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[bilquest]

I recently visited my brother who lives in Herriman, Utah. Herriman is a 'burb of Salt Lake City that sits in the southwest corner of the valley. The dominant sight from his front door is the Bingham copper mine tailings. The Bingham mine is one of the largest open pit copper mines in the world, and the mountain range (Oquirrh's) has reportedly produced substantial quantities of copper, silver, and gold. I would think it would be a source for collecting the copper complex that usually goes with copper mining that us lapidaries seek. I only had a couple days there with no time to go exploring but I'm wondering if anyone here knows whatsup with the Oquirrh mountains and collecting? Geologically speaking, it seems like a treasure trove for rockhounds, and so close to civilization! Have any of you Utahn's been out collecting there? I'm thinking I may have to slum it in my brothers basement next summer for a few days of prospecting.

Arizona and chrysocolla is a given, but what about Oquirrh chrysocolla? Does it exist?

[ut_dirtdigger]

Seeing that no one has responded to this topic for months I'll at least attempt to give an answer.  I'm not an expert just have lived in the area most my life.

In short there is no access to the Bingham/Kennecott copper mine tailings.  The whole mountain (not range but a good chunk of the range), is owned, posted, fenced and patrolled by the mining co.  As you go south of the mine (towards the mining town of Eureka) things open up a bit an you can find tailings from 19th century mines  but the Oquirrh range area is pretty much no access.