Where is gold in New Mexico?
The focus of this webpage is to provide information on where to find gold in New Mexico, with an emphasis on the areas where the GPANM has access to claims.
New Mexico is not as well known for gold as other states such as California, Nevada or Arizona, but there is gold here. However, gold isn't everywhere. It pays to do a lot of research before you start digging! Below are several references that can be used to help you can find gold in New Mexico.
Actually, one of the best sources of information is your local gold prospecting club, association or organization. Local gold prospectors, who have been doing this for awhile, will have an intimate knowledge of where to find gold in an area, and the experience to share as to what is the best way to get that gold. Consider joining the Gold Prospectors Association of New Mexico!
General Map to the Locations of Gold in New Mexico
The map below shows where gold has been found in New Mexico. Use the map as a guide when you start researching in the technical documents that follow.
The map below shows where gold has been found in New Mexico. Use the map as a guide when you start researching in the technical documents that follow.
NMBGMR Article, Placer Gold Resources in New Mexico, McLemore.
The map below shows the names of the counties in New Mexico, which are not shown in the above map. Knowing the county is important when researching the location of gold, and to locate and file claims.
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is part of the U. S. Department of the Interior, and has the congressional mandate to manage all the public lands in the USA. New Mexico, like most of the western states, has a lot of public land. Therefore, the BLM is the official US agency that manages all mineral resources and mining claims. An overview of mining claims can be found here.
The BLM has developed the Mineral & Land Records System (MLRS) to communicate land and mineral records information to BLM staff, customers, and the public. More information and access to the MLRS can be found on a webpage here. A very informative BLM Research Map capability can be found here. (On March 14, 2022, the MLRS replaced the Legacy Rehost 2000 (LR2000) case management system. However, information in the LR2000 system can still be accessed here.)
The BLM office for the state of New Mexico is located at 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508, which is just off Exit 278, for Cerrillos Road, and south on North-14. Here is a link to their website.
So, what does all this mean. As citizens of the USA we can collect reasonable amounts of mineral specimens, rocks, semi-precious gems, petrified wood, and invertebrate fossils on the public lands. However, there are several caveats that we all need to be aware of. A key caveat is, if a claim has been filed on the land, only the claim owner(s) can collect the items listed above, even though anyone can still walk on the land. Another important caveat for everyone to know, you can not collect any human item over 100 years old or collect Native American artifacts, unless you have legal permission. So technically you can't keep that rusty old railroad spike, tin can or shoe tack you found from the 1890s.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is part of the U. S. Department of the Interior, and has the congressional mandate to manage all the public lands in the USA. New Mexico, like most of the western states, has a lot of public land. Therefore, the BLM is the official US agency that manages all mineral resources and mining claims. An overview of mining claims can be found here.
The BLM has developed the Mineral & Land Records System (MLRS) to communicate land and mineral records information to BLM staff, customers, and the public. More information and access to the MLRS can be found on a webpage here. A very informative BLM Research Map capability can be found here. (On March 14, 2022, the MLRS replaced the Legacy Rehost 2000 (LR2000) case management system. However, information in the LR2000 system can still be accessed here.)
The BLM office for the state of New Mexico is located at 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508, which is just off Exit 278, for Cerrillos Road, and south on North-14. Here is a link to their website.
So, what does all this mean. As citizens of the USA we can collect reasonable amounts of mineral specimens, rocks, semi-precious gems, petrified wood, and invertebrate fossils on the public lands. However, there are several caveats that we all need to be aware of. A key caveat is, if a claim has been filed on the land, only the claim owner(s) can collect the items listed above, even though anyone can still walk on the land. Another important caveat for everyone to know, you can not collect any human item over 100 years old or collect Native American artifacts, unless you have legal permission. So technically you can't keep that rusty old railroad spike, tin can or shoe tack you found from the 1890s.
Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
If you want to determine the location of a particular mineral claim, or file a claim, you will have to learn about the Public Land Survey System, or PLSS. Per Wikipedia, "The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) is the surveying method developed and used in the United States to plat, or divide, real property for sale and settling." PLSS information related to NM can be found here, and an interactive map here. A little bit of history on the NM PLSS Principal Meridian can be read here and here. A very useful mapping tool is adding a PLSS overlay to the Google Earth application. The PLSS overlay can be obtained here.
If you want to determine the location of a particular mineral claim, or file a claim, you will have to learn about the Public Land Survey System, or PLSS. Per Wikipedia, "The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) is the surveying method developed and used in the United States to plat, or divide, real property for sale and settling." PLSS information related to NM can be found here, and an interactive map here. A little bit of history on the NM PLSS Principal Meridian can be read here and here. A very useful mapping tool is adding a PLSS overlay to the Google Earth application. The PLSS overlay can be obtained here.
New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources (NMBGMR)
One of the best places to find geologic and mineral information in New Mexico is the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources (NMBGMR), which is a research and service division of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology at New Mexico Tech. New Mexico Tech is located in Soccoro, NM. The NMBGMR has a very rich collection of reference materials, most of which are available online for download, and are free. Their main home page can be reached here. Their main publications page can be reached here. If you happen to be in Soccoro, and have some time, go visit the museum and bookstore. You won't regret it! Information about the museum and bookstore can be found here.
One of the best places to find geologic and mineral information in New Mexico is the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources (NMBGMR), which is a research and service division of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology at New Mexico Tech. New Mexico Tech is located in Soccoro, NM. The NMBGMR has a very rich collection of reference materials, most of which are available online for download, and are free. Their main home page can be reached here. Their main publications page can be reached here. If you happen to be in Soccoro, and have some time, go visit the museum and bookstore. You won't regret it! Information about the museum and bookstore can be found here.
