The federal mineral record holds 16,397 entries for Oregon — 10,737 mines that shipped ore, 1,910 prospects that never became mines, 3,265 recorded occurrences. Below it: 8 places where you can legally collect.
Mineral history, not an invitation. This mineral history comes from a federal record of historic mines, prospects, and occurrences. It is not a list of places to collect. Historic mine sites are usually on private land, under active mining claims, or unsafe to enter — and often all three. The places you can actually collect are in the legal-access directory below.
The commodities that drew miners and prospectors to Oregon, by number of historic records:
Gold · 4,880Silver · 1,913Copper · 1,366Chromium · 1,316Mercury · 725Lead · 503Zinc · 463Manganese · 301
Records from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System, a legacy federal database last revised August 2022 and no longer updated.
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Plush, OR
oregon sunstonecopper-bearing sunstoneschiller feldspar
Fee dig · Fee, seasonal · 2026 season posted as May 23 through September 27; free camping on site with 9pm-7am quiet hours, no running water or electricity, and no charcoal grills or open fires
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
Plush, OR
oregon sunstonecopper-bearing red sunstonegreen sunstone
Fee dig · Fee, seasonal · open daily May 15 through October 1, weather permitting, 8am until a half hour before sundown; the operator asks that you call to verify availability before traveling in May or September
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
Hampton, OR
black obsidianrainbow obsidianmahogany obsidian
BLM collecting area · Free · roughly May through October; the spur roads off US-20 turn to grease after rain and snow shuts them in winter
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
Oregon Coast Ocean Shore Agate Beaches
Newport, OR
agatecarnelianjasper
Public land, rules apply · Free · late fall through early spring is prime — winter storms strip sand off the gravel beds; work a falling tide and check the tide table first
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
Oregon Sunstone Public Collection Area
Plush, OR
oregon sunstoneclear labradorite feldsparschiller feldspar
BLM collecting area · Free · open year-round, but May through October is the realistic window; no gas, water, or cell service within about 20 miles
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
Succor Creek State Natural Area
Adrian, OR
thundereggspicture jaspercommon opal
State-designated locality · Free · open for camping April 1 through October 31, first come first served; the 15-mile dirt road in from Oregon 201 is rough and turns impassable when wet
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
Whistler Springs Thunderegg Beds
Prineville, OR
thundereggsagatejasper
Forest Service collecting area · Free · roughly June into October, snow-dependent; McKay Creek Road and its spurs are rough and slow
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
White Fir Springs Thunderegg Beds
Prineville, OR
jasper-filled thundereggsagate-filled thundereggsjasper
Forest Service collecting area · Free · roughly June into October; the forest roads hold snow late and go to mud through spring
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
GoldSilverCopperAgatesJasperGeodesOpalPetrified WoodGemstones
Yes — at places that allow it. This page lists 8 in Oregon: fee digs, designated collecting areas, and official localities, each checked against its source. Everywhere else, legality depends on who owns the land and what rules apply. Before any trip: check land ownership and current mining claims, get permission, respect closures, and never enter old mine workings.
Treat Oregon's historic mines as history, not destinations. Most sit on private land or active mining claims, and old workings are dangerous even to walk. The mineral record on this page tells you what the ground holds — the directory tells you where you are welcome to look for it.