Wadesboro: Gold Prospecting in Anson County, North Carolina

Updated June 2026

Wadesboro is a mapped rockhounding spot in Anson County, North Carolina. Reported finds include gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Anson County
State: North Carolina
Nearest road: Moore's Lake Road
Postcode: 28170
Coordinates: 34.93558, -80.05939

Geology at Wadesboro

This spot sits on Granitic Rock, mapped as granite that formed roughly 330 to 260 million years ago. Gold in granitic terrain like this is typically tied to quartz veins along contacts and shear zones, with placer color in the streams that drain them.

Mapped unit: Granitic Rock
Age: 330–260 Ma (Mississippian to Guadalupian)
Rock types: granite
Elevation: 360 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 Wadesboro

Best months: August to June. Typical highs run 91°F in midsummer and 53°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 32°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WADESBORO station (2 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

North Carolina Geological Survey
Nantahala/Pisgah National Forests
Emerald Hollow Mine (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Wadesboro

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

Gold Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Wadesboro.

Across the state line from Wadesboro

Wadesboro is close enough to the North Carolina border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Wadesboro FAQ

Where is Wadesboro?+

Wadesboro is in Anson County, North Carolina, at 34.93558, -80.05939. Nearest road: Moore's Lake Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Wadesboro?+

Wadesboro is reported to produce Gold.

Is collecting allowed at Wadesboro?+

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 Wadesboro?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Wadesboro?+

The most comfortable months at Wadesboro are August to June.

How do I get to Wadesboro?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 34.93558, -80.05939 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Moore's Lake Road.

More rockhounding in North Carolina

See all 198 North Carolina spots →

Open Wadesboro on the map

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