Where to Find Sphalerite in the United States

122 mapped sphalerite spots across 12 U.S. states. Sphalerite is reported at multiple rockhounding spots across the United States. The map below shows where collectors most often find it on legal public ground.

Top states for sphalerite

States ranked by number of sphalerite spots in our database. States in bold link to a focused sphalerite-in-state list.

Every sphalerite spot we track

Sorted by state and county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.

Spot	County	Minerals	Coordinates	Access
Hog Mountain	Tallapoosa County	Arsenic Arsenopyrite Galena Gold Graphite Pyrite Pyrrhotite Sphalerite	33.0759, -85.8497	Check locally
Golden Gem & Vanderbilt MinesCerbat Road	Mohave County	Galena Pyrite Sphalerite Stibnite	35.3049, -114.1360	Public
Yellville MinesMine Level Trail	Marion County	Galena Pyrite Smithsonite Sphalerite	36.1332, -92.5624	Public
Unnamed Area (Jefferson Co.)CH 73	Jefferson County	Fluorite Gold Silver Chalcocite Sphalerite	39.6171, -105.3207	Public
Willow Creek (permission required)West Willow Creek Road	Mineral County	Amethyst Chalcedony Sphalerite Silver Agate	37.8700, -106.9292	Permission
Lane’s MineGarder Road	Greater Bridgeport Planning Region	Arsenopyrite Bismuth Pyrite Sphalerite Wolframite	41.3531, -73.2394	Public
MiddletownMiddlesex Avenue	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Galena Chalcopyrite Sphalerite	41.5784, -72.6404	Public
BridgewaterQuarry Drive	Northwest Hills Planning Region	Calamine Galena Cerussite Pyromorphite Sphalerite	41.5630, -73.3410	Public
Old Iron MineMine Hill Road	Northwest Hills Planning Region	Chalcopyrite Galena Pyrite Quartz Siderite Sphalerite	41.5575, -73.3387	Public
HaileyCroy Creek Road	Blaine County	Galena Gold Monzonite Sphalerite Uraninite	43.4993, -114.3363	Public
KetchumNational Forest Development Road 267	Blaine County	Tetrahedrite Arsenopyrite Galena Siderite Sphalerite	43.6908, -114.2939	Public
Ima MinePatterson Creek Road	Lemhi County	Tungsten Tetrahedrite Chalcopyrite Galena Scheelite Sphalerite	44.5336, -113.6923	Public
Hamilton QuarrySouth 2nd Street	Hancock County	Geodes Pyrite Calcite Sphalerite	40.3822, -91.3554	Public
Spillman CreekNorth County Road 1540	Hancock County	Geodes Pyrite Chalcedony Sphalerite Quartz	40.6163, -91.2030	Public
Rosiclare4th Street	Hardin County	Calcite Blue Fluorite Yellow Fluorite Purple Fluorite Sphalerite	37.4310, -88.3422	Public
McKee Creek	Pike County	Geodes Sphalerite	39.7381, -90.7391	Public
HuntingtonCounty Road 400 North	Huntington County	Calcite Marcasite Pyrite Quartz Geodes Sphalerite	40.8916, -85.4650	Public
Lawrence CountyGuthrie Road	Lawrence County	Geodes Calcite Sphalerite Limonite Celestite Fluorite	38.9765, -86.5052	Public
Parke CountyMarshall Road	Parke County	Goethite Marcasite Pyrite Selenite Sphalerite	39.7728, -87.2137	Public
Big Pine CreekWest Briscoe Road	Warren County	Sphalerite Barite Fossilized Wood Siderite Marcasite Pyrite	40.4100, -87.3433	Public
Clayton CountyGreat River Road	Clayton County	Galena Limonite Pyrite Sphalerite	42.8673, -91.1289	Public
KeokukValley Road	Lee County	Keokuk Geodes Calcite Chalcedony Limonite Marcasite Pyrite Sphalerite	40.3875, -91.4518	Public
