Orofino Mine area: Gold Prospecting in Grant County, Oregon

Updated June 2026

Orofino Mine area is a mapped rockhounding spot in Grant County, Oregon. Reported finds include agate, jasper, gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Grant County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Forest Road 100
Coordinates: 44.74789, -118.47679

Geology at Orofino Mine area

This spot sits on John Day/Clarno Group, mapped as clay, mineralization: placer gold, gravel, and sand that formed roughly 56 to 23 million years ago. Stream-worked gravels like these are where placer gold tends to concentrate, settling toward bedrock, inside gravel bars, and behind boulders.

Mapped unit: John Day/Clarno Group
Age: 56–23 Ma (Eocene to Oligocene)
Rock types: clay, mineralization: placer gold, gravel, and sand
Elevation: 5,180 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 Orofino Mine area

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 80°F in midsummer and 31°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 12°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, AUSTIN 3 S station (12 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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 Oregon/Washington — Rockhounding & mineral material
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department — beach collecting rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Orofino Mine area

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 Orofino Mine area.

Across the state line from Orofino Mine area

Orofino Mine area is close enough to the Oregon border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Orofino Mine area FAQ

Where is Orofino Mine area?+

Orofino Mine area is in Grant County, Oregon, at 44.74789, -118.47679. Nearest road: Forest Road 100.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Orofino Mine area?+

Orofino Mine area is reported to produce Agate, Jasper, Gold.

Is collecting allowed at Orofino Mine area?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Orofino Mine area?+

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 Orofino Mine area?+

The most comfortable months at Orofino Mine area are April to October.

How do I get to Orofino Mine area?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.74789, -118.47679 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Forest Road 100.

More rockhounding in Oregon

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Open Orofino Mine area on the map

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