Placer Gold Resources in New Mexico
Placer gold deposits were an important source of gold in New Mexico prior to 1902, but placer production after 1902 has been minor. The earliest reports of placer mining were in the 1600s along the northern Rio Grande. In 1828, large placer deposits were found in the Ortiz Mountains in Santa Fe County (Old Placers district, DIS187), which began one of the earliest gold rushes .