Located in Otero County, New Mexico. Known through its early history as Jarilla Junction it was turned into a hustler's delight when a nugget the size of a man's finger was found in the nearby mountains. For several years thereafter, the town was the hub of intense mining activity and the population grew to several thousand people. Orogrande Minerals 258. While some people travel to New Mexico with the sole goal of rockhounding, casual tourists also can find adventure looking for rocks and minerals. Read our Privacy Statement to learn more. Also, use caution when exploring the mining district. Filter 79 mines by commodity, disposition, development status, and record type in Orogrande, New Mexico. Getting There. Ancient sea beds erode and reveal fossilized marine life; in some spots, one literally trips over the remains. Orogrande, New Mexico has a population of 52 (based on numbers from 2010). By using the site, you consent to the placement of these cookies. The road into the Jarilla Mountains is rough. If your are interested in rocks and geology Socorro County is the place to be! Orogrande is the site of one of the more famous New Mexico mines, the De Meules Turquoise mine. It was held in June of 1966 in the new Home Economics building at the Southwest New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Deming. NEW MEXICO TECH is steeped in the mining tradition and is home to the MINERAL MUSEUM. HISTORY OF PLACER MINING IN NEW MEXICO Placer mining began in 1828, when the rich placer deposits of the Ortiz Mountains, Santa Fe County, were discovered (Jones, 1904, p. 21). Orogrande, NM. The gold (and copper, silver, iron, and turquoise) deposits did not bear out promoters' claims and investors' hopes, so after a few years Orogrande slipped hack into being the railroad town it was originally. Contact: 575-835-8927 Each feature is composed of standalone applications and companion applications. Even before that discovery, New Mexico was the scene of some mining activity. Despite the abundant diversity of gems, minerals, and rocks across Colorado, much of the good rockhounding exists off publication and can be kept hush hush. A fifty-five mile long water pipe was laid from the Sacramento River to the townsite. The Pueblo Indians mined and used turquoise for ornaments, and there is We based with friends and family in Santa Fe and Albuquerque and sought out a number of sites described in the book. Jul 9, 2020 - Explore Judy Clare's board "Rockhounding locations", followed by 116 people on Pinterest. The old school is about 100 yards off the highway at the north end of town. Also, use caution when exploring the mining district. Pin. Orogrande is an unincorporated community in Otero County, NM. Planning an unforgettable experience in New Mexico is easy with a free New Mexico True Adventure Guide. Ancient sea beds erode and reveal fossilized marine life; in some spots, one literally trips over the remains. Green fluorite is common here, as are many varieties of quartz. Rockhounding trips taken JAN-FEB 2016 I Socorro County, NM. Jarilla Junction, once a station on the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad, was renamed Orogrande when a gold nugget the size of a man's finger was discovered in 1905. Rock hunters love New Mexico, and Sierra County is a great example of the reason why. Blue fluorite, barite, and galena specimens uncovered. Be aware that there are some mine claims and private lands near the public collecting areas. 95. The members of the new Deming Gem & Mineral Society immediately decided to produce a rock show. Download the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Rockhound Guide for more information on rockhounding in New Mexico. The Jarillas make up a relatively small mountain range (4 miles wide by 10 miles long) that rises like an island to 1,200 feet above the surrounding Tularosa basin. See more ideas about rock hounding, rock hunting, gem hunt. Special thanks to Eddie DeLuca. This web page shows some fine … Director@SierraCountyNewMexico.info Other minerals include epidote, garnet, galena, feldspars and limonite (iron oxide) The Rockhound’s Guide to New Mexico by Melinda Crow - It also lists fossils near Cloudcroft New Mexico Rockhounding Orogrande is 36 miles south of Alamo­gordo and 49 miles northeast of El