Haile Gold Mine: Gold Prospecting in Lancaster County, South Carolina

Updated June 2026

Haile Gold Mine is a mapped rockhounding spot in Lancaster County, South Carolina. Reported finds include gold, pyrite, quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Lancaster County
State: South Carolina
Nearest road: Haile Gold Mine Road
Postcode: 29067
Coordinates: 34.58042, -80.53198

Geology at Haile Gold Mine

This spot sits on Peedee Formation - Black Creek Group, undivided, mapped as clay and sand that formed roughly 72 to 66 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: Peedee Formation - Black Creek Group, undivided
Age: 72–66 Ma (Late Cretaceous)
Rock types: clay and sand
Elevation: 490 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 Haile Gold Mine

Best months: August to June. Typical highs run 91°F in midsummer and 55°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 33°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, PAGELAND station (15 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.

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

Found at Haile Gold Mine

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 Haile Gold Mine.

Across the state line from Haile Gold Mine

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

Haile Gold Mine FAQ

Where is Haile Gold Mine?+

Haile Gold Mine is in Lancaster County, South Carolina, at 34.58042, -80.53198. Nearest road: Haile Gold Mine Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Haile Gold Mine?+

Haile Gold Mine is reported to produce Gold, Pyrite, Quartz.

Is collecting allowed at Haile Gold Mine?+

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 Haile Gold Mine?+

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 Haile Gold Mine?+

The most comfortable months at Haile Gold Mine are August to June.

How do I get to Haile Gold Mine?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 34.58042, -80.53198 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Haile Gold Mine Road.

More rockhounding in South Carolina

See all 49 South Carolina spots →

Open Haile Gold Mine on the map

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