Quemado: Agate & Chalcedony Rockhounding in Catron County, New Mexico

Updated July 2026

Quemado is a mapped rockhounding spot in Catron County, New Mexico. Reported finds include agate, chalcedony, jasper, agatized wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Catron County
State: New Mexico
Nearest road: US 60
Coordinates: 34.34157, -108.49270

Geology at Quemado

This spot sits on Alluvium, mapped as unconsolidated alluvium that formed within roughly the last 129,000 years. Petrified wood typically travels as tough float, and worked gravels like these are exactly where weathered pieces tend to collect.

Mapped unit: Alluvium
Age: < 1 Ma (Late Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: unconsolidated alluvium
Elevation: 6,900 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Quemado

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 46°F in winter to 84°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, QUEMADO station (0 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

Rockhound State Park — Collection rules
BLM New Mexico
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Quemado

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Quemado.

Quemado FAQ

Where is Quemado?+

Quemado is in Catron County, New Mexico, at 34.34157, -108.49270. Nearest road: US 60.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Quemado?+

Quemado is reported to produce Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Agatized Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Quemado?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Quemado?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, and a padded bag cover petrified wood hunting. Most pieces are surface float, so walking slopes and washes beats digging.

When is the best time to visit Quemado?+

Quemado is workable year-round.

How do I get to Quemado?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 34.34157, -108.49270 in Google Maps. The nearest road is US 60.

More rockhounding in New Mexico

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Open Quemado on the map

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