Best spot

Butte: Bornite & Pisanite Rockhounding in Silver Bow County, Montana

Updated June 2026

Butte is Montana's heavyweight ore-mineral locality, with MBMG and USGS work documenting complex copper, silver, manganese, and related vein mineralogy in the district. For collectors, the draw is not ordinary float but classic species tied to the Butte lodes, including bornite and rhodochrosite in a district with national-scale mining history. Reported finds include bornite, pisanite, rhodochrosite, rhodonite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Butte photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

2 photos

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Silver Bow County
State: Montana
Nearest road: Clark Street
Postcode: 59701
Coordinates: 46.02061, -112.54630

Geology at Butte

This spot sits on Biotite-hornblende granodioritic rocks along the Continental Divide, Anaconda Range, Sapphire Mountains, and Flint Creek Range, mapped as biotite-hornblende granodiorite, biotite-hornblende monzogranite, and tonalite that formed roughly 145 to 66 million years ago. Plutonic rock like this weathers slowly into grus and boulders, and the most productive collecting is typically in weathered zones and drainages.

Mapped unit: Biotite-hornblende granodioritic rocks along the Continental Divide, Anaconda Range, Sapphire Mountains, and Flint Creek Range
Age: 145–66 Ma (Cretaceous)
Rock types: biotite-hornblende granodiorite, biotite-hornblende monzogranite, and tonalite
Elevation: 5,860 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 Butte

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 80°F in midsummer and 31°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 7°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BUTTE BERT MOONEY AP station (4 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.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

BLM Montana — Recreational mineral collecting
Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Butte

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 Butte.

Butte FAQ

Where is Butte?+

Butte is in Silver Bow County, Montana, at 46.02061, -112.54630. Nearest road: Clark Street.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Butte?+

Butte is reported to produce Bornite, Pisanite, Rhodochrosite, Rhodonite.

Is collecting allowed at Butte?+

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 Butte?+

A rock hammer, gloves, and safety glasses are enough for oxidized copper ground. Look for green and blue staining on weathered rock and in old dump piles.

When is the best time to visit Butte?+

The most comfortable months at Butte are April to October.

How do I get to Butte?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 46.02061, -112.54630 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Clark Street.

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