Cobre: Copper & Lead Iron Rockhounding in Elko County, Nevada

Updated June 2026

Cobre is a mapped rockhounding spot in Elko County, Nevada. Reported finds include copper, lead iron. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Elko County
State: Nevada
Coordinates: 41.12302, -114.39801

Geology at Cobre

This spot sits on Alluvium, undifferentiated, mapped as coarse alluvium and fine alluvium that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Alluvium, undifferentiated
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: coarse alluvium and fine alluvium
Elevation: 6,030 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 Cobre

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 88°F in midsummer and 36°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 8°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, OASIS station (7 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 Nevada, Recreation
Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Royal Peacock Opal Mine (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Cobre

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 Cobre.

Across the state line from Cobre

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

Cobre FAQ

Where is Cobre?+

Cobre is in Elko County, Nevada, at 41.12302, -114.39801.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Cobre?+

Cobre is reported to produce Copper, Lead Iron.

Is collecting allowed at Cobre?+

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 Cobre?+

A rock hammer, gloves, and safety glasses are enough for oxidized copper ground. Look for green and blue staining on weathered rock and in old dump piles.

When is the best time to visit Cobre?+

The most comfortable months at Cobre are March to November.

How do I get to Cobre?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 41.12302, -114.39801 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Nevada

See all 123 Nevada spots →

Open Cobre on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.