Mount Hope: Apatite & Pyrite Rockhounding in Morris County, New Jersey

Updated June 2026

Mount Hope is a mapped rockhounding spot in Morris County, New Jersey. Reported finds include apatite, pyrite, pyrrhotite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Morris County
State: New Jersey
Nearest road: Lake Denmark Road
Postcode: 07866
Coordinates: 40.93716, -74.54005

Geology at Mount Hope

This spot sits on Pyroxene Granite, mapped as granite that formed roughly 1600 to 1000 million years ago. Plutonic rock like this weathers slowly into grus and boulders, and the most productive collecting is typically in weathered zones and drainages.

Mapped unit: Pyroxene Granite
Age: 1600–1000 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)
Rock types: granite
Elevation: 890 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.

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.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Mount Hope

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 Mount Hope.

Across the state line from Mount Hope

Mount Hope is close enough to the New Jersey border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Mount Hope FAQ

Where is Mount Hope?+

Mount Hope is in Morris County, New Jersey, at 40.93716, -74.54005. Nearest road: Lake Denmark Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Mount Hope?+

Mount Hope is reported to produce Apatite, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite.

Is collecting allowed at Mount Hope?+

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 Mount Hope?+

A rock hammer, gloves, and safety glasses cover old mining-district ground. Stay out of shafts and adits; the best specimens typically come from dump piles.

How do I get to Mount Hope?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 40.93716, -74.54005 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Lake Denmark Road.

More rockhounding in New Jersey

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Open Mount Hope on the map

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