Hopewell Placer District — Rio Arriba County

McLemore (1994) lists Hopewell among 36 New Mexico mining districts containing placer gold (NMBGMR Resource Map 24, district DIS145). Estimated placer production: roughly 15,000 ounces of placer gold from 1828–1991 statewide context (662,000 oz total NM placer production). Production period: 1881-1940. District cumulative production (all commodities): $400,000. Deposit types: Vein and replacement deposits in Proterozoic rocks, placer gold, Proterozoic iron formation. Also known as: Bromide-Hopewell, Eureka, Eureka Creek, Fairview Placer, Good Hope, Headstone, Head-Stone, Tres Piedras. Once part of the larger Headstone district, which included the Bromide No. 2 and the Hopewell districts (Lindgren et al., 1910). 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 (DIS145).