chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Jul 15, 2011 12:35:07 GMT -5
Planning a trip with my wife to SD and the Badlands, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse Mon. in September for a week. Will probably stay in or around Rapid City.
I'm sure there will be some rock collecting time. I'll do some research online...I didn't notice any good rockhounding books for this area. Anyone know of one?
Anyone have any hints on finding Fairburn Agates. Like what kind of land to look in, what dusty, obscure looking specimens do you pick up and investigate? What kind of formations to look for. Of course if you want to sell me a treasure map to your honeyhole for any kind of rocks...
Charlie
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 15, 2011 13:14:42 GMT -5
Hey Charlie, try to find a copy of Midwest Gem, Fossil and Mineral Trails, Prairie States, By June Culp Zeitner.
As for Fairburn locations, The easiest places to get to would be Railroad Buttes, and about 13 miles east of the little town of Fairburn. If it's muddy, don't drive the back gravel roads. Also, if you're on a gravel road, and it looks like rain coming, get out quick. That gumbo mud will swallow the best of 4WD trucks. All of the Fairburn agates will be found in and around the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, From the town of Wall west to the foot of the black hills and all points south. Don't, and I repeat DON'T try to remove any sort of rocks from the Badlands Park. They watch the area very closely, and will confiscate any rocks you have with you, regardless of where they came from. Then they'll slap you with a huge fine and possibly jail time. I've had good luck looking in the area just outside of the Badlands park on the south east edge.
As for identifying Fairburns, carry a squirt bottle with you and check every rock. Helps to have a loupe with you. Some of the Fairburn eyes can be smaller than a pencil eraser. Don't pass up any really nice prairie agates or bubble gum agates, and be on the lookout for marine fossils and barrite crystals.
You may want to pick up a small rough Fairburn at one of the rock shops, to help you to know what you're looking for. They can be had for as little as $5.00, and go up into the thousands.
If you come past Wall on the way over, you might also want to stop in at the Forest Service Visitors Center, and pick up a copy of the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands map. It's a bit expensive as maps go, but well worth the money. It has all of the roads and towns in the grasslands, and can get you out of trouble if you get turned around on those gravel roads.
Good luck. Keep an eye out for rattlers. If you come upon a herd of buffalo around Railroad Buttes, enjoy them from a distance. There's a large herd roaming that area. Don
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Jul 15, 2011 17:01:18 GMT -5
Some good gold panning in the "Black Hills" too,plus the Dino and fossil museum in Hill City....Correct me if I'm wrong Don......... I also have that Midwest gem and rock book,its great for information and directions........We went after the motorcycle rally too,more peaceful-LOL............Good luck Charlie........
Michael
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 15, 2011 17:52:56 GMT -5
Hey Charlie,
My wife is thinking of going to the Black Hills for Labor Day weekend, but that probably means little to no rockhounding.
Good advice from Don. Zeitner's book really helps, as does the Grasslands map. They'll even mark it for you if you ask.
Railroad Buttes is easily accessible from Rapid City.
Chuck
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 15, 2011 19:21:50 GMT -5
Hey Charlie, for Railroad Buttes, take state rt. 44 south east out of Rapid City. About 10 or 15 miles out you'll come to the little town of Farmingdale. About a mile past the town there will be a turnoff on the south side. It's a well maintained but winding gravel road. Head south about 6 miles. You'll come to a closed gate on the east side. Open the gate and drive in. There's a parking area just inside of the gate, or if the road is passable you can drive almost all the way to the Buttes. Be sure to close the gate behind you. It's there to keep the buffalo in. Anywhere from the parking area to the Buttes if Fairburn country. Don
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Jul 16, 2011 10:09:02 GMT -5
Great advice...thank you all
I'll pick up the book...sounds like railroad buttes is a certainty. I'll be all over the place...hope they dont get an early snow
charlie
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 16, 2011 10:25:46 GMT -5
You just have to hope it doesn't keep on flooding. If the Cheyenne River is down, lots of Fairburns, other agates, jasper and marine fossils should be exposed along the banks. Just don't try to hunt on the Indian reservations. I've been told by friends that live in that area, that the hunting grounds around the town of Fairburn are a big mud pit right now. Don
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Post by rockrookie on Jul 16, 2011 10:39:24 GMT -5
i don't know about Fairburns . but , iyou you get a chance .......... Lemon SD . far NW corner . worlds largest Petrified Wood Museum . --paul
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 16, 2011 12:28:31 GMT -5
Hey Paul, the fields and ditches in that area are full of pet wood, but most of it isn't cabbing grade. too many cracks. One of my wife's relatives lives in Lemon.
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Post by rockrookie on Jul 16, 2011 13:20:35 GMT -5
Hey Paul, the fields and ditches in that area are full of pet wood, but most of it isn't cabbing grade. too many cracks. One of my wife's relatives lives in Lemon. i have a bunch of pieces from , when we used to go there when i was a kid . tons of fractures . good for tumbling . lots of dark colors . My Moms Parents and Grandparents were wagon trainers / homesteaders in early 1900's . we still keep in contact with some folks in town . as well as the Family who now owns the farm . --paul
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Aug 4, 2011 21:11:53 GMT -5
Wow am I glad I looked here! Thank you Charlie for asking about this location.
I'll be going to Hill City August 26th-29th. I appreciate the shared info, and will hopefully find some time to pick up a rock or two.
I'll be on my motorcycle for this trip - Will that pose a problem traveling some of the gravel roads?
