Where to Find Copper in Utah: 165 Mapped Sites
Utah has 165 documented sites where copper have been reported, and the best-known are San Francisco Mountains, Vipont Mine, and Pilot Range. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there. 6 of the 165 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Copper Map: Utah
All 165 copper sites in Utah. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Copper Are Found in Utah
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 Utah: San Francisco Mountains, Vipont Mine, Pilot Range, East Tintic Mountains, Little Cottonwood-Big Cottonwood.
Of the 165 sites, 6 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Copper Sites in Utah
- San Francisco Mountains — Public Access
- Vipont Mine — Public Access
- Pilot Range — Public Access
- East Tintic Mountains — Public Access
- Little Cottonwood-Big Cottonwood — Forest Service
- Tunnel Extension No. 2 Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- American Fork — Forest Service
- Bueno Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Gad Valley Lower Prospects — Forest Service
- Gold Hill (Clifton) District — BLM/Public Lands
- Relief Shaft — Forest Service
- Silverado Canyon Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- South Fork Ophir Canyon Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Yellow Hammer — BLM/Public Lands
- Big Pass Blue Star, Strategic Metals Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Calumet District — BLM/Public Lands
- Christmas Mining Co — BLM/Public Lands
- Copper Bloom Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Crypto Mineral Deposit — BLM/Public Lands
- Cyclone Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Dome Hill Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Monte Del Rey Mine — Forest Service
- Overland Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Plata Azul — Forest Service
- Silver King Prospect — Forest Service
- Silver Lake Ne Adits No.2 — Forest Service
- Singleton Canyon Area — BLM/Public Lands
- St. Patrick Prospect — Forest Service
- Tate Prospect — Forest Service
- Tom Moore Tunnel — Forest Service
- White Pine Moly Claims — Forest Service
- Annie Laurie Mine Sevier Mine — Forest Service
- Black Bart Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Bullion Monarch — BLM/Public Lands
- Cave Mine Group — BLM/Public Lands
- Copper Mtn.Group — BLM/Public Lands
- Evelyn Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Fairday Shaft — BLM/Public Lands
- Francis 1 & 2 — BLM/Public Lands
- George Creek Tungsten — Forest Service
- Gold Bond Property — BLM/Public Lands
- Gold Star Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Harrington-Hickory — BLM/Public Lands
- Horseshoe Hill Prospects — BLM/Public Lands
- Julie Claim Prospects — BLM/Public Lands
- Lucky Boy — Forest Service
- Lucky Boy Prospect — Forest Service
- Michigan Claims — BLM/Public Lands
- Proberts — BLM/Public Lands
- Rea Claim Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
Showing 50 of 165 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 Utah?
Utah has 165 mapped sites where copper have been reported. The best-known are San Francisco Mountains, Vipont Mine, and Pilot Range. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many copper sites are mapped in Utah?
We have 165 documented copper sites in Utah, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect copper in Utah?
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.