Baxter SpringsFive Mile Avenue	Cherokee County	Galena Sphalerite Pyrite	37.0013, -94.7054	Public
GalenaWest 7th Street	Cherokee County	Galena Sphalerite Barite Calcite Cerussite Marcasite Pyrite Smithsonite	37.0749, -94.6448	Public
West MineralNorthwest 70th Street	Cherokee County	Pyrite Calcite Dolomite Marcasite Sphalerite	37.2433, -94.9662	Public
Crittenden CountyIrma White Road	Crittenden County	Galena Fluorite Barite Calcite Dolomite Pyrite Smithsonite Sphalerite +2 more	37.3677, -88.1750	Public
GratzKY 355	Owen County	Barite Calcite Fluorite Galena Sphalerite	38.4772, -84.9605	Public
Kentucky River BendMundys Landing Road	Woodford County	Barite Calcite Fluorite Galena Sphalerite	37.8473, -84.7663	Public
TroyMundys Landing Road	Woodford County	Barite Calcite Fluorite Galena Sphalerite	37.8515, -84.7664	Public
Bemis Stream ProspectBemis Road	Franklin County	Albite Beryl Green Elbaite Tourmaline Blue Fluorapatite Purple Fluorapatite Feldspar Mica Quartz +3 more	44.8241, -70.7168	Public
Acton Lead MinesOrchard Road	York County	Andalusite Arsenopyrite Bornite Chalcopyrite Galena Goethite Gold Pyrite +4 more	43.4832, -70.9104	Public
New WindsorNew Windsor Road	Carroll County	Azurite Bornite Calamine Malachite Smithsonite Sphalerite	39.5363, -77.1052	Public
NewburyportScotland Heights Drive	Essex County	Chalcopyrite Galena Pyrite Sphalerite Siderite Tetrahedrite	42.7851, -70.9064	Public
Sugar CreekSouthwest 116 Highway	Buchanan County	Septarian Nodules Aragonite Calcite Celestite Pyrite Sphalerite	39.5525, -94.9978	Public
St. FrancisvilleCounty Road 197	Clark County	Geodes 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
Crooked Creek CraterCedar Drive	Crawford County	Barite Galena Marcasite Pyrite Sphalerite	37.8330, -91.4113	Public
Dog CreekMO 6	Daviess County	Calcite Sphalerite	39.8956, -94.1180	Public
Saint ClairRockyhill Trail	Franklin County	Anglesite Galena Barite Calcite Cerussite Pyrite Smithsonite Sphalerite	38.3020, -90.9191	Public
SpringfieldEast Chestnut Expressway	Greene County	Barite Calcite Cerussite Dickite Dolomite Galena Limonite Marcasite +2 more	37.2098, -93.2264	Public
Peterson MineCounty Road 182	Hickory County	Sphalerite	37.9260, -93.2686	Public
Alice Mine near ElijahCounty Road 7280	Howell County	Dolomite Greenockite Pyrite Quartz Smithsonite Sphalerite	36.5932, -92.1222	Public
Bixby	Iron County	Bornite Chalcocite Chalcopyrite Galena Malachite Marcasite Millerite Pyrite +1 more	37.6029, -91.1169	Public
JoplinNorth 3rd Street	Jasper County	Apatite Aragonite Azurite Barite Calcite Cerussite Chalcopyrite Chrysocolla +5 more	37.1950, -94.4756	Public
ArnoldRichardson Road	Jefferson County	Geodes Dolomite Marcasite Pyrite Sphalerite Calcite	38.4192, -90.3896	Public
Jefferson CountyVeterans Memorial Highway	Jefferson County	Calcite Nodules Sphalerite	38.4622, -90.4206	Public
Walnut CreekNorthwest 700	Johnson County	Sphalerite	38.8689, -93.7830	Public
Decaturville CraterLilac Rd	Laclede County	Albite Galena Glauconite Limonite Marcasite Microcline Muscovite Opal +4 more	37.8930, -92.7085	Public
Fabius River275th Avenue	Lewis County	Geodes 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
WentworthGum Road	Newton County	Zinc Pyrite Sphalerite	36.9411, -94.0652	Public
