Harding Pegmatite Mine
New Mexico
lepidolitespodumeneberylmicroclinemuscoviterose muscovitequartzapatitegarnetmicrolite
State-designated locality · Free with permit
Harding Pegmatite Mine
Dr. Arthur Montgomery donated this famous lithium-beryllium pegmatite to the University of New Mexico expressly so it would stay open as a collecting locality and an outdoor classroom. Sign the release form, walk the dumps, and you can pick lavender lepidolite books, blocky pink microcline and the lath-shaped spodumene crystals the deposit is known for. The university asks you to restrict collecting to a few samples for a personal collection, keep dogs leashed, and take your trash home with you.
The card catalog
| What you can find | lepidolite, spodumene, beryl, microcline, muscovite, rose muscovite, quartz, apatite, garnet, microlite |
|---|---|
| Access | State-designated locality — Free with permit |
| Fees | Free. Every visitor must carry a signed University of New Mexico release form; a group may share one form as long as it lists every participant's name and address. Groups of more than 10 mail forms and payment two to three weeks ahead, and groups staying longer than two hours pay $50/day toward a chemical toilet, by check to Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico. |
| Season & hours | Open year-round in daylight, weather and road conditions permitting. The mine sits at elevation in the Picuris Mountains, so winter snow and mud can close the access road. The turn is poorly marked: a right just past mile marker 8 on NM 75 toward Penasco and Picuris Pueblo. On-site access is handled by the Griego caretakers, who may ask to see your signed form at any time. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — UNM plans for school groups and asks for one adult per five children under 12. The dumps are steep and loose and the old workings are real mine features, so this is a hold-hands-and-stay-together kind of visit. |
| Official source | University of New Mexico, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
More drawers in New Mexico
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NM
thundereggs, geodes, jasper
Before you go
What does Harding Pegmatite Mine cost?
Free. Every visitor must carry a signed University of New Mexico release form; a group may share one form as long as it lists every participant's name and address. Groups of more than 10 mail forms and payment two to three weeks ahead, and groups staying longer than two hours pay $50/day toward a chemical toilet, by check to Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Harding Pegmatite Mine open?
Open year-round in daylight, weather and road conditions permitting. The mine sits at elevation in the Picuris Mountains, so winter snow and mud can close the access road. The turn is poorly marked: a right just past mile marker 8 on NM 75 toward Penasco and Picuris Pueblo. On-site access is handled by the Griego caretakers, who may ask to see your signed form at any time. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Harding Pegmatite Mine good for kids?
Yes — Harding Pegmatite Mine works for families. UNM plans for school groups and asks for one adult per five children under 12. The dumps are steep and loose and the old workings are real mine features, so this is a hold-hands-and-stay-together kind of visit.