Excelsior Mountain: Wonderstone & Turquoise Rockhounding in Mineral County, Nevada

Updated June 2026

Excelsior Mountain is a mapped rockhounding spot in Mineral County, Nevada. Reported finds include wonderstone, turquoise, variscite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Mineral County
State: Nevada
Coordinates: 38.32903, -118.33908

Geology at Excelsior Mountain

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: 6,170 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 Excelsior Mountain

Best months: February to June. Typical highs run 92°F in midsummer and 43°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 22°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MINA station (13 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 Excelsior Mountain

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 Excelsior Mountain.

Excelsior Mountain FAQ

Where is Excelsior Mountain?+

Excelsior Mountain is in Mineral County, Nevada, at 38.32903, -118.33908.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Excelsior Mountain?+

Excelsior Mountain is reported to produce Wonderstone, Turquoise, Variscite.

Is collecting allowed at Excelsior Mountain?+

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 Excelsior Mountain?+

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 Excelsior Mountain?+

The most comfortable months at Excelsior Mountain are February to June.

How do I get to Excelsior Mountain?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 38.32903, -118.33908 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Nevada

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Open Excelsior Mountain on the map

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