Where to Find Copper in Oregon: 276 Mapped Sites
Oregon has 276 documented sites where copper have been reported, and the best-known are White Swan, Bi Metallic, and Kelly. 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
Copper Map: Oregon
All 276 copper sites in Oregon. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Copper Are Found in Oregon
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 Oregon: White Swan, Bi Metallic, Kelly, Last Chance Group, Quartz Mountain Gold Deposit.
All Copper Sites in Oregon
- White Swan — BLM/Public Lands
- Bi Metallic — Other
- Kelly — Forest Service
- Last Chance Group — Forest Service
- Quartz Mountain Gold Deposit — Forest Service
- Tall Timber Veins — Forest Service
- Wagonwheel — Forest Service
- Accident — Forest Service
- Boston Tunnel — Forest Service
- Chloride Mine — Forest Service
- Compton Mine — Forest Service
- Copper King — Forest Service
- Cross Vein — Forest Service
- Elkhorn Prospect — Forest Service
- Golden Stairs — Forest Service
- Gold King Prospect — Forest Service
- Hansen Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Henry Clay — Forest Service
- Hilltop Keating Claim — BLM/Public Lands
- Irwin — BLM/Public Lands
- Judson Rock Group — Forest Service
- Mineral Harbor Group — Forest Service
- Mineral King Prospect — Forest Service
- Pony Shoe Mine — Forest Service
- Riverside — Forest Service
- Schnack Bros. 1 & 2 — Forest Service
- Scorpion — Forest Service
- Sulfide Occurrence — Forest Service
- Sunnybrook Mine — Forest Service
- Trixie Mine — Forest Service
- Turner-Albright Deposit — BLM/Public Lands
- Vindicator Vein — Forest Service
- Winchester Group — Forest Service
- Winter Claim — Forest Service
- Almeda — BLM/Public Lands
- Boulder Group — Other
- Bratcher #10 Prospect — Forest Service
- Camp Creek Claims — Forest Service
- Columbine Claim — BLM/Public Lands
- Dixie Queen Property — BLM/Public Lands
- Helena Mine — Forest Service
- Kelly Mine — Forest Service
- Lead Lode — Other
- Lost Buck — Forest Service
- Mayflower Mine — Forest Service
- Millionaire — BLM/Public Lands
- molybdenum prospect — Other
- Moss Rose Mine — Forest Service
- Nellie Wright — BLM/Public Lands
- Ochoco — Forest Service
Showing 50 of 276 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 Oregon?
Oregon has 276 mapped sites where copper have been reported. The best-known are White Swan, Bi Metallic, and Kelly. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many copper sites are mapped in Oregon?
We have 276 documented copper sites in Oregon, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect copper in Oregon?
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: Oregon DOGAMI Mineral Information Layer, 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.