Where to Find Common Opal in the United States
16 mapped common opal spots across 7 U.S. states. Common Opal is reported at multiple rockhounding spots across the United States. The map below shows where collectors most often find it on legal public ground.
Map showing where to find common opal across the United States, with 16 mapped spots
Top states for common opal
States ranked by number of common opal spots in our database. States in bold link to a focused common opal-in-state list.
Every common opal spot we track
Sorted by state and county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.
Common Opal rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find common opal in the U.S.?+
New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina have the highest concentrations of common opal in this list. Each state's quality and access varies — open the linked state pages for a detailed view.
How many common opal rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
16 mapped spots across 7 states. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect common opal on public land?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like common opal is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always check with the managing agency before a trip.
How do I identify common opal in the field?+
Field identification of common opal comes down to color, hardness, fracture, and luster. The RockHoundR app links to geology details for each spot to help narrow down what you might be picking up.
Hunt common opal on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
