Where to Find Copper in Colorado: 189 Mapped Sites
Colorado has 189 documented sites where copper have been reported, and the best-known are Blue Jay Mine, Hazel Marie Group, and Little John Mine. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there. 2 of the 189 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Copper Map: Colorado
All 189 copper sites in Colorado. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Copper Are Found in Colorado
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 Colorado: Blue Jay Mine, Hazel Marie Group, Little John Mine, Minerva J Mine, Allara Tunnel.
Of the 189 sites, 2 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Copper Sites in Colorado
- Blue Jay Mine — Forest Service
- Hazel Marie Group — Forest Service
- Little John Mine — Forest Service
- Minerva J Mine — Forest Service
- Allara Tunnel — Forest Service
- Black King Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Calico Peak Alunite Deposit — Forest Service
- Cascade Mine — Forest Service
- Gold Eagle Mine — Forest Service
- Iron Mountain prospect — Forest Service
- King Solomon Creek — Forest Service
- Zulu Chief — Forest Service
- 7d Tunnel — Forest Service
- A & C Prospect — Forest Service
- Alum Creek — Forest Service
- Black Prince Mine — Forest Service
- Brooklyn Mine — Forest Service
- Caprock deposit — BLM/Public Lands
- Cash Mine — Forest Service
- China Wall Area — Forest Service
- Decatur West District — Forest Service
- Eureka — Forest Service
- Glennbrook Mine — Forest Service
- Gold Basin area — BLM/Public Lands
- Greenville Shaft — Forest Service
- Gunnison District — BLM/Public Lands
- Hand-Out — Forest Service
- Honeydew — Forest Service
- Littlejohn J and S — Forest Service
- Little Silver — Forest Service
- Lower Slavonia — Forest Service
- Mary Lee Mine — Forest Service
- Monte Queen Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Mt. Zion — Forest Service
- O. F. Lode — Forest Service
- Osceola — BLM/Public Lands
- Piedra Peak-Red Mountain Alunite Deposits — Forest Service
- Revenue — Forest Service
- Silver Clad Mine — Forest Service
- Silver Wing Property — BLM/Public Lands
- Sodom Mine — Forest Service
- Synopsis Mine — Forest Service
- Treasure Hill Spar Claim — Forest Service
- Whale-Galena-Independence Claims — BLM/Public Lands
- Yellow Jacket — Forest Service
- Adelaide Claim — Forest Service
- Broadbury Group — Forest Service
- Campbell Tunnel and Shaft — Forest Service
- C & K Drilling — Forest Service
- Comstock Mine — Forest Service
Showing 50 of 189 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 Colorado?
Colorado has 189 mapped sites where copper have been reported. The best-known are Blue Jay Mine, Hazel Marie Group, and Little John Mine. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many copper sites are mapped in Colorado?
We have 189 documented copper sites in Colorado, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect copper in Colorado?
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 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.
What should I bring to collect copper?
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.
Copper in Nearby States
Data: USGS Mineral Resources Data System, community submissions — reviewed and approved by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. Always verify current land status, regulations, and access before visiting any site.