Defiance QuarryMO DD	Saint Charles County	Yellow Calcite White Calcite Goethite Marcasite Pyrite Sphalerite Fossils	38.6608, -90.7760	Public
St. Francois CountyHawthorne Street	Saint Francois County	Barite Goethite Pyrite Quartz Cerussite Chalcopyrite Galena Malachite +2 more	37.8948, -90.5261	Public
PalmerPalmer Road	Washington County	Anglesite Calcite Cerussite Dolomite Galena Goethite Pyrite Quartz +1 more	37.8464, -90.9444	Public
MansfieldUS 60	Wright County	Galena Smithsonite Sphalerite Hemimorphite	37.1107, -92.5432	Public
NeihartRock Creek Road	Cascade County	Galena Polybasite Silver Sphalerite	46.9458, -110.7240	Public
WhitehallPaul Gulch Road	Jefferson County	Galena Gold Sphalerite Pyrite	45.9179, -112.0411	Public
Granite GapNM 80;US 80 Hist	Hidalgo County	Argentite Cerussite Cuprite Sphalerite	32.0792, -108.9799	Public
Gold HillGold Hill Trail #64	Taos County	Argentite Pyrargyrite Silver Sphalerite	36.6430, -105.4558	Public
Ancram area lead minesEast Ancram Road	Columbia County	Barite Galena Sphalerite Pyrite Quartz	42.0167, -73.5667	Public
EdwardsCounty Road 24	Saint Lawrence County	Barite Galena Gypsum Sphalerite Fluorite	44.3372, -75.2284	Public
SummitvilleFirehouse Road	Sullivan County	Sphalerite	41.6279, -74.4480	Public
Ulster CountyVly-Atwood Road	Ulster County	Sphalerite Siderite	41.8987, -74.2081	Public
StratfordWalnut Branch Church Road	Alleghany County	Chalcopyrite Cuprite Galena Malachite Molybdenite Pyrite Silver Sphalerite	36.5189, -81.2207	Public
Anson CountyWhite Store Road	Anson County	Gold Calcite Garnet Galena Pyrite Siderite Rutile Sphalerite	34.9570, -80.1227	Public
Reed Gold MineReed Mine Road	Cabarrus County	Azurite Gold Malachite Quartz Scheelite Sphalerite Siderite Cuprite +2 more	35.2852, -80.4665	Public
Davidson CountySilver Hill Road	Davidson County	Chalcopyrite Gold Pyrite Tetradymite Anglesite Calamine Calcite Cuprite +3 more	35.7057, -80.1995	Public
FranklinLyle Mill Road	Macon County	Amethyst Bronzite Epidote Fibrolite Garnet Jasper Kyanite Quartz +6 more	35.2261, -83.3606	Public
EldoradoCoggins Mine Road	Montgomery County	Azurite Calcite Gold Malachite Pyrite Silver Smithsonite Sphalerite +1 more	35.4824, -80.0228	Public
Island CreekTungsten Mine Road	Vance County	Apatite Chalcopyrite Fluorite Galena Hyalite Opal Quartz Rhodochrosite Scheelite +2 more	36.5050, -78.4765	Public
MiamiCR S620	Ottawa County	Aragonite Barite Calcite Chalcopyrite Chert Dolomite Galena Gypsum +4 more	36.9849, -94.7601	Check locally
EtnaButler Plank Road	Allegheny County	Barite Calcite Pyrite Sphalerite Wurtzite	40.5347, -79.9615	Public
North VandergriftGravel Bar Road	Armstrong County	Galena Calcite Barite Geodes Sphalerite	40.6072, -79.5450	Public
BridgeportRiver Road	Montgomery County	Calcite Chalcedony Dolomite Goethite Jasper Malachite Quartz Sphalerite	40.0987, -75.3272	Public
SmyrnaHuntington Road	York County	Calcite Galena Gold Nuggets Sphalerite Tourmaline	34.9967, -81.4596	Public
Broken Boot Gold MineUS Highway 14A	Lawrence County	Gold Arsenopyrite Galena Pyrite Sphalerite	44.3707, -103.7423	Public
RochfordSouth Rochford Road	Pennington County	Arsenopyrite Galena Gold Pyrite Silver Sphalerite	44.0983, -103.7740	Public
