Businessman says garnet mining could be huge for Southern NM

Investing millions in a new medical school in Las Cruces is just the beginning.

Businessman Dan Burrell tells ABC-7 he can do more for the Southern New Mexico economy with his new company, Burrell Western Resources.

Burrell has acquired mining claims for about 2,600 acres of land in the Jarilla Mountains, just north of Orogrande, New Mexico.

His plan? To mine millions in garnet!

“Geology generates wealth,” UTEP Geology professor Dr. Phillip Goodell said. “It’s got precious uses for gemstones, but it also has industrial uses, like sandpaper and other things. That’s amazing, you know, when you think about it. I mean, you go out in the mountains and there’s rocks. That’s where rocks grow and you can make money off rocks.”

That’s what Burrell, chief investor in New Mexico State University’s new medical school, hopes to do. He recently told “Albuquerque Business First” he’s discovered the largest freestanding deposit of garnet in the U.S. near Orogrande, with potential for a billion dollars in revenue over time.

“He could be producing a thousand tons a day and it could last quite a long time,” Dr. Goodell said. “To do a thousand tons a day, you need to employ quite a few people.”

Burrell mentioned the possibility of Anthony, New Mexico, becoming a processing stop for the garnet on its way from Orogrande. A former mayor in Anthony told ABC-7 if they get a processing plant for garnet, it would be the biggest thing to happen here since they got a Wells Fargo Bank and a Sonic Drive-In.

“It sounds as if it’s going to bring jobs and there’s a need for jobs here in Anthony,” said former Anthony Mayor Raymond Gonzalez, who can’t wait to learn more about the possibility of including Anthony in Burrell’s garnet mining venture. “It’d be great for the city of Anthony to sit down with him and iron this thing out and give him the opportunity of maybe upgrading Anthony.”

Burrell told “Albuquerque Business First” that phase one of the operation would involve a capital investment of $25 million to $50 million.

“New mexico is one of the larger producers of geological wealth in the country,” said Dr. Goodell.

Burrell also said his team are working with state and local officials on a proposed economic incentive package.