Sedalia Copper Mine: Actinolite & Almandine Rockhounding in Chaffee County, Colorado

Updated June 2026

Sedalia Copper Mine is a mapped rockhounding spot in Chaffee County, Colorado. Reported finds include actinolite, almandine, azurite, beryl, chrysocolla. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Chaffee County
State: Colorado
Nearest road: Happy Jack Lane
Coordinates: 38.60360, -106.03060

Geology at Sedalia Copper Mine

This spot sits on ground mapped as Aluminous gneiss and schist, calc-silicate gneiss, and quartzite that formed roughly 2500 to 1600 million years ago. Metamorphic belts like this often host pegmatite dikes, the coarse-crystal bodies that typically carry beryl, tourmaline, and sheet mica.

Mapped unit: Aluminous gneiss and schist, calc-silicate gneiss, and quartzite
Age: 2500–1600 Ma (Paleoproterozoic)
Elevation: 8,370 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Sedalia Copper Mine

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 81°F in midsummer and 39°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 7°F. At about 8,370 ft, snow can block access from late fall well into spring, so check conditions outside of summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SALIDA station (5 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Sedalia Copper Mine

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Sedalia Copper Mine.

Sedalia Copper Mine FAQ

Where is Sedalia Copper Mine?+

Sedalia Copper Mine is in Chaffee County, Colorado, at 38.60360, -106.03060. Nearest road: Happy Jack Lane.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Sedalia Copper Mine?+

Sedalia Copper Mine is reported to produce Actinolite, Almandine, Azurite, Beryl, Chrysocolla.

Is collecting allowed at Sedalia Copper Mine?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Sedalia Copper Mine?+

A rock hammer, a pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses suit pegmatite ground. Work weathered zones and check dump piles; coarse crystals often sit in decomposed rock.

When is the best time to visit Sedalia Copper Mine?+

The most comfortable months at Sedalia Copper Mine are March to November. At about 8,370 ft, snow can block access from late fall well into spring, so check conditions outside of summer.

How do I get to Sedalia Copper Mine?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 38.60360, -106.03060 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Happy Jack Lane.

More rockhounding in Colorado

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Open Sedalia Copper Mine on the map

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