Where to Find Melanterite in the United States
4 mapped melanterite spots across 2 U.S. states. Melanterite 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 melanterite across the United States, with 4 mapped spots
Top states for melanterite
States ranked by number of melanterite spots in our database. States in bold link to a focused melanterite-in-state list.
Every melanterite spot we track
Sorted by state and county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierrita Mountain Mine Dumps | Pima County | 31.8777, -111.1950 | Public | |
| Foster & Hume | Bates County |
| 38.1565, -94.4942 | Public |
| Finger Lakes State ParkEast Peabody Haul Road | Boone County | 39.0803, -92.3031 | Public | |
| Ruepple Iron MineSpring Oak Lane | Franklin County | 38.2708, -91.1408 | Public |
Melanterite rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find melanterite in the U.S.?+
Missouri, Arizona have the highest concentrations of melanterite in this list. Each state's quality and access varies — open the linked state pages for a detailed view.
How many melanterite rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
4 mapped spots across 2 states. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect melanterite on public land?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like melanterite 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 melanterite in the field?+
Field identification of melanterite 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 melanterite on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
