Nightingale Mountain Range: Garnet Rockhounding in Pershing County, Nevada

Updated June 2026

Nightingale Mountain Range is a mapped rockhounding spot in Pershing County, Nevada. Reported finds include garnet. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Pershing County
State: Nevada
Coordinates: 40.08149, -119.23289

Geology at Nightingale Mountain Range

This spot sits on Felsic phaneritic intrusive rocks, mapped as granodiorite and granite that formed roughly 145 to 66 million years ago. Garnet and similar hard minerals typically weather out of rock like this and concentrate as resistant grains in nearby soils and creek gravels.

Mapped unit: Felsic phaneritic intrusive rocks
Age: 145–66 Ma (Cretaceous)
Rock types: granodiorite and granite
Elevation: 6,650 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 Nightingale Mountain Range

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 78°F in midsummer and 33°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 20°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SUTCLIFFE station (21 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 Nightingale Mountain Range

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

Garnet Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Nightingale Mountain Range.

Nightingale Mountain Range FAQ

Where is Nightingale Mountain Range?+

Nightingale Mountain Range is in Pershing County, Nevada, at 40.08149, -119.23289.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Nightingale Mountain Range?+

Nightingale Mountain Range is reported to produce Garnet.

Is collecting allowed at Nightingale Mountain Range?+

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 Nightingale Mountain Range?+

A rock hammer, a sieve, and a small shovel work well for garnet-type minerals, which concentrate as resistant grains in soils and creek gravels.

When is the best time to visit Nightingale Mountain Range?+

The most comfortable months at Nightingale Mountain Range are April to October.

How do I get to Nightingale Mountain Range?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 40.08149, -119.23289 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Nevada

See all 119 Nevada spots →

Open Nightingale Mountain Range on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.