Jarilla Mountains (copper): Chalcocite & Chalcopyrite Rockhounding in Otero County, New Mexico
- Minerals reported
- 9
- Elevation
- 4,450 ft
- Best months
- September to May
Jarilla Mountains (copper) is a mapped rockhounding spot in Otero County, New Mexico. Reported finds include chalcocite, chalcopyrite, chrysocolla, galena, gypsum, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Otero County
- State
- New Mexico
- Nearest road
- County Road A003
- Postcode
- 88342
- Coordinates
- 32.40549, -106.10052
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.
Access note: BLM records active mining claims in this area. Collecting from inside an active claim needs the claim holder's permission.
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 Jarilla Mountains (copper)
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Best months: September to May. Typical highs run 95°F in midsummer and 58°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 28°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 (2 mi away), adjusted for elevation.
Geology at Jarilla Mountains (copper)
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
- 4,450 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.
Today's weather
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Get the appSources & 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:
- 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 Jarilla Mountains (copper)
Each name 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 Jarilla Mountains (copper).
- Orogrande District ProspectOtero County, New Mexico · 0 mi awayCopper
- Orogrande District ProspectOtero County, New Mexico · 1 mi awayCopper
- Copper King No. 2 MineOtero County, New Mexico · 1 mi awayCopper
- Lucky MineOtero County, New Mexico · 1 mi awayAndradite, Chrysocolla, Malachite
- PhiladelphiaOtero County, New Mexico · 1 mi awayCopper, Chrysocolla, Malachite
- Alice MineOtero County, New Mexico · 1 mi awayEpidote, Garnet, Copper
- Jarilla Mountains (garnet)Otero County, New Mexico · 1 mi awayGarnet
- OrganDoña Ana County, New Mexico · 29 mi awayBrochantite, Cerargyrite, Cerussite
Across the state line from Jarilla Mountains (copper)
Jarilla Mountains (copper) 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 · 43 mi awayGarnet, Mica, Pink Serpentine
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