Where to Find Copper in Wyoming: 85 Mapped Sites
Wyoming has 85 documented sites where copper have been reported, and the best-known are Spanish Mines, Creede Prospect, and Ferney Gulch Mine. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there. 5 of the 85 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Copper Map: Wyoming
All 85 copper sites in Wyoming. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Copper Are Found in Wyoming
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 Wyoming: Spanish Mines, Creede Prospect, Ferney Gulch Mine, Hoodoo Claim, Island City Group Prospect.
Of the 85 sites, 5 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Copper Sites in Wyoming
- Spanish Mines — BLM/Public Lands
- Creede Prospect — Forest Service
- Ferney Gulch Mine — Forest Service
- Hoodoo Claim — Forest Service
- Island City Group Prospect — Forest Service
- Tenderfoot Prospect — Forest Service
- Bear Lodge Mountains area — Forest Service
- Butte Claim — Forest Service
- Coantag Prospect — Forest Service
- Duchess Mine — Forest Service
- Gold Coin Prospect — Forest Service
- Jelm Mountain District — BLM/Public Lands
- Landslide Dam Prospect — Forest Service
- Lone Fisherman No. 1 Lode — Forest Service
- May and Jump Claims — Forest Service
- Medicine Bow Mines Company Prospect — Forest Service
- Morning Star Claim — Forest Service
- Rambler — State Park
- Riverton Mining Company Prospect — BLM/Public Lands
- Spring Lake Creek Prospect — Forest Service
- Taylor Claim — Forest Service
- Broadway Mine — Forest Service
- Colorado Mine — BLM/Public Lands
- Copper King Mine — Forest Service
- Cuprite Mine — Forest Service
- Dreamland King Group — Forest Service
- Encampment District — Forest Service
- Independence Mine — Forest Service
- Lenox Mine — State Park
- Mcgee Claim — Forest Service
- Mechanic &Emerald Lode — BLM/Public Lands
- Octavia Prospect — Forest Service
- Raven Group — Forest Service
- Silver Queen Mine — Forest Service
- Walkers Mine — Forest Service
- Waterloo Prospect 1 — Forest Service
- Batchelder Mine — Forest Service
- Bellamy Lake copper prospect — Forest Service
- Beulah Prospect — Forest Service
- Big Chief Group — Forest Service
- Big Park Prospect — Forest Service
- Buffalo Fork Prospect — Forest Service
- Century Group — Forest Service
- Cliff Mine — Forest Service
- Cockscomb — BLM/Public Lands
- Columbine Mine — Forest Service
- Copper Bottom — BLM/Public Lands
- Copper Prospect — State Park
- Empire Mine — Forest Service
- Free Gold Claim — Forest Service
Showing 50 of 85 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 Wyoming?
Wyoming has 85 mapped sites where copper have been reported. The best-known are Spanish Mines, Creede Prospect, and Ferney Gulch Mine. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many copper sites are mapped in Wyoming?
We have 85 documented copper sites in Wyoming, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect copper in Wyoming?
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.