Where to Find Malachite in Missouri

Missouri malachite is a secondary mineral on the state's copper-bearing lead-zinc ores. The Old Lead Belt mines at Mine La Motte in Madison County produced green crusts and small botryoidal malachite on dolomite breccia, often with chalcopyrite and azurite associations. The Viburnum Trend mines south of Salem yield minor malachite as coatings on copper-bearing sphalerite ore. The Sweetwater mine has produced specimen-grade malachite alongside the famous calcite. Surface showings are uncommon in Missouri compared to Arizona or Utah, and most collectors pick up malachite as a bonus while hunting calcite and galena.

Best counties for malachite in Missouri

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

Crawford County5 spots
Iron County2 spots
Clark County1 spot
Cole County1 spot
Knox County1 spot
Lewis County1 spot
Lincoln County1 spot
Madison County1 spot
Moniteau County1 spot
Phelps County1 spot
Saint Francois County1 spot
Shannon County1 spot
Washington County1 spot

Every malachite spot we track in Missouri

Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.

Spot	County	Minerals	Coordinates	Access
St. FrancisvilleCounty Road 197	Clark County	Geode Barite Calcite Fluorite Malachite Pyrite Quartz Sphalerite	40.4541, -91.5784	Public
Cole CountyMO BB	Cole County	Barite Calcite Cerussite Chalcopyrite Dolomite Hematite Galena Malachite +4 more	38.3686, -92.3916	Public
Copper Hill MineWatson Road	Crawford County	Azurite Barite Chalcopyrite Gypsum Hematite Malachite Marcasite Pyrite +1 more	38.1872, -91.1082	Public
Hinch Copper MineChristy Mine Road	Crawford County	Copper Cuprite Limonite Hematite Malachite Marcasite	38.0351, -91.1448	Public
ScotiaSanke Road	Crawford County	Azurite Goethite Hematite Malachite Pyrite Quartz	37.9870, -91.3391	Public
SteelvilleStoney Ridge Lane	Crawford County	Allophane Amethyst Azurite Dolomite Galena Goethite Hematite Malachite +4 more	38.0247, -91.2273	Public
SullivanFarris Road	Crawford County	Azurite Chalcocite Chalcopyrite Copper Cuprite Hematite Malachite Pyrite	38.1596, -91.1642	Public
Bixby	Iron County	Bornite Chalcocite Chalcopyrite Galena Malachite Marcasite Millerite Pyrite +1 more	37.6029, -91.1169	Public
Cuthbertson MountainBerryman Road	Iron County	Hematite Pyrolusite Chalcopyrite Copper Epidote Garnet Malachite	37.5422, -90.6512	Public
NewarkMO E	Knox County	Calcite Chalcopyrite Goethite Malachite Pyrite Quartz	39.9759, -91.9786	Public
Fabius River275th Avenue	Lewis County	Geode Calcite Malachite Pyrite Quartz Sphalerite Aragonite	39.9756, -91.6218	Public
TroyHampel Road	Lincoln County	Calcite Marcasite Pyrite Chalcopyrite Malachite Millerite Quartz Sphalerite	38.9185, -90.9386	Public
FredericktownCounty Road 274	Madison County	Aragonite Azurite Calcite Cerussite Chalcocite Chalcopyrite Dolomite Galena +5 more	37.6154, -90.2847	Public
Eldon & EttervilleHobby Horse Road	Moniteau County	Barite Calcite Cerussite Dolomite Galena Malachite Marcasite Pyrite +3 more	38.4400, -92.5802	Public
Moselle Iron MinesCounty Road 7240	Phelps County	Amethyst Arsenopyrite Azurite Chalcopyrite Hematite Malachite Marcasite Pyrite +1 more	37.8346, -91.8288	Public
St. Francois CountyHawthorne Street	Saint Francois County	Barite Goethite Pyrite Quartz Cerussite Chalcopyrite Galena Malachite +2 more	37.8948, -90.5261	Public
EminenceOld Highway 19	Shannon County	Calcite Chalcopyrite Cuprite Dolomite Malachite Fluorite	37.0984, -91.3161	Public
Old MinesMO 21;MO 47	Washington County	Barite Calcite Galena Goethite Malachite Marcasite Pyrite Chert +1 more	38.0152, -90.7561	Public

Before you go

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

Malachite in Missouri FAQ

Where can you find malachite in Missouri?+

The mapped spots concentrate in Crawford County County, Iron County County, and Clark County County. Known collecting areas include Mine La Motte (Madison County), Sweetwater mine (Reynolds County), and Buick mine (Iron County). Every spot on this page appears on the map above with coordinates and access notes.

How many malachite spots are mapped in Missouri?+

18 spots across 13 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 malachite in Missouri?+

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. 18 of the 18 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Where else to find malachite

More minerals to hunt in Missouri

Hunt malachite in Missouri 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.