Rockhounding in Chaffee County, Colorado

5 mapped rockhounding spots in Chaffee County. Most commonly produces beryl, actinolite, almandine, amphibole.

Chaffee County rockhounding photos

Representative spot and material photos from this county, shown where verified public image records are available.

1 photo

Aquamarine crystals with black schorl on feldspar, the gem beryl that makes Mount Antero famous — Mount AnteroChaffee County, Colorado

Minerals reported in Chaffee County

Beryl2
Actinolite1
Almandine1
Amphibole1
Apache Tears1
Aquamarine1
Azurite1
Chalcopyrite1

Standout in Chaffee County

Hand-picked spot in Chaffee County, chosen for unusual mineralogy or documented public access. Each card opens the full coordinates and access notes.

Top pick
Mount Antero
Public
Chaffee County
Mount Antero is the highest gem locality in the United States, with aquamarine and beryl occurring in granite cavities above timberline near its 14,269-foot summit. Aquamarine is Colorado's state gemstone, and the peak also yields phenakite, topaz, smoky quartz, and fluorite. The collecting ground lies in San Isabel National Forest, where the Forest Service permits casual hand-tool collecting for personal use on open land.
Aquamarine, Beryl, Phenakite, Smoky Quartz

Spots in Chaffee County

Spot	Minerals	Coordinates	Access
Calumet Iron MineAustin Trail	Amphibole Chalcopyrite Corundum Epidote Pyrite	38.6333, -106.0003	Public
Chalk Creek gravelsChalk Creek Drive	Sapphire	38.7138, -106.2278	Public
Mount AnteroMount Antero Trail	Aquamarine Beryl Phenakite Smoky Quartz Fluorite	38.6738, -106.2467	Public
Sedalia Copper MineHappy Jack Lane	Actinolite Almandine Azurite Beryl Chrysocolla	38.6036, -106.0306	Public
Sugarloaf & Ruby MountainsCR 300	Rhyolite Perlite Apache Tears Spessartine Topaz	38.7602, -106.0722	Public

Neighboring counties in Colorado

Adjacent rockhounding counties, ranked by how close their centroids sit to Chaffee County. A natural extension if Chaffee County is already on your trip plan.

Chaffee County FAQ

Where can I rockhound in Chaffee County, Colorado?+

RockHoundR tracks 5 rockhounding spots in Chaffee County. Each entry below has coordinates, mineral notes, and access type. Always confirm local rules before collecting.

What rocks and minerals are common in Chaffee County?+

Spots in Chaffee County most often produce Beryl, Actinolite, Almandine, Amphibole, Apache Tears. Individual spots can vary widely.

Are these Chaffee County rockhounding spots on public land?+

Most spots in this list are tagged public, but access can change with seasons, claims, and local closures. Always verify before driving out — links in the app open the right BLM, USFS, or county pages.

Plan a Chaffee County rockhounding trip

Open RockHoundR to see these spots on the map alongside land overlays, weather, geology, and your saved finds.