Lake Arthur: Aragonite Rockhounding in Chaves County, New Mexico

Updated July 2026

Lake Arthur is a mapped rockhounding spot in Chaves County, New Mexico. Reported finds include aragonite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Chaves County
State: New Mexico
Coordinates: 32.97439, -104.09127

Geology at Lake Arthur

This spot sits on Piedmont alluvial deposits, mapped as unconsolidated alluvium that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Piedmont alluvial deposits
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: unconsolidated alluvium
Elevation: 3,580 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 Lake Arthur

Best months: September to May. Typical highs run 94°F in midsummer and 57°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 23°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ARTESIA 6S station (23 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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 Lake Arthur

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

Aragonite Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Lake Arthur.

Lake Arthur FAQ

Where is Lake Arthur?+

Lake Arthur is in Chaves County, New Mexico, at 32.97439, -104.09127.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Lake Arthur?+

Lake Arthur is reported to produce Aragonite.

Is collecting allowed at Lake Arthur?+

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 Lake Arthur?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.

When is the best time to visit Lake Arthur?+

The most comfortable months at Lake Arthur are September to May.

How do I get to Lake Arthur?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 32.97439, -104.09127 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in New Mexico

See all 119 New Mexico spots →

Open Lake Arthur on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.