Copperhill: Azurite & Chalcopyrite Rockhounding in Polk County, Tennessee
- Minerals reported
- 12
- Elevation
- 1,460 ft
Copperhill is a mapped rockhounding spot in Polk County, Tennessee. Reported finds include azurite, chalcopyrite, garnet, gold, pyrite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Polk County
- State
- Tennessee
- Nearest road
- Grassy Creek Road
- Postcode
- 37317
- Coordinates
- 35.00459, -84.39926
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.
Geology at Copperhill
This spot sits on Great Smoky Group, including Anakeesta Formation, Thunderhead Sandstone, and Elkmont Sandstone, mapped as graywacke that formed roughly 4600 to 540 million years ago. In sedimentary country like this, any placer gold is typically recycled from older gravels, concentrating again in modern stream beds.
- Mapped unit
- Great Smoky Group, including Anakeesta Formation, Thunderhead Sandstone, and Elkmont Sandstone
- Age
- 4600–540 Ma (Precambrian)
- Rock types
- graywacke
- Elevation
- 1,460 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.
Today's weather
Is today a good day to go?
The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Copperhill.
Get the appSources & 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.
- Tennessee Division of Geology
- Cherokee National Forest
- Tennessee State Parks rules
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Copperhill
Each name 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 Copperhill.
- DucktownPolk County, Tennessee · 3 mi awayAzurite, Chalcopyrite, Garnet
- Blue SpringsBradley County, Tennessee · 30 mi awayGalena
- ClevelandBradley County, Tennessee · 30 mi awaySphalerite
- Little Tennessee RiverMonroe County, Tennessee · 41 mi awayQuartz
- SweetwaterMonroe County, Tennessee · 42 mi awayBarite, Fluorite, Sphalerite
- Missionary RidgeHamilton County, Tennessee · 48 mi awayBauxite
- Montvale SpringsBlount County, Tennessee · 50 mi awayGold
- FriendsvilleBlount County, Tennessee · 56 mi awayMarble
Across the state line from Copperhill
Copperhill is close enough to the Tennessee border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- Windy Ridge and Mineral BluffFannin County, Georgia · 8 mi awayStaurolite
- Cole’s CrossingFannin County, Georgia · 9 mi awayStaurolite
- Fannin CountyFannin County, Georgia · 9 mi awayStaurolite
- UnakaCherokee County, North Carolina · 19 mi awayStaurolite, Agate, Epidote
- BrasstownCherokee County, North Carolina · 23 mi awayGarnet
- Fort Mountain and Cahutta MountainMurray County, Georgia · 24 mi awayTalc
Copperhill FAQ
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More rockhounding in Tennessee
See all 60 Tennessee spots →
Open Copperhill on the map
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