Elizabethtown-Baldy Placer District — Colfax County

McLemore (1994) lists Elizabethtown-Baldy among 36 New Mexico mining districts containing placer gold (NMBGMR Resource Map 24, district DIS019). Estimated placer production: approximately 251,000 ounces of historical placer gold from 1828–1991 statewide context (662,000 oz total NM placer production). Production period: 1866-1968. District cumulative production (all commodities): $10,000,000. Deposit types: GPM, placer gold. Also known as: Ute Creek, Moreno, Ponil, Aztec, Cimarron, Wiloc Creek, Copper Park, Eagle Nest, Hematite, Iron Mtn, Aztec, Baldy, Elizabethtown-Baldy, Moreno River, Mount Baldy, Virginia City, Willow Creek, Maxwell Land Grant. T27, 28N, R16E is the Elizabethtown subdistrict and T27N, R16-18E is the Mount Baldy subdistrict. One of the early gold rushes in New Mexico in 1860s. Aztec mine (NMCO0034) yielded >$4 million. Placer gold occurs as native gold and electrum in incised valleys and alluvial fans. Most economic placers were discovered by 1900; recreational panning may find fine colors — verify land status before prospecting. Coordinates approximate the district centroid from NMBGMR Resource Map 24 GIS (DIS019).