McDermitt: Copper & Lead Rockhounding in Humboldt County, Nevada

Updated June 2026

McDermitt is a mapped rockhounding spot in Humboldt County, Nevada. Reported finds include copper, lead, silver, gold, purple agate. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Humboldt County
State: Nevada
Nearest road: Cordero Mine Road
Coordinates: 41.91865, -117.81272

Geology at McDermitt

This spot sits on Older alluvium and alluvial fan deposits, mapped as coarse alluvium and fine alluvium that formed within roughly the last 5 million years. Stream-worked gravels like these are where placer gold tends to concentrate, settling toward bedrock, inside gravel bars, and behind boulders.

Mapped unit: Older alluvium and alluvial fan deposits
Age: 5 Ma to present (Pliocene to Pleistocene)
Rock types: coarse alluvium and fine alluvium
Elevation: 4,630 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 McDermitt

Best months: February to June. Typical highs run 91°F in midsummer and 40°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 17°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MCDERMITT station (7 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 McDermitt

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 McDermitt.

Across the state line from McDermitt

McDermitt 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.

McDermitt FAQ

Where is McDermitt?+

McDermitt is in Humboldt County, Nevada, at 41.91865, -117.81272. Nearest road: Cordero Mine Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at McDermitt?+

McDermitt is reported to produce Copper, Lead, Silver, Gold, Purple Agate.

Is collecting allowed at McDermitt?+

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 McDermitt?+

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 McDermitt?+

The most comfortable months at McDermitt are February to June.

How do I get to McDermitt?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 41.91865, -117.81272 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Cordero Mine Road.

More rockhounding in Nevada

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Open McDermitt on the map

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