The federal mineral record holds 6,159 entries for Wisconsin — 3,785 mines that shipped ore, 71 prospects that never became mines, 1,743 recorded occurrences. Below it: 2 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 Wisconsin, by number of historic records:
Lead · 808Zinc · 751Copper · 159Iron · 72Limestone · 27Clay · 20Silver · 13Gold · 13
Records from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System, a legacy federal database last revised August 2022 and no longer updated.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.
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Rhinelander, WI
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Forest Service collecting area · Free · Spring thaw through October for road access. Gold panning is limited to hand tools and to under 40 square feet of disturbance within any 500-foot stream segment, fewer than five days a year; the forest also restricts panning in classified trout waters, so ask about the specific stream when you call in your trip.
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
Wisconsin DNR Lands Collecting Permission (NR 45)
WI
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Public land, rules apply · Free with permit · Year-round wherever the property is open, but permission is issued property by property rather than statewide. Ask several weeks out — a manager may simply decline.
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
Yes — at places that allow it. This page lists 2 in Wisconsin: 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 Wisconsin'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.