White Lake: Chrysocolla & Malachite Rockhounding in Washoe County, Nevada

Updated June 2026

White Lake is a mapped rockhounding spot in Washoe County, Nevada. Reported finds include chrysocolla, malachite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Washoe County
State: Nevada
Nearest road: White Lake Parkway
Postcode: 89508
Coordinates: 39.64797, -119.95693

Geology at White Lake

This spot sits on Playa, lake bed, and flood plain deposits, 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: Playa, lake bed, and flood plain deposits
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: coarse alluvium and fine alluvium
Elevation: 5,130 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 White Lake

Best months: February to November. Typical highs run 89°F in midsummer and 43°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 24°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, STEAD station (4 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 White Lake

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 White Lake.

Across the state line from White Lake

White Lake 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.

White Lake FAQ

Where is White Lake?+

White Lake is in Washoe County, Nevada, at 39.64797, -119.95693. Nearest road: White Lake Parkway.

What rocks and minerals can you find at White Lake?+

White Lake is reported to produce Chrysocolla, Malachite.

Is collecting allowed at White Lake?+

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 White Lake?+

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 White Lake?+

The most comfortable months at White Lake are February to November.

How do I get to White Lake?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.64797, -119.95693 in Google Maps. The nearest road is White Lake Parkway.

More rockhounding in Nevada

See all 119 Nevada spots →

Open White Lake on the map

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