McCormick: Gold Prospecting in McCormick County, South Carolina

Updated June 2026

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

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: McCormick County
State: South Carolina
Nearest road: Baker Creek Road
Coordinates: 33.89780, -82.35379

Geology at McCormick

This spot sits on Persimmon Fork Formation, mapped as metavolcanic that formed roughly 1000 to 485 million years ago. Gold in volcanic terrain like this is usually tied to old vein systems and the gravels that drain them, so nearby washes tend to carry the color.

Mapped unit: Persimmon Fork Formation
Age: 1000–485 Ma (Neoproterozoic to Cambrian)
Rock types: metavolcanic
Elevation: 410 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 McCormick

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 93°F in midsummer and 56°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 33°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MCCORMICK station (4 mi away).

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.

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

Found at McCormick

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 McCormick.

Across the state line from McCormick

McCormick 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.

McCormick FAQ

Where is McCormick?+

McCormick is in McCormick County, South Carolina, at 33.89780, -82.35379. Nearest road: Baker Creek Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at McCormick?+

McCormick is reported to produce Gold.

Is collecting allowed at McCormick?+

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 McCormick?+

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 McCormick?+

The most comfortable months at McCormick are September to June.

How do I get to McCormick?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 33.89780, -82.35379 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Baker Creek Road.

More rockhounding in South Carolina

See all 49 South Carolina spots →

Open McCormick on the map

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