Rockhounding in New Mexico

New Mexico is a great place to explore for both the amateur rockhound and professional geologist alike. We have an incredible variety of rocks, minerals, and fossils exposed at the surface throughout the state. In addition, we probably have the longest history of mining in any state in the country (turquoise and ochre was mined near Santa Fe in pre-Columbian times).

Our free Rockhounding Guide to New Mexico (4.5Mb PDF) discusses some interesting places you might want to visit to add to your collection.

You may also want to look at our frequently asked questions about mineral and rock collecting and mining.