Episode 9 of 12
New Mexico: Copper Country
Silver City · Grant County, New MexicoCopper · Gold
Grant County copper you can see from the highway, Silver City’s rush streets, and a living gold story — why New Mexico belongs on the Western tour.
The History
Grant County is a compact Western mining story: a living copper pit visible from NM-152, a silver-rush county seat still on its territorial charter, and gold country that never quite emptied. Freeport-McMoRan’s Chino (Santa Rita) and Tyrone complexes are the public face of New Mexico copper today, while Steeple Rock carries the Golconda Summit gold beat. This leg puts New Mexico on the Western tour between Arizona copper and the Wyoming uranium and rare-earth chapters that follow.
The Dream Tour List for This Leg
The stops and companies we want on camera as the convoy works this ground. Proposed, not confirmed bookings, and growing as the dream tour list fills in.
Golconda Gold · Summit Mine (Steeple Rock)
Potential visit · in conversation. First ore reported Jul 2026. Gold-silver Grant County.
Freeport-McMoRan · Chino (Santa Rita)
Potential visit · attraction-class copper pit visible from the highway. Major / likely unpaid B-roll model unless they buy in.
Freeport-McMoRan · Tyrone
Potential visit · Freeport’s other Grant County copper complex.
New Mexico Copper / THEMAC · Copper Flat
Potential visit · Copper Flat, Sierra County.
Silver47 · Mogollon
Potential visit · NM project via Summa merger.
Southern Silver · NM projects
Potential visit · NM drill-permitting stage projects (flagship is Mexico — keep NM-only on this card).
Premier American Uranium · Cebolleta
Potential visit · Cibola County uranium.
Want your operation on this leg of the route?
Hunting Hidden Treasures pairs every mine with the end users it powers. If your project belongs in this episode, let’s talk.
Become a Tour PartnerWho’s Working Nearby
Companies with active projects in New Mexico, closest to this stop first. Compiled from public sources, each with its own link. Appearing here reflects public mining activity, not a tour partnership.
New MexicoNew Mexico
Freeport-McMoRan · Tyrone Mine
ProducingTyrone, Grant County, New Mexico9 miles from this stopCopper
Open-pit copper SX/EW complex about 10 miles south of Silver City.
Source →Freeport-McMoRan · Chino Mine (Santa Rita)
ProducingSanta Rita / Bayard area, Grant County, New Mexico12 miles from this stopCopper · Molybdenum
Open-pit copper complex about 15 miles east of Silver City, listed on Freeport’s North America operations page.
Source →Golconda Gold · Summit Mine
ProducingSteeple Rock, Grant County, New Mexico41 miles from this stopGold · Silver
Underground mining restart underway; first ore to surface reported Jul 7 2026, with plant wet commissioning still forward-looking in the company release.
Source →New Mexico Copper · Copper Flat
Exploring & permittingHillsboro, Sierra County, New Mexico46 miles from this stopCopper · Molybdenum · Gold · Silver
Brownfield restart near Hillsboro in state permitting (MMD SI027RN); not producing.
Source →Silver47 · Mogollon
Drilling & buildingMogollon, Catron County, New Mexico53 miles from this stopSilver · Gold
Historic Mogollon district project; company announced a winter drill program on the Last Chance Vein in 2026.
Source →Southern Silver · Oro
Exploring & permittingEureka Mining District / Hachita area, Grant County, New Mexico59 miles from this stopCopper · Molybdenum · Gold · Silver · Lead · Zinc
NM-only pin (not the Mexico flagship). Prior drilling complete; further NM drill permitting described in 2026 company materials.
Source →