Villanueva Placer District — San Miguel County

McLemore (1994) lists Tecolote among 36 New Mexico mining districts containing placer gold (NMBGMR Resource Map 24, district DIS166). Estimated placer production: minor or unrecorded placer production from 1828–1991 statewide context (662,000 oz total NM placer production). Production period: 1900-1955. District cumulative production (all commodities): $25,000. Deposit types: pegmatites, sedimentary-copper, Vein and replacement deposits in Proterozoic rocks. Also known as: Las Vegas, Mineral Hill, Priest, Ribera, Rio de la Vaca, Rivera, Salltre, San Miguel, San Pablo, Villanueva. Priest mine (NMSM0074) supplied mica for windows to Spanish settlements. $15,000 metals produced from district, $10,000 produced from Priest mine. 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 (DIS166).