Where to Find Calcite in Idaho: 28 Mapped Sites

Idaho has 28 mapped sites where calcite have been reported. The best-known are Rinebold Prospect, Buckhorn Mine, and Cumo Prospect. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.

We have 28 documented calcite sites in Idaho, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.

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.

Calcite is the fizz test mineral: a drop of vinegar bubbles on it. Hardness 3 — a knife or even a copper coin scratches it — and it cleaves into perfect rhombohedra, so broken pieces are little slanted boxes. Crystals range from dogtooth points to flat plates in nearly any color, and many localities fluoresce red or orange under UV light.

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.