Where to Find Malachite in Colorado: 127 Mapped Sites
Colorado has 127 documented sites where malachite 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.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Malachite Map: Colorado
All 127 malachite sites in Colorado. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Malachite Are Found in Colorado
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 Colorado: Blue Jay Mine, Hazel Marie Group, Little John Mine, Minerva J Mine, Allara Tunnel.
All Malachite 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
- 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
- Alum Creek — Forest Service
- Brooklyn Mine — Forest Service
- Caprock deposit — BLM/Public Lands
- Cash Mine — 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
- 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
- Copper Spur — BLM/Public Lands
- Cowboy Johnson Adit — Forest Service
- Cy Claims — Forest Service
- Dee Stock — Forest Service
- Difficult Creek District — Forest Service
- E.C.Y. Claims — Forest Service
- Elizabeth Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Ella, Ella C, Crown, Justice — Forest Service
Showing 50 of 127 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 Colorado?
Colorado has 127 mapped sites where malachite 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 malachite sites are mapped in Colorado?
We have 127 documented malachite sites in Colorado, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect malachite 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 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.
Malachite in Nearby States
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.