Tijeras Canyon Placer District — Bernalillo County

McLemore (1994) lists Tijeras Canyon among 36 New Mexico mining districts containing placer gold (NMBGMR Resource Map 24, district DIS004). Estimated placer production: trace to small-scale placer production (est. 100 oz) from 1828–1991 statewide context (662,000 oz total NM placer production). Production period: 1880-present. District cumulative production (all commodities): >$1,000,000,000. Deposit types: RGR, sedimentary-copper, Vein and replacement deposits in Proterozoic rocks, VMS, placer gold, pegmatite, volcanogenic uranium, volcanic-epithermal vein, sedimentary. Also known as: Carnuel, Manzanita Mountains, Star Canyon, Tijeras, Soda Springs, La Luz. Metals produced 1880-1952. Cement produced 1959-present. Could have been mined by Spanish Colonials. 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 (DIS004).