2022 - West - May 6 - Kilbourne Hole & Old Mesilla

For those of you that don't know me - I am a rock-hound at heart.  

Vaughan found a place called Kilbourne Hole just south of Las Cruces. 

The drive there was miles of washboard dirt roads with lots of cows, lizards, and jackrabbits.

Kilbourne Hole is known as a Maar - a pit or depression caused by a volcanic explosion.  It is over a mile wide and 300 feet deep. 

Volcanic "bombs" were blown from the vent and are dull black or brown, but when broken open they reveal a yellow and green interior of olivine glass granules. 

We did happen to find 2 of these bombs.

On returning to Las Cruces our new friends from yesterday, Walter & Linda, called and invited us to lunch at Double Eagle in Old Mesilla. We ate in the Billy the Kid Patio which was the inner courtyard of the building. Each room was filled with antiques and amazing artworks.

This is the Old Mesilla Catholic Church, Basilica of San Albino. It was constructed in 1851 and still holds masses today.