Aurora Ghost Town: Jasper & Quartz Rockhounding in Mineral County, Nevada

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Mineral County

State

Nevada

Nearest road

Aurora Road

Coordinates

38.28833, -118.90171

Geology at Aurora Ghost Town

This spot sits on Younger andesite and intermediate flows and breccias, mapped as andesite and dacite that formed roughly 23 to 5 million years ago. Volcanic ground like this is where agate, jasper, and other chalcedony typically form, filling old gas pockets and fracture seams in the flow rock.

Mapped unit

Younger andesite and intermediate flows and breccias

Age

23–5 Ma (Miocene)

Rock types

andesite and dacite

Elevation

7,460 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 Aurora Ghost Town

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 82°F in midsummer and 44°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 11°F. At about 7,460 ft, snow can block access from late fall well into spring, so check conditions outside of summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BODIE CALIFORNIA ST HISTORIC P station (8 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 Nevada — Recreation
• Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
• Royal Peacock Opal Mine (fee-dig operator)
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Aurora Ghost Town

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

• JasperEncyclopedia →
• QuartzEncyclopedia →