Rock Hill: Variscite Rockhounding in Esmeralda County, Nevada

Updated June 2026

Rock Hill is a mapped rockhounding spot in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Reported finds include variscite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Esmeralda County
State: Nevada
Nearest road: 3
Coordinates: 38.14997, -117.94952

Geology at Rock Hill

This spot sits on Alluvium, undifferentiated, mapped as coarse alluvium and fine alluvium that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Alluvium, undifferentiated
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: coarse alluvium and fine alluvium
Elevation: 4,590 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 Rock Hill

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 97°F in midsummer and 49°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, MINA station (19 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

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 Rock Hill

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

Variscite

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Rock Hill.

Rock Hill FAQ

Where is Rock Hill?+

Rock Hill is in Esmeralda County, Nevada, at 38.14997, -117.94952. Nearest road: 3.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Rock Hill?+

Rock Hill is reported to produce Variscite.

Is collecting allowed at Rock Hill?+

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 Rock Hill?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.

When is the best time to visit Rock Hill?+

The most comfortable months at Rock Hill 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 Rock Hill?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 38.14997, -117.94952 in Google Maps. The nearest road is 3.

More rockhounding in Nevada

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Open Rock Hill on the map

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