Bumpus Cove mining district: Anglesite & Chalcopyrite Rockhounding in Unicoi County, Tennessee

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Unicoi County

State

Tennessee

Nearest road

Bumpus Cove Road

Coordinates

36.15185, -82.48979

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 Bumpus Cove mining district

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 47°F in winter to 85°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ERWIN 1 W station (4 mi away).

Geology at Bumpus Cove mining district

This spot sits on Shady Dolomite, mapped as dolostone and limestone that formed roughly 540 to 485 million years ago. Carbonate rock like this dissolves and weathers readily, so fresh road cuts, quarries, and creek exposures are typically the most productive ground.

Mapped unit

Shady Dolomite

Age

540–485 Ma (Cambrian)

Rock types

dolostone and limestone

Elevation

1,800 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.

• Tennessee Division of Geology
• Cherokee National Forest
• Tennessee State Parks rules
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules