Mining company threatens dark skies and remote telescope facilities in S.W. New Mexico / S.E. Arizona

Signed!

Hoping to get back down to NM sometime soon!

Tony Gondola · Jun 7, 2026, 03:13 PM

I’ve signed the petition and think everyone should, even if you don’t have a direct interest.

Thanks Tony for your support.

Guy Marshall · Jun 7, 2026, 11:33 PM

I cannot sign the petition because it requires a postal code and my UK postal code is invalid for some reason! But hopefully more people can sign this to make a difference and protect that region!

Thanks Guy for your support. I suspect the system only accepts signatures from US postal codes, but I appreciate your willingness to join the effort to protect dark skies, even if they are on the other side of the planet. They’re worth fighting for!

CS, Brandon

Darryl Ackerman · Jun 9, 2026, 01:58 AM

Just signed it.

Thanks Darryl.

mzaslove · Jun 9, 2026, 04:14 PM

Signed. Thanks for pointing it out.

Thanks for your support, mzaslove.

Hi friend,

I’m sorry to here that. Similar to what has happened in China, many many wild areas have had higher light pollution due to the rapid development of cities. Not only amateurs and professionals of astronomy, but also wild lives deserve the environment with peace and tranquility. I’m glad that there are such group of people in your area willing to sign the petition and hope you success. In the meantime, I really hope Chinese government realize how the rapid development - sometime meaningless - are destroy the environment where we have been living for thousands of years, and can take actions to protect the last pure land.

CS

Marshall

darkdesertdome · Jun 7, 2026 at 12:53 AM

Dear friends on AstroBin,

One of the few remaining dark sky areas in the United States has recently come under threat from an international mining corporation, and the astrophotography community deserves to know about this so voices can be raised in opposition.

Recently, Almadex America Inc., a subsidiary of Canadian-owned mining company Almadex Minerals, filed at least 132 mining claims in the Antelope Pass area of Hidalgo County, New Mexico – in the heart of astronomy country, directly adjacent to Dark Sky New Mexico remote observatories and just around the corner from Astronomy Acres Remote Observatories, Deep Space Products Remote, the Arizona Sky Village, the Chiricahua Astronomy Complex, and other astronomy operations hosting hundreds of remote telescope systems for clients across the globe. It is also within sight of Chiricahua National Monument, a spectacular hidden gem in the U.S. park system that has recently been considered for promotion to National Park status. Increased light pollution, industrial activity, and dust from mining could permanently damage one of the darkest night sky regions in the continental United States and threaten a nationally important astronomical area.

Located just north of NM Highway 9 in the Peloncillo Mountains west of Animas, Antelope Pass is home to the Antelope Pass Research Natural Area (RNA), a Special Management Area designated specifically to protect exceptional biological and scientific values. Beyond its ecological and scientific significance, Antelope Pass is cherished by birders, hikers, and hunters alike from both near and far. The area also contains numerous prehistoric sites that deserve protection and respect. And the dust, noise, increased traffic, and light pollution from mining would be catastrophic to the quiet rural character of southwestern Hidalgo County and neighboring Cochise County in Arizona, permanently altering this unique region.

Please consider signing a petition to protect Antelope Pass and our precious dark skies from destructive mining activity. For those who are interested and want to get involved, additional information including maps and the petition can be found at New Mexico Wild: https://nmwild.org/get-involved/sign-a-petition/keep-mining-out-of-antelope-pass/

Thank you for considering,

Brandon

Rodeo, NM

What exactly is being mined here? There are some things that we as a country need to be less dependent on other countries for, such as rare earth minerals. So while the destruction of dark sites is definitely undesirable, there may be a benefit side to consider as well.

Arun H · Jun 10, 2026, 10:58 AM

darkdesertdome · Jun 7, 2026 at 12:53 AM

Dear friends on AstroBin,

One of the few remaining dark sky areas in the United States has recently come under threat from an international mining corporation, and the astrophotography community deserves to know about this so voices can be raised in opposition.

Recently, Almadex America Inc., a subsidiary of Canadian-owned mining company Almadex Minerals, filed at least 132 mining claims in the Antelope Pass area of Hidalgo County, New Mexico – in the heart of astronomy country, directly adjacent to Dark Sky New Mexico remote observatories and just around the corner from Astronomy Acres Remote Observatories, Deep Space Products Remote, the Arizona Sky Village, the Chiricahua Astronomy Complex, and other astronomy operations hosting hundreds of remote telescope systems for clients across the globe. It is also within sight of Chiricahua National Monument, a spectacular hidden gem in the U.S. park system that has recently been considered for promotion to National Park status. Increased light pollution, industrial activity, and dust from mining could permanently damage one of the darkest night sky regions in the continental United States and threaten a nationally important astronomical area.

Located just north of NM Highway 9 in the Peloncillo Mountains west of Animas, Antelope Pass is home to the Antelope Pass Research Natural Area (RNA), a Special Management Area designated specifically to protect exceptional biological and scientific values. Beyond its ecological and scientific significance, Antelope Pass is cherished by birders, hikers, and hunters alike from both near and far. The area also contains numerous prehistoric sites that deserve protection and respect. And the dust, noise, increased traffic, and light pollution from mining would be catastrophic to the quiet rural character of southwestern Hidalgo County and neighboring Cochise County in Arizona, permanently altering this unique region.

