Gold Butte: Gold Prospecting in Clark County, Nevada

Updated June 2026

Gold Butte is a mapped rockhounding spot in Clark County, Nevada. Reported finds include copper, gold, silver, zinc. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Clark County
State: Nevada
Nearest road: Radio Crystal Mine Trail
Coordinates: 36.27571, -114.18687

Geology at Gold Butte

This spot sits on ground mapped as Gold Butte Granite that formed roughly 1600 to 1000 million years ago. Gold in granitic terrain like this is typically tied to quartz veins along contacts and shear zones, with placer color in the streams that drain them.

Mapped unit: Gold Butte Granite
Age: 1600–1000 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)
Elevation: 4,450 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 Gold Butte

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 96°F in midsummer and 47°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 27°F. Summer heat here is intense, so carry more water than you think you need and work the early morning.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ECHO BAY station (13 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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 Nevada — Recreation
Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Royal Peacock Opal Mine (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Gold 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 Gold Butte.

Across the state line from Gold Butte

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

Gold Butte FAQ

Where is Gold Butte?+

Gold Butte is in Clark County, Nevada, at 36.27571, -114.18687. Nearest road: Radio Crystal Mine Trail.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Gold Butte?+

Gold Butte is reported to produce Copper, Gold, Silver, Zinc.

Is collecting allowed at Gold Butte?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Gold Butte?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Gold Butte?+

The most comfortable months at Gold Butte are September to June. Summer heat here is intense, so carry more water than you think you need and work the early morning.

How do I get to Gold Butte?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 36.27571, -114.18687 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Radio Crystal Mine Trail.

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