Where to Find Malachite in New Mexico: 101 Mapped Sites
New Mexico has 101 documented sites where malachite have been reported, and the best-known are Oscura Mountains, Burro Peak, and Gold Bar Group. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there. 7 of the 101 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Malachite Map: New Mexico
All 101 malachite sites in New Mexico. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Malachite Are Found in New Mexico
Malachite forms wherever copper ore oxidizes near the surface, so old copper-mine dumps and green-stained outcrops are the reliable places. It often coats fracture faces in the host rock.
The richest reported sites in New Mexico: Oscura Mountains, Burro Peak, Gold Bar Group, Sprouse-Copeland Mines, Jarilla Mountains (copper).
Of the 101 sites, 7 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Malachite Sites in New Mexico
- Oscura Mountains — Public Access
- Burro Peak — Public Access
- Gold Bar Group — Forest Service
- Sprouse-Copeland Mines — Forest Service
- Jarilla Mountains (copper) — Public Access
- Big Three Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Jones Mine — Forest Service
- Joy Group — Forest Service
- Mineral Creek — Forest Service
- Pinos Altos Mine — Forest Service
- Ajax Tunnel Prospect — Forest Service
- Amizette Prospects — Forest Service
- Barite Hill No. 1 Prospect — Forest Service
- Bear Canyon Prospect — Forest Service
- Black Knife — BLM/Public Lands
- Eighty Four Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Gypsy Iv Group — Forest Service
- Hop Williams Mine — Forest Service
- Hornet Group — Forest Service
- Lead Mountain — BLM/Public Lands
- Little Baldy Tunnel — Forest Service
- Live Oak Prospect — Forest Service
- Margie Ann — Forest Service
- Name Unknown — BLM/Public Lands
- New York Group — Forest Service
- Rialto Group — Forest Service
- Silver Bell — Forest Service
- Silver Load and Silver Streak — Forest Service
- Silver Trail Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Standard Metal Min. & Mill Co — Forest Service
- Strozzi Prospect — Forest Service
- Summit — Forest Service
- Summit Deposit — Forest Service
- Tenderfoot Creek Prospects — Forest Service
- Toggery Mine ? — Forest Service
- Vindicator — BLM/Public Lands
- Wagon Wheel Group — Forest Service
- Wasp Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Barnett Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Blue Sky Prospect — Forest Service
- Buffalo and Mountain View Prospects — Forest Service
- Continental Breccia Pipe — BLM/Public Lands
- Copper Prospect — Forest Service
- Cresent Lode Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Crummy Number One Prospect — Forest Service
- Deep Canon Prospect — Forest Service
- Donnell Prospect — Forest Service
- Dyke Tunnel Prospect — Forest Service
- German Mine No 2 — Forest Service
- Gofor and Spire Mine — Forest Service
Showing 50 of 101 sites — every site appears on the map above.
How to Identify Malachite
Malachite is unmistakably green — from bright emerald crusts to dark banded masses — with a silky-to-dull luster and a pale green streak. It is soft (3.5–4, scratches with a knife easily) and fizzes gently in vinegar. Banded, rounded (botryoidal) surfaces are classic. Blue azurite alongside it is a bonus find from the same chemistry.
Not sure what you found? Try our identification guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find malachite in New Mexico?
New Mexico has 101 mapped sites where malachite have been reported. The best-known are Oscura Mountains, Burro Peak, and Gold Bar Group. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many malachite sites are mapped in New Mexico?
We have 101 documented malachite sites in New Mexico, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect malachite in New Mexico?
Casual collecting is generally allowed on BLM and National Forest land for personal, non-commercial use — the standard BLM limit is 25 lbs per day plus one specimen. National parks, monuments, and many state parks prohibit collecting, and private land always requires the owner's permission. Check the site report for each location and verify current land status before you dig.
How do I identify malachite?
Malachite is unmistakably green — from bright emerald crusts to dark banded masses — with a silky-to-dull luster and a pale green streak. It is soft (3.5–4, scratches with a knife easily) and fizzes gently in vinegar. Banded, rounded (botryoidal) surfaces are classic. Blue azurite alongside it is a bonus find from the same chemistry.
What should I bring to collect malachite?
The basics: a rock hammer, safety glasses, gloves, a bucket or padded bag for specimens, and a GPS app with the coordinates from this page. Add a spray bottle — wetting a stone makes color and banding far easier to judge in the field.
⚠️ Always verify current regulations, weather conditions, and access requirements before visiting any location. Information provided is based on community submissions and may not be current or accurate.
Data: USGS Mineral Resources Data System, community submissions — reviewed and approved by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. Always verify current land status, regulations, and access before visiting any site.