Please consider signing a petition to protect Antelope Pass and our precious dark skies from destructive mining activity. For those who are interested and want to get involved, additional information including maps and the petition can be found at New Mexico Wild: https://nmwild.org/get-involved/sign-a-petition/keep-mining-out-of-antelope-pass/

Thank you for considering,

Brandon

Rodeo, NM

What exactly is being mined here? There are some things that we as a country need to be less dependent on other countries for, such as rare earth minerals. So while the destruction of dark sites is definitely undesirable, there may be a benefit side to consider as well.

I’m sure there are benefits. I don’t think any group is going to be able to stop this kind of development, big money always wins. What it can do is get some concessions on things like lighting. For instance, a good proposal might be for the use of lighting that can be easily filtered out, like sodium lighting. Loss of transparency is also an issue but you have to pick your battles.

Arun H · Jun 10, 2026, 05:00 PM

Tony Gondola · Jun 10, 2026, 04:01 PM

Arun H · Jun 10, 2026, 10:58 AM

What exactly is being mined here? There are some things that we as a country need to be less dependent on other countries for, such as rare earth minerals. So while the destruction of dark sites is definitely undesirable, there may be a benefit side to consider as well.

I’m sure there are benefits. I don’t think any group is going to be able to stop this kind of development, big money always wins. What it can do is get some concessions on things like lighting. For instance, a good proposal might be for the use of lighting that can be easily filtered out, like sodium lighting. Loss of transparency is also an issue but you have to pick your battles.

I would certainly be in support of doing this smartly as you suggest, but the instinctive “we don’t like it” or “not here” tends to be counterproductive, because there is always another side. I am not instinctively against “big money”, because business provides benefits to the community and country as well.

I agree that aside from the product being produced it would also provide local jobs and taxes for the county and state, all good things. The down side is that for any big business, the main goal is generating the highest possible profit for the company and in many cases shareholders. That’s not instinct but just the realization of how the world and business works. I would not expect anything else. To protect things that are not directly in any companies interest, such as environmental issues of which light pollution is one, takes legislation.

Arun H · Jun 10, 2026, 10:58 AM

darkdesertdome · Jun 7, 2026 at 12:53 AM

Dear friends on AstroBin,

One of the few remaining dark sky areas in the United States has recently come under threat from an international mining corporation, and the astrophotography community deserves to know about this so voices can be raised in opposition.

Recently, Almadex America Inc., a subsidiary of Canadian-owned mining company Almadex Minerals, filed at least 132 mining claims in the Antelope Pass area of Hidalgo County, New Mexico – in the heart of astronomy country, directly adjacent to Dark Sky New Mexico remote observatories and just around the corner from Astronomy Acres Remote Observatories, Deep Space Products Remote, the Arizona Sky Village, the Chiricahua Astronomy Complex, and other astronomy operations hosting hundreds of remote telescope systems for clients across the globe. It is also within sight of Chiricahua National Monument, a spectacular hidden gem in the U.S. park system that has recently been considered for promotion to National Park status. Increased light pollution, industrial activity, and dust from mining could permanently damage one of the darkest night sky regions in the continental United States and threaten a nationally important astronomical area.

Located just north of NM Highway 9 in the Peloncillo Mountains west of Animas, Antelope Pass is home to the Antelope Pass Research Natural Area (RNA), a Special Management Area designated specifically to protect exceptional biological and scientific values. Beyond its ecological and scientific significance, Antelope Pass is cherished by birders, hikers, and hunters alike from both near and far. The area also contains numerous prehistoric sites that deserve protection and respect. And the dust, noise, increased traffic, and light pollution from mining would be catastrophic to the quiet rural character of southwestern Hidalgo County and neighboring Cochise County in Arizona, permanently altering this unique region.

Please consider signing a petition to protect Antelope Pass and our precious dark skies from destructive mining activity. For those who are interested and want to get involved, additional information including maps and the petition can be found at New Mexico Wild: https://nmwild.org/get-involved/sign-a-petition/keep-mining-out-of-antelope-pass/

Thank you for considering,

Brandon

Rodeo, NM

What exactly is being mined here? There are some things that we as a country need to be less dependent on other countries for, such as rare earth minerals. So while the destruction of dark sites is definitely undesirable, there may be a benefit side to consider as well.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Arun, and I wholeheartedly agree with you. There remain some unknowns that need answers, though Almadex does state on its website that gold deposits are present at this site and are a focus of their mining interest. I updated my primary post to make this more clear. Gold is not a rare earth mineral. The company does not state whether rare earth minerals are present or an objective at this site. In any event, the hope is that, with the right information and transparency, an appropriate compromise can be sought that aligns local priorities (e.g. minimizing light pollution and environmental impacts) with company goals. I think the primary purpose of a petition like this is to force a conversation between the company and other stakeholders. Hopefully this will occur if enough people speak up.

MikeY_Astro · Jun 10, 2026, 03:45 PM

Signed!

Thanks MikeY for your support.