About this location
This entry could not be independently confirmed. The coordinates fall near the Tooele/Utah/Juab county boundary in west-central Utah, in the general vicinity of the Sheeprock and Simpson Mountains — a region with real, documented historic mining districts (Erickson, Columbia-East Erickson, Black Crook among them) producing copper, silver, and lead ore, which is broadly consistent with the azurite and malachite (copper carbonates) in this entry's specimen list. But no source found names "Thorpe Hills" specifically as a mining district, mine, or named collecting site, and the specimen list also includes sylvanite (a gold telluride), an unusual mineral to pair with azurite/malachite that couldn't be tied to any specific local deposit. This is written as an honest, short entry rather than a confident guide — the underlying place name is plausible but unconfirmed.
Always seek permission where required, follow local laws, and practice Leave No Trace. Locations and details are community-submitted and may be inaccurate. Not sure what's legal here? Read our full guide to rockhounding laws by land type.
Found Here
UNVERIFIED. The listed specimens — azurite, malachite, and sylvanite — are not confirmed at this specific location by any source found. Azurite and malachite are documented more broadly in the surrounding Tooele/Juab County mining region (Erickson, Ophir, Gold Hill, Tintic districts), which lends some plausibility, but no source ties them specifically to a "Thorpe Hills" locality.
Difficulty
Getting there
UNVERIFIED. The coordinate sits near the Tooele/Utah/Juab county line, in remote west-central Utah rangeland/mountain terrain. No specific road or trailhead could be confirmed.
Collecting here
UNVERIFIED. No site-specific method, difficulty, or season could be established.
Know before you go
Land status is UNVERIFIED — this part of Utah is a mix of BLM land and private/patented mining claims, and without confirming the exact site, no access recommendation can be made responsibly. Don't treat this listing as a green light to visit; confirm the actual site name and land manager first, ideally by cross-checking against a current Utah Geological Survey mining district map or contacting the BLM Salt Lake Field Office.
Location on Map
Coordinates: 40.20728, -112.15367
Nearby rockhounding locations
- Wells Canyon — Calcite, QuartzUT · 3.4 mi
- Fairfield — Chalcedony, ChertUT · 4.6 mi
- Topliff Hill — Cerussite, MalachiteUT · 5.6 mi
- Mc Fait Canyon Prospect — Calcite, CinnabarUT · 7.1 mi
- Mercur — Cinnabar, GoldUT · 8.5 mi
- Porphyry Hill Prospect #3 — Calcite, ChloriteUT · 10.1 mi
Frequently asked questions
Is Thorpe Hills a real mining district in Utah?
UNVERIFIED — no source found confirms a mining district or named site called "Thorpe Hills" in Utah, though the coordinates sit in a region with genuine historic copper-silver-lead mining districts (Erickson, Simpson Mountains).
What minerals are documented near this location?
Azurite and malachite are documented more broadly across the surrounding Tooele/Juab County mining districts, but not specifically tied to this coordinate by any source found.
Is this a safe location to plan a trip around?
Not without further confirmation — this entry should be treated as unverified until the actual site name, land manager, and access status can be established.
⚠️ 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.
Sources
- https://www.mindat.org/feature-5546881.html — Simpson Mountains, Tooele County, Utah (surfaced via search, regional context only).
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheeprock_Mountains — confirms Sheeprock/Simpson Mountains region spans Tooele/Juab county line.
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