Where to Find Copper in Montana: 294 Mapped Sites
Montana has 294 documented sites where copper have been reported, and the best-known are Basin (Cataract, Comet) District, Grigg Group, and Hilltop Prospect. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there. 1 of the 294 sites is on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Copper Map: Montana
All 294 copper sites in Montana. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Copper Are Found in Montana
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 Montana: Basin (Cataract, Comet) District, Grigg Group, Hilltop Prospect, Overlook, Rockefeller.
Of the 294 sites, 1 is public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Copper Sites in Montana
- Basin (Cataract, Comet) District — Forest Service
- Grigg Group — Forest Service
- Hilltop Prospect — Forest Service
- Overlook — Forest Service
- Rockefeller — Forest Service
- Unidentified Occurrence — Forest Service
- Unidentified Occurrence — Forest Service
- Arrowhead and South America Prospect — Forest Service
- Barbara Anne Prospect — Forest Service
- Bismark-Nugget Group — Forest Service
- Bluebird Ni-Cu — Forest Service
- Boulder District-Montana — BLM/Public Lands
- Bresnahan and Fenner — Forest Service
- Broken Bottle — Forest Service
- Chrome Mountain Ni-Cu — Forest Service
- Crescent Creek Ni-Cu — Forest Service
- Fishtail Creek Ni-Cu — Forest Service
- Forge Ni-Cu — Forest Service
- Frances Copper Prospect — Forest Service
- Goat Creek — Forest Service
- Granite Creek Prospect — Forest Service
- Helena District — Forest Service
- Iron Mountain Ni-Cu Camp — Forest Service
- Jacobson Meadows — Forest Service
- Janet 50 — Forest Service
- Kirkendal Mine — Forest Service
- Leonard Ii — Forest Service
- Logger Claims Group — Forest Service
- Montreal Star — Forest Service
- Nye Basin Ni-Cu East — Forest Service
- Picket Pin — Forest Service
- Russell Group Prospect — Forest Service
- Arcturus Claim — Forest Service
- Basic Metals Mine — Forest Service
- Bear Gulch Adit — BLM/Public Lands
- Bismuth Prospect — Forest Service
- Bismuth Prospect — Forest Service
- Bluebell Group — BLM/Public Lands
- Blue Stone — Forest Service
- Bonanza Group Mine — Forest Service
- Boulder River Nickel Prospect — Forest Service
- Boulder River Ni-Cu East — Forest Service
- Boulder River Ni-Cu Riverside — Forest Service
- Bullidick Prospect — Forest Service
- Buster Mine — Forest Service
- Camp Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Chrome Lake Ni-Cu — Forest Service
- Cincinnatti Quartz Lode Claim — Forest Service
- Copper Queen — Forest Service
- Craig Property — Forest Service
Showing 50 of 294 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 Montana?
Montana has 294 mapped sites where copper have been reported. The best-known are Basin (Cataract, Comet) District, Grigg Group, and Hilltop 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 Montana?
We have 294 documented copper sites in Montana, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect copper in Montana?
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.