Where to Find Copper in Idaho: 245 Mapped Sites
Idaho has 245 documented sites where copper have been reported, and the best-known are Johnson Creek Prospects, Bear Creek Prospect No. 2, and Lucky Tuesday Prospect. 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 245 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Copper Map: Idaho
All 245 copper sites in Idaho. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Copper Are Found in Idaho
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 Idaho: Johnson Creek Prospects, Bear Creek Prospect No. 2, Lucky Tuesday Prospect, Tango Prospect, Carbonate Mine.
Of the 245 sites, 2 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Copper Sites in Idaho
- Johnson Creek Prospects — Forest Service
- Bear Creek Prospect No. 2 — Forest Service
- Lucky Tuesday Prospect — Forest Service
- Tango Prospect — Forest Service
- Carbonate Mine — Forest Service
- Copper Group Prospect — Forest Service
- Cumo Prospect — Forest Service
- Decker-Hortenstine Prospect — Forest Service
- Disgust Group — Forest Service
- Flintstone Group — Forest Service
- Hide Out Prospect — Forest Service
- Iope Group — Forest Service
- Iron Creek Deposit — Forest Service
- Mountain View Group — Forest Service
- Papoose — Forest Service
- Rinebold Prospect — Forest Service
- Tilley Mine — Forest Service
- Valley Chief Nos. 1-11 Claims — Forest Service
- American Eagle Prospect — Forest Service
- Anderson Prospect — Forest Service
- Aspen Prospect — Forest Service
- B and B No. 4 Claim — Forest Service
- Better Times Prospect — Forest Service
- Blue Bird Prospect — Forest Service
- Blue Rock Deposit — BLM/Public Lands
- Bonita Group — Forest Service
- Buckskin Group Prospect — Forest Service
- Bulldog Prospect — Forest Service
- Burnt Cabin Prospect — Forest Service
- Colleen Group — Forest Service
- Coxcomb Peak Occurrence — BLM/Public Lands
- Divide Creek Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Duerden Prospect — Forest Service
- Elk Mountain Group — Forest Service
- Fraction Claim Prospect — Forest Service
- Frenchman Prospect — Forest Service
- Gold Back Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Gold Crown Deposit — Forest Service
- Gold Pine — Forest Service
- Granite Peak Prospects — Forest Service
- Hercules Group Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Hercules Prospect — Forest Service
- Hi Bobby Prospect — Forest Service
- Homestake Group — Forest Service
- Hoodoo Pass Area — Forest Service
- Hope No. 1-3 Prospect — Forest Service
- Iron Dike Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Jenkins Prospect — Forest Service
- Jenkins Prospect — Forest Service
- Little Gilmore Claim — BLM/Public Lands
Showing 50 of 245 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 Idaho?
Idaho has 245 mapped sites where copper have been reported. The best-known are Johnson Creek Prospects, Bear Creek Prospect No. 2, and Lucky Tuesday Prospect. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many copper sites are mapped in Idaho?
We have 245 documented copper sites in Idaho, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect copper in Idaho?
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.
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.