Thanks again! Nate
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aunuts
fully equipped rock polisher
Some days are gold, some are rocks. Either is cool.
Member since March 2006
Posts: 1,110
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Post by aunuts on Sept 14, 2011 23:40:28 GMT -5
Thanks for all the info you guys. I new we were going to Rapid City, but didn't expect to have time to do any hounding. Now I might manage to get in one day looking for fairburns. Wish me luck.
Jo
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Sept 26, 2011 8:01:40 GMT -5
I just got back...What a great area for vaca!...Had a ball...but as is often the case for a casual collectors like my wife and I, did not exactly find the mother load of Fairburns.
Picked up lots of small jasper and agate, some bubblegum and Prairie, but I doubt I got any Fairburns(with 99% certainty)...have to pick over the 77 pounds of rock I sent home and check a couple a little closer to be sure. There were a couple with outer banding that I might clean up and take a better look at.
Like any new area it helps to have a local with you, I did not. Had some trouble locating the exact collecting area at Railroad Buttes. I think the location in the book is now a private road(or at least that is how it is posted). There are other roads going out there so you can still find the buttes and it is probably just a case of getting out of the car at the right place and time.
had no trouble finding the original fairburn location, just east of fairburn (it is publicly marked so anyone could find that one). The first day I looked there, I clearly was not far enough into the hills but still found lots of interesting rock but no fairburns. Got a few (more) experienced rock hounds to talk a bit (none admitted finding anything-)one woman said maybe one small one but could not seem to locate it when asked. They went much further into the hills than I did.
The bad lands are awesome- between them and Custer State Park, seemed like more buffalo than Yellowstone-
Mt Rushmore was nicer and more tasteful than I imagined, very inspiring! and less commercial than I imagined it would be
Custer State Park will give most National Parks a run for the money. The pigtail bridges and tunnels cut through rock walls are awesome. Needles and Iron mtn road are great...sylvan Lake and mt harney are great hiking areas. prairie dog heaven and begging burros and deer and turkeys and prairie birds all over.
Spearfish Canyon is another natural place with good hiking...there is a wonderful (Michelson)bike trail that lots of people recommend but we never got to. Deadwood and Lead are interesting Gold mining towns and we got some pictures at the bars of Sturgis. Charlie
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 26, 2011 8:51:48 GMT -5
Be looking forward to the pics Charlie. Check any rocks you found in the grasslands very closely. Often times the Fairburn pattern that shows on the surface is no bigger than a pencil eraser. A little bit of light sanding may expose more. Look for very tight fortification banding. each band will be equal in width all the way around. The hills or TeePee canyon agates can look very similar, but usually each band will vary in width. Don
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Post by NatureNut on Sept 26, 2011 8:53:28 GMT -5
I just love that area! Sounds like you had a blast and hit all the spots there. You may be surprised when you get a good look at what you sent home. Don coached me with mine and you might have to grind on 'em a little to find your Fairburns. One thing's for sure, you got some good tumbler food for a colorful batch! Jo
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Sept 26, 2011 14:14:57 GMT -5
Hey Charlie,
Sounds like you and I had similar experiences. I didn't find any Fairburns, either, but I did find some nice Prairies and Bubblegums. Still one of my better rockhounding trips. Can't wait for some pics!
Chuck
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 2, 2011 15:17:00 GMT -5
Hey Charlie, bummer that you couldn't find the Railroad Buttes area. Heard from a friend yesterday. They spent the day out at the buttes. The road is dry enough to drive all the way in to the buttes and beyond. They found a few small Fairburns, and some killer prairie agates in rare colors. They'll be up here for a visit tomorrow and Tuesday. I'll see if they'll let me take pics of their finds to post. Don
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greaser
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2010
Posts: 201
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Post by greaser on Oct 2, 2011 19:34:59 GMT -5
sonds like you did ok even not finding the area. i would love to get out there next year and do some picking so i am glad you left me some. ;-)
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 2, 2011 19:58:26 GMT -5
Hey Greaser, give me a shout if you head out there. I plan on going in late June. I know some folks that live out there, that know the hot spots. Don
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kategoodwin
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 59
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Post by kategoodwin on Oct 4, 2011 16:00:00 GMT -5
I'm seeing this a little late... I would have loved to show you some of the good spots. I go out to Railroad Buttes about every other weekend and have found a few small fairburns out there. If you go in through the entrance on the east side of the road with the double gate you don't have to deal with all the dirtbikes and 4 wheelers like you do down at the other spot. The further back you go off the road...the better the rocks are that you'll find. I always look for the spot that looks like the biggest pain to get down into an that's always where i find the best rocks. I've found buckets full of pretty prairie agates, bubblegum agates, jaspers, and chalcedony along with some pretty cool fossils. If anyone wants better directions out there let me know. The Fairburn beds I almost never go to anymore. I've found alot more out at the other spots, plus the road that goes out to the Fairburn beds likes to try to eat my car. But...I have found two tiny fairburns out there. A friend of mine has a ranch between Hermosa and Red Shirt...he finds fabulous Fairburns since his land has never been publically hunted. Some day he's going to take my out to his hot spots....supposedly...I'll believe it when I see it. I just went out to the Conata beds and the Weta beds this weekend and I'm sure I'll be driving the 120 miles again because it was well worth the drive. I brought home 3 buckets of rocks and found 3 fairburns that I know of so far. Even when I don't find Fairburns I still find some pretty darn cool rock.
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