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Where to Find Copper in Nevada

Native copper and copper-rich ores show up across central and eastern Nevada, mostly as secondary mineralization in old porphyry and skarn systems. Ely in White Pine County (the Robinson district) is the largest historical copper camp, and its dumps carry chrysocolla, malachite, and small native copper sheets. The Yerington district in Lyon County produces native copper in basalt amygdules and skarn-hosted copper carbonates near the Anaconda pit. Smaller showings at Battle Mountain and Tuscarora add malachite-stained quartz and minor cuprite. The Goodsprings district near the Arizona-Nevada line yields wulfenite and vanadinite alongside oxidized copper minerals.

Spot list checked against source data on April 1, 2026.

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Every copper spot we track in Nevada

Standout copper spots in Nevada

Hand-picked from the full list above, with the reason each one earns a trip.

Best counties for copper in Nevada

Ranked by the number of mapped copper spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.

Before you go

Read the copper identification guide so you know what a keeper looks like in the field: Copper in the encyclopedia.

Copper in Nevada FAQ

Where can you find copper in Nevada?+
The mapped spots concentrate in Clark County, Esmeralda County, and Lander County. Known collecting areas include Robinson district, Ely (White Pine County), Yerington (Lyon County), and Goodsprings (Clark County). Every spot on this page is on the map, and each spot's own page has its coordinates and access notes.
How many copper spots are mapped in Nevada?+
35 spots across 15 counties. The RockHoundR app keeps the same spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, and your saved finds.
Is it legal to collect copper in Nevada?+
Hand collecting of common rocks and minerals in small amounts for personal use is generally allowed on BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are closed to collecting. 24 of the 35 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Where else to find copper

More minerals to hunt in Nevada

Hunt copper in Nevada with the map in your pocket

RockHoundR puts these spots on an offline map with BLM and Forest Service overlays, geology layers, and a log for your finds.

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