La Sal mining district: Azurite & Malachite Rockhounding in San Juan County, Utah

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

San Juan County

State

Utah

Nearest road

V2 Road

Coordinates

38.34138, -109.06379

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.

Access note: BLM records active mining claims in this area. Collecting from inside an active claim needs the claim holder's permission.

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 La Sal mining district

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 89°F in midsummer and 35°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 8°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, PARADOX 2N station (7 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at La Sal mining district

This spot sits on ground mapped as Brushy Basin Member of Morrison Formation that formed roughly 160 to 145 million years ago. Copper minerals typically show as green and blue staining where mineralized rock has weathered and oxidized.

Mapped unit

Brushy Basin Member of Morrison Formation

Age

160–145 Ma (Late Jurassic)

Elevation

6,840 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.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

• BLM Utah, Rockhounding overview
• Utah Geological Survey, collecting guidelines
• SITLA, surface use rules
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules