Alice Mine: Epidote & Garnet Rockhounding in Otero County, New Mexico

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Otero County

State

New Mexico

Nearest road

County Road A003

Postcode

88342

Coordinates

32.39236, -106.10673

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

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.

Best time to visit Alice Mine

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: September to May. Typical highs run 96°F in midsummer and 59°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 29°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, OROGRANDE station (1 mi away).

Geology at Alice Mine

This spot sits on ground mapped as shale, limestone, and mixed clastic that formed roughly 325 to 300 million years ago. Carbonate rock like this dissolves and weathers readily, so fresh road cuts, quarries, and creek exposures are typically the most productive ground.

Age

325–300 Ma (Pennsylvanian)

Rock types

shale, limestone, and mixed clastic

Elevation

4,290 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.

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