Copper King Mine: Barite & Copper Rockhounding in Laramie County, Wyoming

Quick details

Access

Permission required

County

Laramie County

State

Wyoming

Nearest road

Road 210

Coordinates

41.14494, -105.18600

Geology at Copper King Mine

This spot sits on ground mapped as White River Formation that formed roughly 34 to 23 million years ago. Copper minerals typically show as green and blue staining where mineralized rock has weathered and oxidized.

Mapped unit

White River Formation

Age

34–23 Ma (Oligocene)

Elevation

7,120 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 Copper King Mine

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 80°F in midsummer and 38°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 15°F. At about 7,120 ft, snow can block access from late fall well into spring, so check conditions outside of summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, HECLA 1E station (1 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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

• BLM Wyoming
• Wyoming State Geological Survey
• Fossil Butte National Monument
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Copper King Mine

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

• BariteEncyclopedia →
• CopperEncyclopedia →