Solving A Very Old Button Mystery

This is not my usual style post, but I really need some help here.  About 40 years ago my mother and I went out rockhunting in the San Pedro Mines area of New Mexico.  I had a brand new metal detector and decided to give it a try.  Anyway, I found this mysterious button in excellent condition.  For some reason at the time, I remember running into an old time miner up there who told me it might be a conductors button to the railway that ran in the area.  That's the only reason I can think that I would believe it is an old railroad artifact at all.

Fast forward to today, and I ran across it while cleaning out my piles of junk jewelry.  Anyway, modern searches are turning up nothing pertaining to a railroad by the name of M&M except the railroad mogul Thomas C. Durant and his Mississippi and Missouri Railroad (M&M).  I'm pretty sure he never made it to New Mexico, but who knows.  There could have been a Madrid and ? Railroad because I know there was a rail line serving the coal towns along NM Highway 14 - the present day Turquoise Trail.

M&M Railroad Button Front with Heraldic Eagle Symbol

The button is really nice and has an Eagle Seal image (heraldic symbol) and is surrounded by the letters M&M.  I'm not sure what it is made of.  Maybe brass?  the front did not tarnish, so maybe gold plated?  I just don't know.  I would appreciate any help I can get on this.  Let me know what you think or know.

San Pedro Mines Satellite Image

San Pedro Mines Satellite Image of Where Button Was Found

Back of M&M Button

One very interesting fact about our rock hunting experience was that this old time miner told us that San Pedro Mountain was literally riddled with tunnels and he was surprised it was still standing.  He also said that he had found a really old tunnel at the base of the mountain and when he went inside, he found a Conquistadore helmet.  Pretty neat huh?


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New Mexico Fluorite Collectors Specimen