ClevelandOld Chattanooga Pike Southwest	Bradley County	Sphalerite	35.1124, -84.9213	Public
Straight Creek MinesStraight Creek Road	Claiborne County	Galena Sphalerite	36.3892, -83.6427	Public
GreenevilleCedar Avenue	Greene County	Sphalerite	36.1795, -82.8651	Public
Mossy CreekHicks Road	Jefferson County	Calamine Smithsonite Sphalerite	36.1106, -83.4770	Public
SweetwaterSweetwater Vonore Road	Monroe County	Barite Fluorite Sphalerite	35.6058, -84.3866	Public
Nun's CoveSharp Road	Sevier County	Calcite Chert Barite Sphalerite	35.8722, -83.4156	Public
Bumpus Cove mining districtBumpus Cove Road	Unicoi County	Anglesite Chalcopyrite Cerussite Hematite Galena Sphalerite	36.1518, -82.4898	Public
New Prospect MineHelms Ferry Road	Union County	Calamine Smithsonite Sphalerite	36.3982, -83.8414	Public
Bonanza MineLove Road	Hudspeth County	Chalcopyrite Galena Sphalerite	31.1873, -105.5005	Public
Chinati Mts	Presidio County	Fluorite Galena Argentite Cerargyrite Pyrite Sphalerite Chalcopyrite Smithsonite	29.9012, -104.5124	Public
Bradshaw MountainsSR 21	Beaver County	Amethyst Tourmaline Tremolite Wollastonite Anglesite Aragonite Cerussite Chalcopyrite +3 more	38.2983, -112.9233	Public
FriscoEly Highway	Beaver County	Azurite Barite Calamine Chalcocite Chalcopyrite Chrysocolla Galena Gypsum +7 more	38.4497, -113.2764	Public
San Francisco MountainsEly Highway	Beaver County	Diopside Fluorite Galena Garnet Pyrite Scheelite Sphalerite Apatite +7 more	38.4591, -113.3067	Public
Star RangeBeryl Milford Road	Beaver County	Bismutite Rhodochrosite Fluorite Quartz Azurite Cerussite Galena Malachite +6 more	38.3456, -113.1442	Public
Pilot RangeTunnel Springs Rd	Box Elder County	Alunite Azurite Barite Cerussite Chrysocolla Copper Galena Limonite +6 more	41.2481, -114.0397	Public
Raft River Mountains	Box Elder County	Gold Arsenopyrite Chalcopyrite Galena Pyrite Sphalerite	41.8742, -113.5085	Public
Vipont MineBirch Creek Road	Box Elder County	Azurite Cerussite Copper Chalcopyrite Cuprite Galena Gold Limonite +7 more	41.9657, -113.8459	Public
Lucky Strick and other mines in San Rafael districtHanni Mine Road	Emery County	Bieberite Chalcopyrite Galena Marcasite Pyrite Sphalerite Uraninite	38.7553, -110.9485	Public
Deep Creek MountainsQueen Sheeba Road	Juab County	Beryl Fluorite Scheelite Azurite Gold Malachite Galena Pyrolusite +1 more	39.8035, -113.9600	Public
Fish SpringsPony Express Road	Juab County	Gold Lead Silver Cerussite Chalcopyrite Fluorite Galena Limonite +3 more	39.8524, -113.4541	Public
Wood Canyon	Millard County	Galena Sphalerite	39.5249, -112.2339	Public
Bullion CanyonBullion Canyon Road	Piute County	Azurite Barite Cerussite Chalcopyrite Fluorite Galena Limonite Pyrite +6 more	38.4195, -112.2981	Public
Big Cottonwood mining districtCardiff Fork Trail	Salt Lake County	Actinolite Barite Orthoclase Bornite Chalcopyrite Galena Magnetite Malachite +5 more	40.6077, -111.6515	Public
Monticello mining districtCooley Pass Trail	San Juan County	Anhydrite Carnotite Gypsum Pyrite Chalcopyrite Galena Gold Sphalerite +4 more	37.8313, -109.4670	Public
Axtell	Sanpete County	Galena Marcasite Pyrite Sphalerite	39.0581, -111.9611	Public
