About this location
The Ely Copper Mine in Vershire, Orange County, Vermont is not a rockhounding destination — it's a federal Superfund site. The mine operated from 1821 to 1905, leaving roughly 100,000 tons of tailings and slag across a 1,800-acre property (about 300 acres of which were directly mined). Acid mine drainage from those tailings has been contaminating Ely Brook for over a century, and the EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in 2001. The property is private, and the owner has stated publicly that trespassing has previously resulted in injury and death. Cleanup funding was set aside in 2021, and there has been community interest in eventually reopening the safest parts of the site to hiking and snowmobiling — but as of the sources checked, that has not happened. Do not publish this as a collecting site.
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
Not applicable — this dossier does not recommend collecting here. Historically the mine produced copper ore; our database lists chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, sphalerite, tourmaline, actinolite, calcite, garnet, hornblende, and malachite, consistent with a copper-sulfide skarn/vein deposit, but any specimen collecting here would mean trespassing on an active EPA cleanup site with documented safety hazards.
Difficulty
Getting there
Not applicable. Do not attempt to access this site.
Collecting here
Not recommended. This is a hazardous, private Superfund site, not a legal or safe collecting location.
Know before you go
The Ely Copper Mine is private property and a federal Superfund site (EPA Facility ID VTD988366571, listed on the National Priorities List in 2001). The property owner has publicly stated that past trespassing at the site resulted in injury and death. Acid mine drainage continues to leach toxic metals into Ely Brook from roughly 100,000 tons of exposed tailings and slag. Cleanup funding was allocated in 2021, and Vermont Public has reported community discussion about eventually opening the safest parts of the property for recreation — but that has not happened as of the most recent sourcing available. See the EPA's Ely Copper Mine site profile for current status.
Location on Map
Coordinates: 43.92724, -72.28479
Nearby rockhounding locations
- Elizabeth Mine — Chalcopyrite, PyrrhotiteVT · 7.8 mi
- Orford — StauroliteNH · 9 mi
- Hanover — Jasper, QuartzNH · 15 mi
- Ore Hill — Copper, GalenaNH · 16.8 mi
- Beech Hill — Golden Beryl, QuartzNH · 18.4 mi
- Melvin Hill (Grafton) — Beryl, Spessartine GarnetNH · 27.6 mi
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Ely Mine in Vermont?
No — the Ely Copper Mine in Vershire, Vermont is private property and an active EPA Superfund cleanup site; the owner has stated that past trespassing resulted in injury and death.
Why is the Ely Mine an EPA Superfund site?
Roughly 100,000 tons of mining tailings and slag at the former copper mine have been leaching acid and toxic metals into Ely Brook since the mine closed in 1905; the site was added to the National Priorities List in 2001.
What did the Ely Mine produce?
The Ely Copper Mine in Vershire operated from 1821 to 1905 as a copper mine, in an area also historically documented for chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, and related sulfide and skarn minerals.
Will the Ely Mine ever be open to the public?
Cleanup funding was set aside in 2021 and there has been community interest in opening the safest parts of the property to hiking and snowmobiling after remediation, but as of the sources checked this has not occurred — it remains closed, private, and hazardous.
⚠️ 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.vermontpublic.org/vpr-news/2015-09-24/epa-proposes-superfund-plan-to-clean-up-ely-copper-mine-in-the-upper-valley — Superfund cleanup plan background, trespassing injury/death statement from owner.
- https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0102065 — EPA official Superfund site profile.
- https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2023-03-22/the-last-of-vermonts-abandoned-copper-mines-are-finally-slated-for-clean-up — 2021 cleanup funding, community discussion of eventual limited recreational access.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vershire,_Vermont — historical context (1880 renaming after Ely Mining Company, 1883 labor unrest).
Recommended Gear for Vermont
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Watertight Medical Kit
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