Prior to 1912, mines in New Mexico were inspected by federal officials such as the U.S. Mine Inspector for the Territory of New Mexico and the U.S. Coal Mine Inspector for the Territory of New Mexico. In 1912 a legislative act established the State Mine Inspector (1912 Laws of N.M., Chp. 80. Sec. 4). In 1977 a legislative act established the Energy and Minerals Department and placed the State Mine Inspector within that Department's Mining and Minerals Division (1977 Laws of N.M., Chp. 255, Sec. 15). In 1987 a legislative act abolished the Energy and Minerals Department and transferred the State Mine Inspector and the Mining and Minerals Division to the newly-established Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (1987 Laws of N.M., Chp. 234, Sec. 48). In 1989 a legislative act transferred the State Mine Inspector to the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (1989 Laws of N.M., Chp. 193, Sec. 3). The State Mine Inspector is responsible for inspecting and approving mines operating in New Mexico; and compiling and publishing statistics on New Mexico mining, geology, milling, metallurgy, and oil and gas refining.
From the description of New Mexico State Mine Inspector records, 1895-[ongoing]. (Santa Fe Public Library). WorldCat record id: 37819381
From the guide to the New Mexico State Mine Inspector Records, 1895-[on-going], (New Mexico State Records Center and Archives)
