Travel Guide New Mexico tm Mineral Museum Socorro

Upon the campus of the lies one of the great treasure troves of the southwest. Gold, silver, and precious gems, the objects of the Conquistador's travels and travails, glitter on glass shelves next to other spectacular mineral forms. This El Dorado was given the honorary title "Coronado's Treasure Chest" by the New Mexico Cuarto-Centennial Commission in 1939.
The mineral museum can trace its origins back to the very beginnings of the New Mexico School of Mines in 1889. The collection was assembled to help in the education of engineers and geologists. It was soon built into one of the finest in the world, winning gold medals at the St. Louis World's Fair 1904 and the Panama-California exhibition of 1915. Three thousand mineral specimens in 1938 have grown to over 15,000. Coronado's Treasure Chest is still renowned as can be seen at invited exhibitions at the Denver and Tucson Gem and Mineral Shows and featured articles in mineralogical magazines from around the world.

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[gjohnson87109]

Where's a good place to look for smithsonite? Is ther much digging? Can you find it above ground? Many questions..novice rockhound.