Ely Mine: Chalcopyrite & Pyrrhotite Rockhounding in Orange County, Vermont

Updated June 2026

Ely Mine is a mapped rockhounding spot in Orange County, Vermont. Reported finds include chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, sphalerite, tourmaline, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Orange County
State: Vermont
Nearest road: South Vershire Road
Postcode: 05079
Coordinates: 43.92724, -72.28479

Geology at Ely Mine

This spot sits on Gile Mountain Formation - thick-bedded micaceous feldspathic quartzite member, mapped as mica schist and quartzite that formed roughly 420 to 395 million years ago. Metamorphic belts like this often host pegmatite dikes, the coarse-crystal bodies that typically carry beryl, tourmaline, and sheet mica.

Mapped unit: Gile Mountain Formation - thick-bedded micaceous feldspathic quartzite member
Age: 420–395 Ma (Early Devonian)
Rock types: mica schist and quartzite
Elevation: 1,210 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 Ely Mine

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 77°F in midsummer and 25°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 4°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CORINTH station (6 mi away).

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.

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

Found at Ely Mine

Each chip 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 Ely Mine.

Across the state line from Ely Mine

Ely Mine is close enough to the Vermont border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Ely Mine FAQ

Where is Ely Mine?+

Ely Mine is in Orange County, Vermont, at 43.92724, -72.28479. Nearest road: South Vershire Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Ely Mine?+

Ely Mine is reported to produce Chalcopyrite, Pyrrhotite, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Tourmaline, Actinolite, Calcite, Garnet, Hornblende, Malachite.

Is collecting allowed at Ely Mine?+

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. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Ely Mine?+

A rock hammer, a pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses suit pegmatite ground. Work weathered zones and check dump piles; coarse crystals often sit in decomposed rock.

When is the best time to visit Ely Mine?+

The most comfortable months at Ely Mine are April to October.

How do I get to Ely Mine?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.92724, -72.28479 in Google Maps. The nearest road is South Vershire Road.

More rockhounding in Vermont

See all 29 Vermont spots →

Open Ely Mine on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.