Where to Find Malachite in California: 564 Mapped Sites
California has 564 documented sites where malachite have been reported, and the best-known are Gasquet Laterite, St. Christopher, and Martha Prospect. 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
Malachite Map: California
All 564 malachite sites in California. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Malachite Are Found in California
Malachite forms wherever copper ore oxidizes near the surface, so old copper-mine dumps and green-stained outcrops are the reliable places. It often coats fracture faces in the host rock.
The richest reported sites in California: Gasquet Laterite, St. Christopher, Martha Prospect, Rush Creek Mines, France Claim.
All Malachite Sites in California
- Gasquet Laterite — Forest Service
- St. Christopher — BLM/Public Lands
- Martha Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Rush Creek Mines — Forest Service
- France Claim — BLM/Public Lands
- Lake View Copper — BLM/Public Lands
- Lucky Slim — BLM/Public Lands
- Mohawk Mine Annex — BLM/Public Lands
- Northwest Area of Veins — BLM/Public Lands
- Webber — Forest Service
- Yaeger — Forest Service
- Yeager Mines — Forest Service
- Advance — Forest Service
- Aga Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Aga Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Augustine Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Beebe Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Belden Mine — Forest Service
- Bluff Creek Lode — Forest Service
- Cent — Forest Service
- College Girl Group — BLM/Public Lands
- Colorado Camp Group — BLM/Public Lands
- Eva Bell — Forest Service
- Friday Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Galena Mine — Forest Service
- Gold Rose Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Howard — BLM/Public Lands
- King of Lead — Forest Service
- La Guria — BLM/Public Lands
- Mcconkey Claim — BLM/Public Lands
- Mohawk Hill West — BLM/Public Lands
- Monongahela — Forest Service
- Mountain View and Proctor Mine — Forest Service
- Neptune #140, Phenix #141, and Creek Side#142 — BLM/Public Lands
- New Deal — BLM/Public Lands
- Old Gold Mines — BLM/Public Lands
- Pay-Day — Forest Service
- Quartz Point Prospect — Forest Service
- Randolph and Hamilton — BLM/Public Lands
- Rattle Snake Group — State Park
- Rattle Snake Group — State Park
- Red Jacket — Forest Service
- Ridge — Forest Service
- Ridge Claim — Forest Service
- Robinson — Forest Service
- Silver Princess Nos. 1-4 — Forest Service
- Southwest Condor Extension — BLM/Public Lands
- Tao Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Washington — Forest Service
- Williams — Forest Service
Showing 50 of 564 sites — every site appears on the map above.
How to Identify Malachite
Malachite is unmistakably green — from bright emerald crusts to dark banded masses — with a silky-to-dull luster and a pale green streak. It is soft (3.5–4, scratches with a knife easily) and fizzes gently in vinegar. Banded, rounded (botryoidal) surfaces are classic. Blue azurite alongside it is a bonus find from the same chemistry.
Not sure what you found? Try our identification guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find malachite in California?
California has 564 mapped sites where malachite have been reported. The best-known are Gasquet Laterite, St. Christopher, and Martha Prospect. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many malachite sites are mapped in California?
We have 564 documented malachite sites in California, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect malachite in California?
Casual collecting is generally allowed on BLM and National Forest land for personal, non-commercial use — the standard BLM limit is 25 lbs per day plus one specimen. National parks, monuments, and many state parks prohibit collecting, and private land always requires the owner's permission. Check the site report for each location and verify current land status before you dig.
How do I identify malachite?
Malachite is unmistakably green — from bright emerald crusts to dark banded masses — with a silky-to-dull luster and a pale green streak. It is soft (3.5–4, scratches with a knife easily) and fizzes gently in vinegar. Banded, rounded (botryoidal) surfaces are classic. Blue azurite alongside it is a bonus find from the same chemistry.
What should I bring to collect malachite?
The basics: a rock hammer, safety glasses, gloves, a bucket or padded bag for specimens, and a GPS app with the coordinates from this page. Add a spray bottle — wetting a stone makes color and banding far easier to judge in the field.
⚠️ 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.
Data: USGS Mineral Resources Data System — reviewed and approved by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. Always verify current land status, regulations, and access before visiting any site.