Silver City: Corundum & Purple Garnet Rockhounding in Owyhee County, Idaho

Updated June 2026

Silver City is a mapped rockhounding spot in Owyhee County, Idaho. Reported finds include corundum, purple garnet, red garnet. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Owyhee County
State: Idaho
Nearest road: Jordan Street
Coordinates: 43.01444, -116.73014

Geology at Silver City

This spot sits on Silver City rhyolite, undifferentiated, mapped as rhyolite that formed roughly 23 to 5 million years ago. Volcanic ground like this weathers into rocky slopes and float, and fresh exposures in cuts and drainages are usually the most productive places to look.

Mapped unit: Silver City rhyolite, undifferentiated
Age: 23–5 Ma (Miocene)
Rock types: rhyolite
Elevation: 6,210 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 Silver City

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 82°F in midsummer and 36°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SILVER CITY 5 W station (5 mi away).

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.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

Idaho Panhandle National Forests — Emerald Creek
Idaho Geological Survey
Spencer Opal Mines (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Silver City

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 Silver City.

Across the state line from Silver City

Silver City is close enough to the Idaho border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Silver City FAQ

Where is Silver City?+

Silver City is in Owyhee County, Idaho, at 43.01444, -116.73014. Nearest road: Jordan Street.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Silver City?+

Silver City is reported to produce Corundum, Purple Garnet, Red Garnet.

Is collecting allowed at Silver City?+

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 Silver City?+

A rock hammer, a sieve, and a small shovel work well for garnet-type minerals, which concentrate as resistant grains in soils and creek gravels.

When is the best time to visit Silver City?+

The most comfortable months at Silver City are April to October.

How do I get to Silver City?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.01444, -116.73014 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Jordan Street.

More rockhounding in Idaho

See all 115 Idaho spots →

Open Silver City on the map

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