Best spot

Kilbourne Hole: Augite & Peridot Rockhounding in Doña Ana County, New Mexico

Q: Where is Kilbourne Hole?

Kilbourne Hole is in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, at 31.97343, -106.96603.

Q: What rocks and minerals can you find at Kilbourne Hole?

Kilbourne Hole is reported to produce Augite, Peridot.

Q: Is collecting allowed at Kilbourne Hole?

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.

Q: What tools should I bring to Kilbourne Hole?

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.

Q: When is the best time to visit Kilbourne Hole?

The most comfortable months at Kilbourne Hole are September to May. Summer heat here is intense, so carry more water than you think you need and work the early morning.

Q: How do I get to Kilbourne Hole?

Open the directions link to navigate to 31.97343, -106.96603 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

Updated June 2026

Kilbourne Hole is a BLM-managed maar crater and National Natural Landmark where volcanic bombs can contain bright olivine-rich interiors. BLM, Recreation.gov, and New Mexico Bureau of Geology rockhound material all point to its mantle xenolith and peridot appeal, a very different target from the state's agate and jasper localities. Reported finds include augite, peridot. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Kilbourne Hole photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

2 photos

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Doña Ana County
State: New Mexico
Coordinates: 31.97343, -106.96603

Geology at Kilbourne Hole

This spot sits on Alluvium, mapped as unconsolidated alluvium that formed within roughly the last 129,000 years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Alluvium
Age: < 1 Ma (Late Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: unconsolidated alluvium
Elevation: 3,920 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 Kilbourne Hole

Best months: September to May. Typical highs run 95°F in midsummer and 58°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 30°F. Summer heat here is intense, so carry more water than you think you need and work the early morning.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SANTA TERESA AP station (17 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 Kilbourne Hole

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 Kilbourne Hole.

Across the state line from Kilbourne Hole

Kilbourne Hole is close enough to the New Mexico border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

General AreaEl Paso County, Texas · 27 mi awayGarnet, Mica, Pink Serpentine

Kilbourne Hole FAQ

Where is Kilbourne Hole?+

Kilbourne Hole is in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, at 31.97343, -106.96603.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Kilbourne Hole?+

Kilbourne Hole is reported to produce Augite, Peridot.

Is collecting allowed at Kilbourne Hole?+

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 Kilbourne Hole?+

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 Kilbourne Hole?+

The most comfortable months at Kilbourne Hole are September to May. Summer heat here is intense, so carry more water than you think you need and work the early morning.

How do I get to Kilbourne Hole?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 31.97343, -106.96603 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

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