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Overview
The remote yet accessible Ancho-Jicarilla mining district produces phenomenal fine gold within the narrow washes of the Jicarilla mountains located NW of Roswell New Mexico.

   

This claim has drive up access, plenty of dispersed camping in the surrounding area, and a year round mining season.

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The deposit produces primarily gold, with a secondary of silver, and a tertiary of platinum.

 

Drywashing or recirculating wet sluicing is the ideal in-field recovery method.  The claim has fine gold only, metal detectors are not recommended for the claim.  This claim is not recommended for beginner prospectors due to the fine gold, difficult concentrate clean-up and erratic gold distribution.

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This area has a strong past exploration/mining history with over 1,000 ounces of placer gold recovered.  During the winter of 2025 into 2026 Gunnison Gold Prospecting has completed significant in-field prospecting, sampling, mapping, and optimized gold recovery from the unique concentrate profile found on the claim.

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Geology

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Commodities 

Gold > Primary

Silver > Secondary

Platinum > Tertiary

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Controls For Ore Emplacement 

Stream Hydraulics 

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Rock Types

Santa Rosa Sandstone, Dakota Sandstone, Mancos Shale, Rhyolite, Sandstone​

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This claim has a soil matrix of Fanglomerate; Fanglomerate is a combination of clay, sand, and silt.  Within this matrix, testing has revealed that 1- 4 percent of the matrix is heavy mineral.  This is then further tested into magnetic and nonmagnetic heavy mineral.

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The magnetics are approximately 70% by weight of the matrix consisting of magnetite and ilmenite.

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The non magnetics are hematite, specularite, hornblende, epidote, zircon, pyrite, apatite, sphene, and gold.

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Pyrites occur in a ratio of about 1 grain of pyrite to 20 grains of hematite.

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The specularite on this claim occurs as platelets or flakes, gold adheres to some of the flakes, these flakes then tend to float off during concentration.  Additionally, gold has also been found adhered to quartz.

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Specific to the 002 claim, gold is found within the gravels, silts, and sands of the Ogallala formation along ancho gulch

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The gold is about 920 fine and most of the impurities are attributed to the silver content.

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The gold is fine grained in size and is difficult to extract.  It is also known for its erratic vertical distribution throughout the deposit.  The gold is not particularly concentrated in channels or on bedrock

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Only about 25- 35% of the gold is free milling, the rest occurs on a thin laminate of specular hematite, which again tends to float off during washing operations.

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To recover the most gold values it is important to focus on capturing all of the heavy metal concentrate ( 1-4% of the feedstock).  This results in frequent clean outs, lower sluice angle, and a seperate "at home" clean-up to upgrade the heavy metal concentrate.  

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Clean ups showed best results when the magentics were removed from the heavy metal concentrate and the non magnetic concentrates were crushed finer to liberate the laminated gold from the specular hematite and re-concentrated before final direct smelt.

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Historically, bedrock was located within 7-8 feet of the surface.

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​Density is 1.5 tons per cubic yard with an average ore grade of 0.0225 ounces of gold per cubic yard.

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Numerous hard rock mines have operated in close proximity to this placer claim creating for exciting finger wash exploration of the finger washes located directly down from the lode source and in between the main wash.​

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Camping

Dispersed Camping is allowed on the Forest.  There are numerous alternative dispersed camping areas within a half mile radius of this claim. 

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Claim Map

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Satellite Claim Boundary Overlay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Access

  A pickup truck or similar SUV is recommended as the road conditions are constantly changing.  

 

With a pickup truck / similar SUV you can access the claims without problem and the access road parallels the wash making for easy parking/access.

 

Recommended Gold Recovery Methods

Dry Washing & Wet Recirculating Sluicing

 

Any surface disturbance greater than casual / recreational usage will likely require a mining permit before beginning operations
 

Land Ownership Status

Forest Service

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History

Discovery Year 1850

Year Of First Production 1850

Year Of Last Production 1942

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Small Scale Commercial Mining / Exploration occurred in 1958 - 1960

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Mexican-American prospectors of the 1850's hauled in water and washed gravels with bateas pans that were up to 2' in diameter.

 

Anglo-American prospectors worked the district in 1880 for both placer & lode.

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A dredge was constructed West of this claim in 1903 by the American Placer Co, this effort was unsuccessful due to lack of water volume

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The year 1905 brought in the construction of a mill for ore treatment by the Wisconsin Milling and Smelting Co, there were only small amounts of ore processed.

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Gold mining activities stopped during World War 1 and was dormant thru the 1920's. 

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It is estimated that placer production in 1931 resumed at small scale (972 ounces in the early 1900's vs 20 ounces in 1932).

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Total production from 1933 to 1942 was estimated at 1,814 ounces of gold and 143 ounces of silver.

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Testing was resumed in 1958 with a pilot mill than ran approximately 2-3 yards per hour.  Across the district it is estimated that during this time about 200 shafts, pits, and trenches were made throughout the district.  The pilot mill was dismantled in 1971.

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Climate

Semiarid with an approximate altitude of 6,115 feet.  The Ancho area receives an average of 14 inches of rainfall per year.

 

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What Is Included In The Purchase

1. Quit Claim Deed

2. Google Earth Map

3. Waterproof 24X36 hardcopy 1:24,000 Map

4. Corner & Discovery Point GPS Coordinates

5. 2 Hours of Free Digital Consulting

6. Certificate of Location Copy

 

Prospecting Disclaimer

The Ancho Gulch 002 Unpatented Placer Claim NM# 106788281 is an Unpatented Federal Mining Claim.  Any form of mining or prospecting is barred without prior approval from Gunnison Gold Prospecting Company.  This website listing does not constitute or convey approval from Gunnison Gold Prospecting Company to mine or prospect the claim in any capacity.  Mineral theft is a Federal offense and is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as listed in the 1872 Federal Mining Laws. 

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Next Steps

• Contact Me

• Setup A Prospecting Day if you would like to test the claim before purchase (Optional)

• Buy Outright or Finance In House

Contact Information

 

Tyler Long

Lead Prospector

Gunnison Gold Prospecting Company

Direct Line:  970-901-9043

tyler@gunnisongoldprospecting.com ​​​