Massacre Mountain: Carnelian & Red Jasper Rockhounding in Luna County, New Mexico

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Luna County

State

New Mexico

Coordinates

32.44470, -107.67506

Geology at Massacre Mountain

This spot sits on Lower middle Tertiary andesitic to dacitic lavas and pyroclastic flow breccias, mapped as andesite and latite that formed roughly 48 to 28 million years ago. Volcanic ground like this is where agate, jasper, and other chalcedony typically form, filling old gas pockets and fracture seams in the flow rock.

Mapped unit

Lower middle Tertiary andesitic to dacitic lavas and pyroclastic flow breccias

Age

48–28 Ma (Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene)

Rock types

andesite and latite

Elevation

5,510 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 Massacre Mountain

Best months: August to May. Typical highs run 91°F in midsummer and 53°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 23°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, DEMING MUNI AP station (13 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

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 Massacre Mountain

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

• CarnelianEncyclopedia →
• Red JasperEncyclopedia →