Old Placers District — Ortiz Mountains

McLemore (1994) lists Old Placers among 36 New Mexico mining districts containing placer gold (NMBGMR Resource Map 24, district DIS187). Estimated placer production: approximately 102,000 ounces of historical placer gold from 1828–1991 statewide context (662,000 oz total NM placer production). Production period: 1828-1986. District cumulative production (all commodities): >$4,000,000. Deposit types: GPM, placer gold, porphyry copper. Also known as: Cunningham Gulch, Dolores, El Real de Dolores, Lone Mountain, Ortiz, Rio Galisteo, San Lazao, San Zaro, Sierra del Oro, Silver Butte. One of the earliest gold rushes in western U.S. in 1828. 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 (DIS187).