Bonanza Mine: Chalcopyrite & Galena Rockhounding in Hudspeth County, Texas

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Hudspeth County

State

Texas

Nearest road

Love Road

Coordinates

31.18733, -105.50052

Geology at Bonanza Mine

This spot sits on intrusive rocks, mapped as basalt, trachyte, and felsic volcanic that formed roughly 34 to 23 million years ago. Copper minerals such as malachite and chrysocolla typically show up where mineralized rock like this has weathered and oxidized near old workings.

Mapped unit

intrusive rocks

Age

34–23 Ma (Oligocene)

Rock types

basalt, trachyte, and felsic volcanic

Elevation

4,910 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 Bonanza Mine

Best months: August to May. Typical highs run 91°F in midsummer and 56°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 22°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, FT HANCOCK 8SSE station (14 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Bureau of Economic Geology — Texas geology
• Big Bend National Park — Rules
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Bonanza Mine

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

• ChalcopyriteEncyclopedia →
• GalenaEncyclopedia →
• SphaleriteEncyclopedia →