Copper and gold are commonly found together. In fact, many of the largest gold producing mines in the world are actually copper mines that extract gold as a by-product. Of course copper is much more common. While gold is measured in troy ounces, copper is valued by the ton.
Despite being a relatively common mineral, copper nuggets are actually quite uncommon. Prospectors do find them from time to time, but only in a few select areas. Unlike gold which occurs in nugget form in many places, copper is only found in the form of nuggets in a few select areas.
Here we will highlight a number of places in which copper nuggets can be found within the USA, as well as identify places a metal detector can be used effectively by following the tips. Copper may not be as valuable as gold, but large nuggets can actually be quite valuable simply due to their rarity.
Michigan’s Copper Prospecting
First of all, it is important to note that, there are several places copper mining is conducted in the United States, but metal detecting activities are very high in two states in different locations.
The top place known for copper nuggets, and where metal detecting can be conducted is the Keweenaw Peninsula in the northern region of Michigan State. Most nuggets are found within Houghton County, where it is popular for treasure hunters to search for large nuggets with metal detectors.
At the far northern tip of Keweenaw Peninsula is Copper Harbor. The area spanning all the way from the northern tip of the peninsula down to White Pine are productive. The largest copper nuggets ever found have come from this region.
The largest single copper nugget found in this area weighed over 50,000 pounds and has a melt value of over $100,000! And given its rarity as a mineral specimen it would likely bring considerably more money than that.
Arizona Copper Prospecting
The other state known to have great copper nuggets is Arizona. However, unlike Michigan, the copper nuggets found in Arizona are usually much smaller. Bigger pieces are usually only a few ounces in size rather than the big multi-pound specimens that are often found in Michigan.
There are some massive copper mines in Arizona. The towns of Globe and Jerome are two of them, but the copper here is usually small and not found as nuggets. This area is also heavily claimed by large mining companies.
This hills around Ajo in Pima County has produced some decent copper nuggets. Clifton is also one of the towns where one can occasionally find a copper nugget.
Throughout Pinal County a prospector has a decent chance of finding some copper nuggets.
The Warren District, the town first settled in 1905 in Cochise County also has great history recorded about copper mining and has some history of producing copper nuggets and specimens.
Many more places to visit within Arizona for copper prospecting include Swansea, a ghost town found in La Paz County. The town has huge potential for copper prospecting, especially that it has a history of having been used for the processing and smelting of copper ore extracted from the nearby places.
Take note that copper and gold are often associated together in Arizona. If you happen to find a copper nugget with your detector make sure you slow down and prospect the area thoroughly. There may also be some gold in the area.
Alaskan Copper
Some of the creeks and rivers in Alaska have produced copper nuggets. One known area is within the Wrangell Mountains. The Sheep Mountains also have many copper producing areas.
A large piece of copper was mined from Dan Creek that weighted 3-tons. There have been some native copper pieces found in Lynx Creek to the south of Anchorage. Most miners in Alaska are focused on gold, but don’t overlook the potential for valuable copper deposits.
Read: The Largest Gold Nugget found in Alaska
New Mexico Copper Mines
New Mexico also hosts some towns known for the presence of copper nuggets. One such area is Santa Rita, located east of Silver City. The Chino Mine is located here and was a major copper producer.
Apart from Santa Rita, Hillsboro Mining District is another place with the record of copper presence in the southwest region.
Metal Detecting Works Best for Copper
Due to the availability of several places known to host copper nuggets around the USA, the use of a metal detectors has been said to be the best method in detecting copper nuggets. However, one ought to know some few basic tips that would help to maximize the collection of the mineral.
First and foremost, you should know how to operate your detector properly. Luckily, many copper nuggets are rather large so the aren’t too difficult to hear if you get the coil over top of them. Pretty much any decent metal detector will find be able to detect the average copper nugget.
In general, you should spend your time detecting in areas known for copper mining. You might stumble into an unknown copper location, but you are more likely to find nuggets in areas that are already documented in the history books.
For the Average Prospector – Focus on the Nuggets
Despite having numerous locations for copper mining, the best places known for copper metal detecting are Michigan and Arizona. In these two places are several locations known to produce nuggets.
General copper mining is not a viable option for the average prospector. Processing of copper ores is a complex and expensive endeavor. General copper mining is (much like silver) best left to the commercial mines with millions of dollars to invest.
The average guy should use a metal detector and seek out the nuggets and specimens. They don’t require and processing, and you can sell them as-is to mineral collectors. While not as valuable as gold, big and interesting specimens can still be quite valuable.
Next: Using Drones to Locate Potential Prospecting Areas