. The area mines in Kelly Ghost Town are another excellent location to find various fossils. Megalodon teeth aren’t common in New Mexico; however, there are giant fossilized remains of the Godzilla, which is nicknamed shark.
They were discovered in the Santa Fe area. The Shark Tooth Ridge in central New Mexico has a variety of shark tooth fossils and other fossils. The area near Cabezon is also known for its shark tooth fossil remnants, some of which are extremely large.
When it comes to finding relics and artifacts in New Mexico, such as arrowheads, it’s relatively easy. Both the eastern and western parts of the Pecos River are excellent locations to start. The Blackwater Draw site, near highway NM 466 north of Portales, is another famous location.
FAQ About Rockhounding in New Mexico
Sill did not find the answer to your questions about rockhounding in New Mexico. Find frequently asked questions in the section below:
Is Rockhounding Legal in New Mexico?
New Mexico is an excellent state for rockhounds to fulfill their dreams and find various rare or precious items. It is legal to rockhound in the state, and there are various places where you are permitted to do so. Always make sure that you aren’t collecting on prohibited or private lands.
What is New Mexico’s State Fossil?
The official state fossil of New Mexico has been Coelophysis since 1981. It is a small biped meat-eating dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic, between 205 and 210 million years ago. Its name translates to “hollow form” due to its limb bones. Most of the fossils are found at Ghost Ranch.
What is New Mexico State Rock?
New Mexico doesn’t currently have an officially designated state rock, despite its variety of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. Apache tears might seem like a strong candidate, or even obsidian or agates, due to their abundance in the state, but it remains to be seen.
Conclusion
New Mexico is among the best rockhounding states in the U.S. for rockhounds due to its high diversity and abundance of gems, rocks, minerals, crystals, fossils, artifacts, and rockhounding areas. It is a state that no true rockhound should miss out on in this life!
TIP: A lot of rockhounds are tumbling most of the rocks they found. And rock tumlbing is great activity to do with your kids. Check out the best rock tumblers for kids in the article below:
Best Rock Tumblers for Kids in 2021: Options For Diff Ages