Gold placer mining west of the Mississippi began with the discovery of gold in the rugged Ortiz Mountains south of here in 1828, 21 years before the California gold rush. Since then, the district has produced more than 99,000 ounces of placer gold, and gold is currently produced from lode deposits. The prominent hills to the east and to the left are the Cerrillos Hills, site of ancient turquoise mines worked by Indians centuries before the arrival of the Spanish. The Cerrillos, meaning “little hills,” are regarded as the oldest mining district in the United States, and New Mexico is a major turquoise producer. Elevation 6,200 feet.