Georgetown: Gold Prospecting in Deer Lodge County, Montana

Updated June 2026

Georgetown is a mapped rockhounding spot in Deer Lodge County, Montana. Reported finds include gold, chrysocolla. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Deer Lodge County
State: Montana
Nearest road: Cable Mountain Road
Coordinates: 46.19991, -113.21759

Geology at Georgetown

This spot sits on Biotite-hornblende granodioritic rocks along the Continental Divide, Anaconda Range, Sapphire Mountains, and Flint Creek Range, mapped as biotite-hornblende granodiorite, biotite-hornblende monzogranite, and tonalite that formed roughly 145 to 66 million years ago. Gold in granitic terrain like this is typically tied to quartz veins along contacts and shear zones, with placer color in the streams that drain them.

Mapped unit: Biotite-hornblende granodioritic rocks along the Continental Divide, Anaconda Range, Sapphire Mountains, and Flint Creek Range
Age: 145–66 Ma (Cretaceous)
Rock types: biotite-hornblende granodiorite, biotite-hornblende monzogranite, and tonalite
Elevation: 6,850 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Georgetown

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 75°F in midsummer and 30°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 10°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, PHILIPSBURG RS station (9 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

BLM Montana, Recreational mineral collecting
Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Georgetown

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Georgetown.

Across the state line from Georgetown

Georgetown is close enough to the Montana border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Salmon River (near Leesburg)Lemhi County, Idaho · 76 mi awayGold

Georgetown FAQ

Where is Georgetown?+

Georgetown is in Deer Lodge County, Montana, at 46.19991, -113.21759. Nearest road: Cable Mountain Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Georgetown?+

Georgetown is reported to produce Gold, Chrysocolla.

Is collecting allowed at Georgetown?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Georgetown?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Georgetown?+

The most comfortable months at Georgetown are April to October.

How do I get to Georgetown?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 46.19991, -113.21759 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Cable Mountain Road.

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