At the August 2022 GPANM monthly meeting, Dr. Virginia T. McLemore, an adjunct professor at New Mexico Tech, gave a great presentation on gold in New Mexico. The presentation can be downloaded by clicking on the blue underlined text below.
Gold in New Mexico - 2022. By V. T. McLemore, 2022.
Below are several references that can be found on the NMBGMR website that cover the geographic locations of the GPANM claims (click on the blue underlined text):
Bulletin-67 - Mineral Deposits of Lincoln County, New Mexico. By G.B. Griswold, 1959.
Bulletin-77 - Geology of the San Pedro Mountains, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. By W. W. Atkinson, Jr., 1961.
Bulletin-81 - Summary of the mineral resources of Bernalillo, Sandoval, and Santa Fe Counties, New Mexico. By W. E. Elston, 1967, reprinted 1988.
Bulletin-104 - Laws and Regulations Governing Mineral Rights in New Mexico. By V. H. Verity and R. J. Young, 1971, reprinted 1973, 1981.
Circular-5 - Gold Mining and Gold Deposits in New Mexico. By E. Walker; H. T. P. Wootton, 1932, Reprinted 1970.
Field Guides - Mines, Minerals & Gold. Includes Gold Panning in New Mexico and Placer Gold in New Mexico.
NMBGMR Periodical (PDF) - Placer Gold Deposits in New Mexico. NMG, v16, n2, p21.
NMBGMR Article, Placer Gold Resources in New Mexico. McLemore.
Resource Map-21 - Silver and Gold in New Mexico. By McLemore, 2001. (Note, this publication is not free.)
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains a wealth of information on many topics, not just gold, in the United States. Documents in the USGS Publications Warehouse can be obtained here.
In particular, references to gold in New Mexico:
Bulletin 1348, Placer Gold Deposits of New Mexico, Johnson, 1972.
Professional Paper 68, The Ore Deposits of New Mexico; Lindgren, Graton and Gordon; 1910.
The USGS also provides extensive mapping capabilites, such as:
USGS Mineral Resources Online Spatial Data info here.
USGS Mineral Resources Data System info here.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains a wealth of information on many topics, not just gold, in the United States. Documents in the USGS Publications Warehouse can be obtained here.
In particular, references to gold in New Mexico:
Bulletin 1348, Placer Gold Deposits of New Mexico, Johnson, 1972.
Professional Paper 68, The Ore Deposits of New Mexico; Lindgren, Graton and Gordon; 1910.
The USGS also provides extensive mapping capabilites, such as:
USGS Mineral Resources Online Spatial Data info here.
USGS Mineral Resources Data System info here.
History of the San Pedro Mountains
Eight of the claims that GPANM members have access to are located in the San Pedro mountains, which are located about 33-miles from the Big-I in Albuquerque. Knowing the history of mining in an area adds to one's knowledge of where to find gold. A wonderful history of the San Pedro Mountains, titled "Spanish Silver, Mexican Gold, and American Copper, Mining History in the San Pedro Mountains", can be downloaded here.
Eight of the claims that GPANM members have access to are located in the San Pedro mountains, which are located about 33-miles from the Big-I in Albuquerque. Knowing the history of mining in an area adds to one's knowledge of where to find gold. A wonderful history of the San Pedro Mountains, titled "Spanish Silver, Mexican Gold, and American Copper, Mining History in the San Pedro Mountains", can be downloaded here.
BUYING AND SELLING GOLD
Albuquerque dealers
Albuquerque Coins. Address: 3216 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-445-4812. website
Castle Gold & Silver Inc. Address: 5606 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-888-4653. website
Crown Jewels & Coin. Address: 3248 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: (505) 884-4888. website
Gold Buyers of New Mexico. Address: 2130 San Mateo Blvd NE Ste. H, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-256-4166, 505-633-8577, 866-917-9341, 855-453-2977. website
Gold & Silver Exchange. Address: 6101 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-445-4772, 505-884-9230. website
National Jewelry Buyers. Address: 5815 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-888-1805. website
Southwestern Gold, Inc. Address: 6909 Menaul Blvd NE #F, Albuquerque, NM 87110-3625. Email: southwesterngold.msn.com. Phone number: 505-881-3636, 800-545-6575. website
Albuquerque Coins. Address: 3216 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-445-4812. website
Castle Gold & Silver Inc. Address: 5606 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-888-4653. website
Crown Jewels & Coin. Address: 3248 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: (505) 884-4888. website
Gold Buyers of New Mexico. Address: 2130 San Mateo Blvd NE Ste. H, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-256-4166, 505-633-8577, 866-917-9341, 855-453-2977. website
Gold & Silver Exchange. Address: 6101 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-445-4772, 505-884-9230. website
National Jewelry Buyers. Address: 5815 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-888-1805. website
Southwestern Gold, Inc. Address: 6909 Menaul Blvd NE #F, Albuquerque, NM 87110-3625. Email: southwesterngold.msn.com. Phone number: 505-881-3636, 800-545-6575. website
Gold Prospectors Association of New Mexico
GPANM HOTLINE: 505-898-5508
Our mailing address:
GPANM
P.O. Box 25472
Albuquerque, NM 87125-0472
GPANM
P.O. Box 25472
Albuquerque, NM 87125-0472
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