Tonopah: Gold Prospecting in Nye County, Nevada
- Minerals reported
- 7
- Elevation
- 6,530 ft
- Best months
- March to November
Tonopah is a mapped rockhounding spot in Nye County, Nevada. Reported finds include copper, gold, lead, silver, platinum, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Nye County
- State
- Nevada
- Nearest road
- Silver Circle
- Postcode
- 89949
- Coordinates
- 38.07231, -117.22254
Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.
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.
Best time to visit Tonopah
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 86°F in midsummer and 40°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, TONOPAH station (1 mi away), adjusted for elevation.
Geology at Tonopah
This spot sits on Rhyolitic intrusive rocks with aphanitic groundmass, mapped as hypabyssal rhyolite, granite, and plutonic that formed roughly 48 to 5 million years ago. Gold in volcanic terrain like this is usually tied to old vein systems and the gravels that drain them, so nearby washes tend to carry the color.
- Mapped unit
- Rhyolitic intrusive rocks with aphanitic groundmass
- Age
- 48–5 Ma (Middle Eocene to Miocene)
- Rock types
- hypabyssal rhyolite, granite, and plutonic
- Elevation
- 6,530 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.
Today's weather
Is today a good day to go?
The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Tonopah.
Get the appSources & 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:
- 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 Tonopah
Each name 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 Tonopah.
- Royal Blue MineNye County, Nevada · 1 mi awayTurquoise
- Tonopah (petrified algae area)Nye County, Nevada · 11 mi awayPetrified Algae, Jade
- San Antonio MountainsNye County, Nevada · 12 mi awayJade, Petrified Wood, Wonderstone
- Lone MountainEsmeralda County, Nevada · 14 mi awayCopper, Gold, Lead
- Alkali Flat Hot SpringEsmeralda County, Nevada · 18 mi awayCalcium, Magnesium Carbonate, Halite
- Esmerelda CountyEsmeralda County, Nevada · 21 mi awayGold, Lead, Platinum
- Monte Cristo RangeEsmeralda County, Nevada · 23 mi awayVariscite
- GemfieldEsmeralda County, Nevada · 23 mi awayChalcedony
Tonopah FAQ
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More rockhounding in Nevada
See all 123 Nevada spots →
Open Tonopah on the map
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