Conrad Hill Mine near Lexington: Chalcopyrite & Limonite Rockhounding in Davidson County, North Carolina

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Davidson County

State

North Carolina

Nearest road

Conrad Hill Mine Road

Postcode

27292

Coordinates

35.78481, -80.16534

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 Conrad Hill Mine near Lexington

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 51°F in winter to 89°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, LEXINGTON station (7 mi away).

Geology at Conrad Hill Mine near Lexington

This spot sits on Phyllite and Schist, mapped as phyllite and schist that formed roughly 1000 to 485 million years ago. Metamorphic rock like this weathers into resistant float, and minerals that survive transport typically concentrate in nearby drainages.

Mapped unit

Phyllite and Schist

Age

1000–485 Ma (Neoproterozoic to Cambrian)

Rock types

phyllite and schist

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.

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