Can you mine turquoise in New Mexico?
Sarah Martinez
Updated on March 30, 2026
Hachita Turquoise Mine It is located in New Mexico. You will find a bit of Hachita in Turquoise Jewelry today and vintage turquoise jewelry. Hachita is one of the harder New Mexico Turquoise Mines to get turquoise from.
How rare is Cerrillos turquoise?
Today Cerrillos turquoise is considered rare and little is seen. It can still be found in jewelry where small claim owners and rockhounds have supplied the turquoise. Pueblo miners had worked the area for centuries before the Spanish arrived. Over two hundred dig sites have been located.
Where can I go turquoise mining?
Top 25 Turquoise Mines
- Number Eight: Nevada, USA.
- Bisbee: Arizona, USA.
- Lander Blue: Nevada, USA.
- Lone Mountain: Nevada, USA.
- Persian: Nishapur, Iran.
- Yungaisi area: Hubei Province, China.
- Red Mountain: Nevada, USA.
- Morenci: Arizona, USA.
Where is the oldest turquoise mine in New Mexico?
Mount Chalchihuitl
At the Mining Museum in Cerrillos, tours can be arranged to see Mount Chalchihuitl, the oldest turquoise mine in New Mexico. The Mining Museum also sells Cerrillos Turquoise from their two mines.
Where can I dig for turquoise in New Mexico?
The best places to find turquoise in New Mexico are:
- Los Cerrillos Mining District.
- Burro Mountains Mining District.
- Hachita Mining District.
- Jarilla Mining District.
Is New Mexico known for turquoise?
Turquoise is found throughout New Mexico, and in Santa Fe, we have a special history encapsulated in a lovely day-trip along the Turquoise Trail which links Albuquerque and Santa Fe. At the heart of that journey lies the commune of Cerrillos, the “little hills”.
What does Cerrillos turquoise look like?
Cerrillos turquoise colors vary considerably; from pure sky blue to blue greens and greens with little blue at all. Specimens are often stained or streaked with limonite and bright specks of pyrite are sometimes present.
Is the Royston turquoise mine still open?
Royston is an active mine operated by the Otteson family. In 1944 Lynn Otteson and family leased the Royston claim from miner Lee F. Hand, who also worked Blue Gem. His old house still stands at the claim.
Where can I dig for crystals in New Mexico?
Rockhound State Park is a state park of New Mexico, United States, located 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Deming. It is named for the abundance of minerals in the area, and visitors can search for quartz crystals, geodes, jasper, perlite, and many other minerals.
Why is turquoise so popular in New Mexico?
Turquoise has adorned the rulers of Ancient Egypt, the Aztecs (and possibly other Pre-Columbian Mesoamericans), Persia, Ancient Greece, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and in ancient China. It was cherished by the Pueblo, Navajo and Apache tribes.
Where is turquoise mined in New Mexico?
Turquoise was originally found in New Mexico and Colorado. The earliest Turquoise Mine being in what is now known as Cerrillos, NM. Turquoise Beads have been found at the Chaco Canyon Site dating back over prior to 900 A.D.
What gemstones are found in New Mexico?
Varieties of agate, jasper, chert, or petrified wood are found in 15 of New Mexico’s 32 counties. The New Mexico state gemstone is Turquoise. Probably one of the most recognized semiprecious gemstones in existence, Turquoise, has been popular since prehistoric times.
Is there turquoise in New Mexico?
Tyrone turquoise is part of the mineral band that starts east of Silver City and curves around through Arizona and the Morenci turquoise mine area into Mexico. Today it is valued for both its beauty and rarity and is a real asset to silver jewelry. On of the greatest New Mexico Turquoise Mines.
Is there any uranium in New Mexico?
No conventional mills remain in New Mexico to process the ore, adding to the cost of producing uranium in the state. Permitting for new insitu leaching, especially for conventional mines and mills, will take years to complete. Closure plans, including reclamation, must be developed before mining or leaching begins.