Old New Mexico Smelter Is It A Coke Oven?

[Red_desert]

Smelter could possibly be on private land, so close to BLM land. It is along south side of tracks, which are next to fence that borders BLM land. Early Spanish took many millions of $$$$ gold from this location. If you see someone in light colored shorts, it is me in Google Earth historical images. Hard to see but I cropped it down. Actually must be an aerial in GE the plane circled around over as I approached east end of smelter.

 

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[traveller777]

That is neat as heck Red!! Thanks for posting. I would love to metal detect there.

 

[traveller777]

That is neat as heck Red!! Thanks for posting. I would love to metal detect there.

YOU ARE THE MAN!!

 

[Red_desert]

Cropped down a little more, put circle around myself, make it easier to find me. The detector is the green Garrett GTA with 10" elliptical coil. I found a Bally's Aladdin Castle slot machine token from older times (donated it to the Turquoise Museum. Probably had my straw cowboy hat on head (sunny as it was).

 

[traveller777]

Cropped down a little more, put circle around myself, make it easier to find me. The detector is the green Garrett GTA with 10" elliptical coil. I found a Bailey's Aladdin Castle slot machine token from older times (donated it to the Turquoise Museum. Probably had my straw cowboy hat on head (sunny as it was).

That is really neat, red.

 

[Red_desert]

I corrected spelling after search.... Bally's Aladdin Castle slot machine token.

 

[Red_desert]

Apparently, this token (according to museum owner) from a time they used slot machines. Old topo shows track coming across river next to smelter.

 

[Red_desert]

Mapper satellite and old topo. Gps for smelter is pin. Think private property along river (area south of smelter. After Spanish were done, miners cleaned up leaving gold caches along the river. Maybe they tried to clean up, supposed to yet be gold in paying quatities to be found (especially east of Cerrillos). Opps... didn't edit these maps yet, have to give you GE first.

 

[traveller777]

Mapper satellite and old topo. Gps for smelter is pin. Think private property along river (area south of smelter. After Spanish were done, miners cleaned up leaving gold caches along the river. Maybe they tried to clean up, supposed to yet be gold in paying quatities to be found (especially east of Cerrillos)

Good job.

 

[Red_desert]

Didn't have maps finished, these are Google Earth.

 

[traveller777]

Those are really helpful.

 

[Red_desert]

Waldo is the name for a ghost town camp right beside the smelter and across fence on BLM land. Old foundations were still visible on area west of old train station foundation. None of the building are there, only the foundations.

 

[traveller777]

Waldo is the name for a ghost town camp right beside the smelter and across fence on BLM land. Old foundations were still visible on area west of old train station foundation. None of the building are there, only the foundations.

You live near there??

 

[Red_desert]

All around Waldo foundations, back in mid 1990s huge old Cottonwood tree trunks too large to hug. I didn't have my 2-box detector yet... otherwise would have checked all foundations for caches.

 

[traveller777]

All around Waldo foundations, back in mid 1990s huge old Cottonwood tree trunks too large to hug. I didn't have my 2-box detector yet... otherwise would have checked all foundations for caches.

Man you are killing me. Would love to dig there. I love history.

 

[Red_desert]

Waldo is the name for a ghost town camp right beside the smelter and across fence on BLM land. Old foundations were still visible on area west of old train station foundation. None of the building are there, only the foundations.

You live near there??

No, sure would fun!

 

[traveller777]

Waldo - New Mexico Ghost Town

 

[tamrock]

I believe you're looking at some old coke ovens in Waldo instead of a smelter. Waldo was at the junction of the AT&SF main east-west line and the Madrid spur. There were coke ovens in Waldo, supplied by coal from Madrid. The spur itself no longer exists. Cerillos, Madrid and Waldo was primarily coal country, though I do believe there was some smaller gold and silver mines at one time. I've been through there a few times taking the scenic route around Albuquerque.

 

[Red_desert]

There was gold, then silver and zinc. The slag heaps looked like might be charcoal, not like any burnt coal (which are heavy, these were lighter weight) I've ever seen. Pieces were partially silver color coated many of them with metal detector found some detectable. Anyway, old smelter (or coke oven whatever), not going to say what type it was, could ask owner of turquoise museum. Last time I emailed him was before pandemic (should find out how they are now).

 

[Red_desert]

Here are topo maps, Waldo is a part of Los Cerrillos area where Spanish took out many, many, millions of dollars worth of gold. South of river (says Galisteo Creek) you see old railroad grade, a dotted line (ends BMX) goes to old train station (only foundation left).