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Cooks Range

Sierra County, New Mexico
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Next site in New MexicoCookes Peak area · 2 mi

Can I collect here?

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See who owns this land and whether it is claimedPro shows the owner, the claim on this spot and every claim within a mile.
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Based on our latest records, with claims updated from the BLM on Oct 3, 2026. Land and claims can change quickly, so check before you go.

Minerals on record here

1 mineral

Recorded here: fossil.

2 miCookes Peak areaAgate, carnelian, chalcedony +22 miCookes PeakAnglesite, cerussite, galena2 miInez MineCalcite, copper, galena +7

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About Cooks Range

Cooks Range is a fossil collection site in Sierra, New Mexico, cataloged in the Paleobiology Database. Fossils here come from the Lake Valley Formation, dated to the Osagean (351.9–342.9 million years ago). The depositional environment is recorded as deep subtidal ramp. Documented finds include Ancalocrinus spinobrachiatus, Steganocrinus pentagonus, Nunnacrinus dalyanus, Physetocrinus copei, Agaricocrinus planoconvexus, Dichocrinus conus.

Geologic setting

Formation
Lake Valley
Geologic interval
Osagean
Age
351.9–342.9 Ma
Depositional environment
deep subtidal ramp
Recorded occurrences
7

Fossils found here

Ancalocrinus spinobrachiatus
Crinoidea · Actinocrinitidae
Steganocrinus pentagonus
Crinoidea · Actinocrinitidae
Nunnacrinus dalyanus
Crinoidea · Actinocrinitidae
Physetocrinus copei
Crinoidea · Actinocrinitidae
Agaricocrinus planoconvexus
Crinoidea · Coelocrinidae
Dichocrinus conus
Crinoidea · Dichocrinidae
Plemnocrinus bullatus
Crinoidea · Platycrinitidae

Records and references

Data: Paleobiology Database collection 235925 (CC BY 4.0) — view the source record

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Questions about Cooks Range

Can you collect at Cooks Range?

It depends on who owns the land and whether a mining claim covers it. BLM land usually allows hand collecting for personal use, national parks allow none, and private land needs the owner’s permission. Pro members see the owner and any claims at this spot.

What minerals are found at Cooks Range?

Fossil.

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What to bring

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Meteorite nearbyA 12.9 kg iron meteorite was found at Kingston in 1891, 25 miles from here.

Source: Paleobiology Database.