Paso, Texas, on U.S. 54. Orogrande Tourism: Tripadvisor has reviews of Orogrande Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Orogrande resource. Allow map scroll US Border patrol checkpoint at Orogrande, NM. Orogrande, N.M., nestled short of the hills of the Jarilla Mountains along US-54 midway between El Paso and Alamogordo, cut its teeth on one of the biggest con games ever pulled off in the Southwest. In Australia, New Zealand and Cornwall, the activities of amateur geologists are called fossicking. Like. Green fluorite is common here, as are many varieties of quartz. About 60 miles north of the El Paso ports of entry. Franklin Mountains Minerals 262 ... Rockhounding New Mexico: Rockhounding New York: Rockhounding Oregon: Rockhounding PA and NJ: Rockhounding Utah: Rockhounding Virginia: Rockhounding Wisconsin: Rockhounding Wyoming: More Gem Books: Rock hunting tools (and tips) are available at the Rock Shop in Hillsboro. Additionally, much of the quality areas are under private claim. 301 S. Foch, Truth or Consequences NM As happened so many times before, there was less gold than had been anticipated and mining activity began to wane. Prospecting had started as early as 1879 in the Jarilla Mountains but the 1905 discovery started a gold rush and gave birth to the town of Orogrande. The first meeting is free to attend. Information is subject to change at any time, and Oregon Discovery team cannot guarantee that is either current or correct. View from NM State Road 6563 Friday was the first of five full days we spent rockhounding in the Orogrande Mining District in the Jarilla Mountains, about 35 miles south of Alamogordo. Rock hunters love New Mexico, and Sierra County is a great example of the reason why. Jarilla Junction, once a station on the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad, was renamed Orogrande when a gold nugget the size of a man's finger was discovered in 1905. The old school is about 100 yards off the highway at the north end of town. According to the head of the Sierra County Rock and Gem Society (SCRAGS), “most rock hunters come to Sierra County to collect carnelian, amethyst, and sulfides.”. Quick Facts. The Blanchard Rock Shop is located on Highway 380, about 1 hour and 45 minutes south of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in Socorro County. View the guide online, or request to have one sent to you. 575-894-1968, © 2021 Sierra County New Mexico. Two books, Gem Trails of New Mexico by James R. Mitchell and New Mexico Rockhounding: A Guide to Minerals, Gemstones, and Fossils by Stephen M. Voynick provide fairly up-to-date information about mineral collecting in New Mexico. SCRAGS meets on the first Monday of every month at 6pm at the Geronimo Springs Museum, and coordinates field trips to sites around the county. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. ...". All Rights Reserved. Some were forced to live in hastily erected shacks and tents. Get it as soon as Tue, Feb 16. Pyramid Peak Fluorite 260. rocky. Tweet. Orogrande, New Mexico sits 1,277 meters (4,189.6 feet) above sea level feet above sea level. 117. Orogrande is an unincorporated community in Otero County, New Mexico in the United States, located at latitude of 32.37111 and a longitude of -106.08389 in the Jarilla Mountains of the Tularosa Basin on U.S. Orogrande is situated 4½ miles southeast of Orogrande Range Camp. Best of Orogrande: Find must-see tourist attractions and things to do in Orogrande, New Mexico. and Orogrande minerals - copper minerals of azurite, malachite, chrysocolla. Rockhounding New Mexico: A Guide To 140 Of The State's Best Rockhounding Sites (Rockhounding Series) Part of: Rockhounding (15 Books) 4.5 out of 5 stars 108. National Forests and Public Wilderness Lands. Amateur geology or rock collecting (also referred to as rockhounding in the United States and Canada) is the non-professional study and hobby of collecting rocks and minerals or fossil specimens from the natural environment. Orogrande, New Mexico (NM), US. Today Orogrande is reduced to a post office, a few businesses and about fifteen families. About 60 miles north of the El Paso ports of entry. The road into the Jarilla Mountains is rough. Explore 35 rockhounding spots on the Natural Atlas map, or record the ones you encounter out on your outdoor adventures with the Natural Atlas app. Our friends at Mama's Minerals, with two stores in Santa Fe, and one in Albuquerque created this rollicking Enchanted 8 Road Trip of their own - Road Trip For True Rockhounds - a quest comprised of museums, fossil sites, mines, state parks and more for those with a thirst for geology in New Mexico.We recommend pairing it with The Enchanted 8 Road Trip For True Adventure Seekers. