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Where to Find Copper in Alberta: 124 Mapped Sites

Alberta has 124 documented sites where copper have been reported, and the best-known are Buckton - Gos 1, Copper Showing 53 (DIG 2009-21), and Pierre River Asphalt Property. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there.

Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology

Copper Map: Alberta

All 124 copper sites in Alberta. Click a pin for the full site report.

Where Copper Are Found in Alberta

Look on old mine dumps in copper districts and, in the Lake Superior country, in basalt flows and glacial float. Oxidized surface zones of copper deposits also carry malachite, azurite, and cuprite.

The richest reported sites in Alberta: Buckton - Gos 1, Copper Showing 53 (DIG 2009-21), Pierre River Asphalt Property, Copper Showing 74L-M-06 (OFR 1994-08), Grande Prairie.

All Copper Sites in Alberta

Showing 50 of 124 sites — every site appears on the map above.

How to Identify Copper

Native copper shows a salmon-red metallic gleam on any fresh or scratched surface, usually hiding under a green or black tarnish crust. It is malleable — a hammer dents it rather than shattering it — and far heavier than the rock around it. Green malachite staining on outcrop is the classic pointer to copper mineralization nearby.

Not sure what you found? Try our identification guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find copper in Alberta?

Alberta has 124 mapped sites where copper have been reported. The best-known are Buckton - Gos 1, Copper Showing 53 (DIG 2009-21), and Pierre River Asphalt Property. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.

How many copper sites are mapped in Alberta?

We have 124 documented copper sites in Alberta, compiled from provincial geological survey records and community submissions, reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.

Is it legal to collect copper in Alberta?

Collecting is generally allowed on Crown land in Alberta. Hand panning is fine, sluicing requires a permit, and fossils are provincial property — surface collecting only, no digging or selling. Always verify land status before you dig.

How do I identify copper?

Native copper shows a salmon-red metallic gleam on any fresh or scratched surface, usually hiding under a green or black tarnish crust. It is malleable — a hammer dents it rather than shattering it — and far heavier than the rock around it. Green malachite staining on outcrop is the classic pointer to copper mineralization nearby.

⚠️ Always verify current regulations, weather conditions, and access requirements before visiting any location. Information provided is based on community submissions and may not be current or accurate.

More to Find in Alberta

Data: Alberta Geological Survey — reviewed and approved by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. Always verify current land status, regulations, and access before visiting any site.