Salina CreekInterstate Highway 70 Frontage Road	Sevier County	Azurite Chalcopyrite Galena Malachite Sphalerite	38.9142, -111.7270	Public
Park City mining districtComstock Mine Trail	Summit County	Barite Calcite Chlorite Epidote Galena Garnet Magnetite Sphalerite +7 more	40.6230, -111.5425	Public
Dugway mining district	Tooele County	Agate Amethyst Apatite Fluorite Chalcedony Garnet Topaz Cerussite +7 more	39.9975, -113.1860	Public
East Erickson mining districtJoes Canyon Road	Tooele County	Galena Pyrite Quartz Sphalerite Cerussite Silver Hematite Limonite +3 more	39.9110, -112.5112	Public
Gold HillEast First Avenue	Tooele County	Azurite Cerussite Chalcopyrite Chlorite Chrysocolla Galena Gold Gypsum +6 more	40.1813, -113.8102	Public
OphirOphir Canyon Road	Tooele County	Galena Gold Pyrite Silver Sphalerite Quartz	40.3739, -112.2641	Public
Ely MineSouth Vershire Road	Orange County	Chalcopyrite Pyrrhotite Pyrite Sphalerite Tourmaline Actinolite Calcite Garnet +2 more	43.9272, -72.2848	Public
FaberGreen Creek Road	Albemarle County	Azurite Cerussite Chalcopyrite Fluorite Galena Pyromorphite Smithsonite Sphalerite +1 more	37.8316, -78.6669	Public
HillsvilleMitchels Crossroads Road	Carroll County	Arsenopyrite Azurite Barite Chalcocite Chalcopyrite Chrysocolla Cuprite Galena +4 more	36.8454, -80.7239	Public
Wythe CountyWalton Furnace Road	Wythe County	Aragonite Calcite Fluorite Bornite Marcasite Smithsonite Sphalerite Dolomite +2 more	36.8835, -80.9322	Public
Knobly Mountain	Mineral County	Chalcedony Calcite Dolomite Fluorite Sulfur Quartz Sphalerite	39.3459, -79.0029	Public
Hazel GreenState Highway 80	Grant County	Barite Calcite Galena Marcasite Pyrite Smithsonite Sphalerite	42.5327, -90.4359	Public
PlattevilleWest Main Street	Grant County	Barite Calcite Galena Marcasite Pyrite Smithsonite Sphalerite	42.7346, -90.4803	Public
WerleyStar Lane	Grant County	Barite Dogtooth Calcite Galena Marcasite Pyrite Smithsonite Sphalerite	43.0204, -90.7662	Public
Cobb & MifflinBollant Road	Iowa County	Azurite Barite Chalcopyrite Cuprite Smithsonite Sphalerite	42.8839, -90.3877	Public
DodgevilleCounty Highway YZ	Iowa County	Barite Calcite Galena Marcasite Pyrite Smithsonite Sphalerite	42.9757, -90.0862	Public
OshkoshDivision Street	Waushara County	Calcite Galena Marcasite Pyrite Sphalerite Fossils	44.0430, -89.0981	Public
Kirwin MineWood River	Park County	Azurite Barite Chalcopyrite Cuprite Galena Gold Limonite Malachite +3 more	43.8746, -109.2848	Public

Sphalerite rockhounding FAQ

Where is the best place to find sphalerite in the U.S.?+

Missouri, Utah, Tennessee have the highest concentrations of sphalerite in this list. Each state's quality and access varies — open the linked state pages for a detailed view.

How many sphalerite rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+

122 mapped spots across 12 states. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.

Can I legally collect sphalerite on public land?+

Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like sphalerite 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 sphalerite in the field?+

Field identification of sphalerite 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 sphalerite on the map

Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.