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy, Rockhounding New Mexico – Sierra County’s Rocks, Minerals & Gems. Share. Find images of US cities, towns & places. Rockhounding 101 – How to REALLY FIND minerals and rocks! Where To Go Rockhounding In Colorado. Orogrande, NM Iron mines, mine companies, mine owners and mine information. January 9, 2013 August 13, 2016. Sierra County Recreation and Tourism Search for: Ruralpix is a free service of US ECONOMIC RESEARCH. Some are essential to make our site work, others help us improve the user experience. Get an economic development website for just $799 a year with no startup costs or web design fees ever at ED Websites. Orogrande, New Mexico (NM), US. Safe practices, requirements, and status of tourism businesses in New Mexico. It is halfway between San Antonio and Carrizozo at mile marker 30 on U.S. Highway 380, in the "town" of Bingham, New Mexico. On this website we are sharing information about locations that some of the various contributors to this site have gone to. The book Minerals of New Mexico by Stuart Northrup gives a comprehensive list of mineral occurrences in the state. Orogrande, New Mexico. The JARILLA MOUNTAINS at nearby Oro Grande, NM (30 miles south of Alamogordo) are a good area to find certain gemstones as well as ore samples. Rockhounding Surface is meant to be a collection of various features, mainly for hobbistic and decorative gaming purposes, concerning different types of nature and geology related resources and their reasonable applications. Turquoise was also found in this area many years ago. Banded agate, a mineral named for its unusual, undulating stripes, is somewhat unique to this area. The site uses cookies to store information on your computer. Orogrande is 34 miles south of Alamogordo on US 54. Regardless, here are a few sites to get you started rock-hounding in Colorado. Paperback $15.95 $ 15. In 1965 a young, ambitious club was founded, dedicated to the pursuit of rockhound interests. Almost overnight, a hundred homes were built to house only a fraction of the influx of people. 118. There's actually a "ROCKHOUND STATE PARK" just south of Deming, NM. The primary specimens remaining here are general jasper and small “ thundereggs ”. From 16 Orogrande attractions, Yelp helps you discover popular restaurants, hotels, tours, shopping, and nightlife for your vacation. US-Mining provides information on mines, operators, and minerals mined in Orogrande, NM Orogrande is 36 miles south of Alamo­gordo and 49 miles northeast of El Paso, Texas, on U.S. 54. For more information on rock hounding in Sierra County, visit SCRAGS’ Facebook page or join the group and get out in the field! The Oregon Rockhounding Map provides information about some of the many rockhounding sites of the state of Oregon. Prospecting had started as early as 1879 in the Jarilla Mountains but the 1905 discovery started a gold rush and gave birth to the town of Orogrande. Rockhound on the Road - Northern New Mexico We decided to hit the road the week following the Show, in part to test-drive a Show purchase, the Falcon Guide to Rockhounding New Mexico, by Ruta Vaskys and Martin Freed. All of us find out about these mineral locations from various sources. Orogrande is 34 miles south of Alamogordo on US 54. Rockhounding New Mexico – Sierra County’s Rocks, Minerals & Gems. Rockhound State Park in southwestern New Mexico near the town of Deming, is one of only two state parks in the U.S. that allows and even encourages visitors to keep something from the park. Placer gold collected from multiple districts in New Mexico, coupled with a broad database of previously analyzed placer gold samples indicate correlations between chemical signatures (especially gold, silver, and copper) and type of deposits (i.e., Au-rich copper porphyry deposits, Au porphyry deposits, and epithermal deposits).