Where to Find Chert in New Mexico
9 mapped chert rockhounding spots in New Mexico, across 6 counties. Chert is reported at multiple rockhounding spots across the United States. New Mexico is a high-desert rockhounding paradise: the Rockhound State Park near Deming, the Round Mountain area, and broad BLM tracts produce thundereggs, jasper, agate, perlite, and pumice in volume..
Map of 9 chert rockhounding spots in New Mexico
Chert by county in New Mexico
Counties ranked by number of chert spots in our database.
Every chert spot in New Mexico
Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps. Click a row for details.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meerschaum area surfacesNM 15 | Grant County | 33.0511, -108.1947 | Public | |
| General Area (Luna County) | Luna County | 32.3316, -107.7059 | Public | |
| La Madera (dumortierite area) | Rio Arriba County |
| 36.3810, -106.0346 | Public |
| Pedernal Park | Rio Arriba County | 36.1920, -106.4898 | Public | |
| NW San Juan County | San Juan County |
| 36.7617, -108.6553 | Public |
| Turquoise Hill and surrounding areaBonanza Creek Road | Santa Fe County | 35.5135, -106.0956 | Public | |
| DerryLost Hill | Sierra County | 32.7883, -107.2531 | Public | |
| Elephant ButteNM 51 | Sierra County | 33.1729, -107.0448 | Public | |
| Mimbres MountainsTrail #135 | Sierra County | 32.8441, -107.7360 | Public |
Chert in New Mexico FAQ
Where can I find chert in New Mexico?+
RockHoundR tracks 9 chert spots in New Mexico, spread across 6 counties. The strongest concentration is in Sierra County.
Is collecting chert legal in New Mexico?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like chert is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in New Mexico, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always confirm rules before a trip.
What is the best chert location in New Mexico?+
Sierra County has the most chert spots in our database for New Mexico. The full county breakdown is below — different counties produce different qualities and varieties.
Other states for chert
Other minerals to find in New Mexico
Hunt chert in New Mexico on the map
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