Best spot

Kelly Ghost Town: Fossil Hunting in Socorro County, New Mexico

Updated June 2026

Kelly is a benchmark locality for blue smithsonite from the Magdalena mining district, with Mindat rating the species occurrence as world-class or very significant. USGS Professional Paper 200 anchors the district geology, while New Mexico Tourism documents the surviving ghost-town and headframe setting that makes the mineral locality recognizable on the ground. Reported finds include smithsonite, zinc, fossils. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Kelly Ghost Town photos

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

3 photos

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Socorro County
State: New Mexico
Nearest road: Forest 190C Road
Coordinates: 34.06897, -107.19511

Geology at Kelly Ghost Town

This spot sits on ground mapped as sedimentary that formed roughly 540 to 250 million years ago. Sedimentary layers like these are where fossils are typically preserved, and fresh exposures after rain or in active cuts tend to produce best.

Age: 540–250 Ma (Paleozoic)
Rock types: sedimentary
Elevation: 8,020 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 Kelly Ghost Town

Best months: February to November. Typical highs run 79°F in midsummer and 40°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 11°F. At about 8,020 ft, snow can block access from late fall well into spring, so check conditions outside of summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SOCORRO station (18 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 Kelly Ghost Town

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 Kelly Ghost Town.

Kelly Ghost Town FAQ

Where is Kelly Ghost Town?+

Kelly Ghost Town is in Socorro County, New Mexico, at 34.06897, -107.19511. Nearest road: Forest 190C Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Kelly Ghost Town?+

Kelly Ghost Town is reported to produce Smithsonite, Zinc, Fossils.

Is collecting allowed at Kelly Ghost Town?+

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. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Kelly Ghost Town?+

A rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and newspaper or foam for wrapping finds cover most fossil ground. A trowel and a sieve help in soft exposures.

When is the best time to visit Kelly Ghost Town?+

The most comfortable months at Kelly Ghost Town are February to November. At about 8,020 ft, snow can block access from late fall well into spring, so check conditions outside of summer.

How do I get to Kelly Ghost Town?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 34.06897, -107.19511 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Forest 190C Road.

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