"the best turquoise mine in new mexico"
The Best Turquoise Mine in New Mexico!
(Cerrillos, New Mexico)
Claim # 166080 - Todd & Patricia Brown - Family owned and operated
~ The Story of the Little Chalchihuitl Turquoise Mine ~
Thirty five years ago, I was walking in a New Mexico snow storm, taking the long way home around Grand Central Mountain in the Cerrillos Mining District. I came across a vein of brilliant green stone and stopped to chip off some of the vein. I used a hammer and chisel and gathered up 2 lbs of rough natural turquoise; covered the seam and headed for home. Still dreaming of the green color turquoise, I decided to file a mining claim with the Bureau of Land Management on that same spot I found so many years ago. My family and many of our friends have helped me work the claim. We get rare green natural turquoise which I make into cabachons and set in sterling silver to sell in our shop. The green color comes from the iron content in the stone where the Turquoise is mined. We love the color and hope you do too!
We have been mining for many years and our mines are getting depleted. We are now only selling turquoise stones set in silver jewelry from the Little Chalchihuitl & Little Blue Bell. We have pounds of rough White Angel Variscite and cabachons for sale. We have rings, earrings, pendants - sm, medium and large, 2-strand heishe & turquoise necklaces, mosaic earrings & pendants, zia pendants, safety pins, key chains, money clip, tie bar, tie pin, bic lighter covers, bracelets - single band, double band, 3 & 5 stone solid band bracelets and rough cutoff Turquoise pendants - small, medium and large.
If you are interested in purchasing jewelry from our mines please contact us at brownp52@yahoo.com. Let us know what you would like to see and we will send you a photo to choose from. We take card by phone (505) 438-3008.
Stop by and visit the
to see our natural Cerrillos Turquoise silver jewelry. The Cerrillos Turquoise Mining Museum has displays on the areas rich & colorful mining history.
Over the 43+ years we have been in business many thousands of visitors have been through our shop & museum and enjoyed the experience.
Thank you to all!
: VISIT THE CASA GRANDE TRADING POST WEBSITE :
Todd and Patricia Brown are the registered claim holders of the
Little Chalchihuitl Turquoise Mine in the hills of Cerrillos, New Mexico.
The Cerrillos Mining District is home to some of the oldest, rarest and most substantial turquoise and mineral workings in North America, utilized from at least 900 AD and possibly earlier. By the 20th century, most of the Cerrillos turquoise lodes were cleaned out. Very few private claims are worked today.
Please stop by our hacienda for a closer look at exclusive natural Cerrillos Turquoise and other minerals from the area.
"The Little Chalchihuitl was the best mine in New Mexico!"
CASA GRANDE
TRADING POST
PO BOX 131
17 WALDO ST
CERRILLOS, NM 87010
(505) 438-3008
Rough stone samples and cabachons
- click on photos for larger image -
Above are some of our handmade products using the exclusive Cerrillos Turquoise from our mine! If you are interested in purchasing some of our fine jewelry, please contact us via phone or email.
Many examples of our work can be seen in our shop.
See more of our products by clicking the link below.
:: EXCLUSIVE NATURAL CERRILLOS TURQUOISE ::
The Cerrillos mining district lies north of the town of Los Cerrillos. It is one of the nation’s oldest mining areas and is a famed source of turquoise. Mines in the district date from prehistoric to the early 1900’s.
:: Cerrillos Area Mineral Mining History ::
