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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 29, 2020 19:45:38 GMT -5
My father-in-law is a dairy farmer. Well, he was a dairy farmer for 55 years and had to sell off the milk cows around 9 years ago. He's still a farmer...who happens to own a ton of land around Hermosa, SD...not that far from Fairburn...where he owns even more land. He knew I started rock hounding this year as well as beginning to tumble...two things he used to do. Yesterday he called me and said he had some property to go hound on and to be out at the farm around noon. Well, one of his neighbors there in Hermosa leases out their property to a company who is clearing the land and pulling the rock for construction. We poked around the cleared land as well as the "tailing" pile yesterday, but it didn't really look all that promising as the rock was all soft rock and nothing of any real interest. Well, this morning I get a call from him and he says we've got another road trip to make. Keep in mind in the last seven years we haven't hung out past holiday get-togethers at the farm. So, I was all for it and asked where...he said it was down toward Fairburn. He had called another rancher be knew who was also clearing his land for rocks. With him being a farmer for half a century...and him being the way he is, he knows EVERYBODY! I was doing a job halfway across Wyoming a couple years ago and just happened to mention my father-in-law's name...the rancher I was talking with said "I know Marvin!" I thought " Of course you do!" So, as we're driving down to Fairburn, he's naming off all the owners of pretty much all the PRIVATE PROPERTY along the way. He kept saying "If you want to hound over there I'll talk to so-and-so and I'll get you on there." I thought it was Christmas! We get to the property and sure enough, it's an area posted with "No Trespassing" signs everywhere...but it had a massive pile of rocks I'd been eyeing ALL summer with every trip down to Fairburn! Except this time I had a ringer with me who knew the property owner and we had permission! Whoot Whoot! Well, within the first 15 minutes I found this beauty if a Fairburn Agate! Neither one of us knew how nice it was until I got back home and cleaned it up. I also have permission to hound there in the future...which I will be taking FULL advantage of...along with half a dozen more private properties!  Thanks Marvin! I love you (and not just because of this)! First pic was taken in the sunlight...I really need a better camera phone! The other pics are of the area we were at today. I found the agate at the top of the massive rock pile! I found the "little green guy" under a big rock...            |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 29, 2020 20:36:27 GMT -5
I hope you find a mountain of fairburn agates, or at least enough to run some batches in the tumblers! You have some AMAZING insight into my nightly dreams! LOL Some people count sheep to go to sleep...I just count all the Fairburns I'm imagining finding!  Thank you.  |
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Post by stephan on Oct 29, 2020 20:40:40 GMT -5
Good for you! That’s a nice find. I look forward to seeing more. I looks like a heck of a pile.
Cool lizard too. With the snow on the ground, I suspect it’s a little chilly for the little fella (or lady).
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 29, 2020 20:50:34 GMT -5
Good for you! That’s a nice find. I look forward to seeing more. I looks like a heck of a pile. Cool lizard too. With the snow on the ground, I suspect it’s a little chilly for the little fella (or lady). My wife is so afraid of running into snakes when we go out hounding. In fact, my father-in-law gave me a pistol about a month ago for rattlesnakes when I go out hounding (or badgers, or two-legged snakes!). I was definitely surprised to see this guy moving today. It was barely 50°, if that... That rock pile is fairly thick and very unstable. As I was coming down the backside of it today I was creating a rock slide and essentially surfing down the avalanche. As I did, it uncovered a small bullsnake that slithered lower in the pile. There was NO way I was telling my wife about that one! |
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Post by stephan on Oct 29, 2020 21:56:02 GMT -5
jasoninsd Haha. My wife is like that. Makes no difference whether it’s a venomous snake or not. At work I’m the official snake extractor. All gopher snakes so far (our name for bull snakes).
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quartz
Cave Dweller 
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on Oct 29, 2020 22:25:11 GMT -5
When we get out in the brush my wife says "go ahead first, snake bait".
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 29, 2020 22:33:15 GMT -5
jasoninsd Haha. My wife is like that. Makes no difference whether it’s a venomous snake or not. At work I’m the official snake extractor. All gopher snakes so far (our name for bull snakes). When we get out in the brush my wife says "go ahead first, snake bait". I was working in the backyard last summer and heard a blood curdling scream from up by the garage. I came running and found my wife clutching a pointed shovel, pointing her finger downward, and muttering "It tried to get me!" I looked down to see two 3" halves of what WAS a 6" garter snake. I just shook my head and meandered back to what I was doing... |
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Post by stephan on Oct 29, 2020 22:41:03 GMT -5
jasoninsd Haha. My wife is like that. Makes no difference whether it’s a venomous snake or not. At work I’m the official snake extractor. All gopher snakes so far (our name for bull snakes). When we get out in the brush my wife says "go ahead first, snake bait". I was working in the backyard last summer and heard a blood curdling scream from up by the garage. I came running and found my wife clutching a pointed shovel, pointing her finger downward, and muttering "It tried to get me!" I looked down to see two 3" halves of what WAS a 6" garter snake. I just shook my head and meandered back to what I was doing... Poor snake. |
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Oct 29, 2020 22:54:54 GMT -5
Nice find it shows there plenty of hope for more goodies to find there.
That also looks like rock heaven to me. Those are the types of places I look for when fishing streams, rivers even on lakes around here those are all glacial deposits around here.
Not to mention no digging involved the only real tool i use is my eyes to scan the rocks to look for those that stand out from the others
A potato rake or hoe with four tinges would help you find snakes hidden in the rocks and use it to turn over rocks then if a snakes comes out stick him or throw him with the hoe then shoot him so he don’t come back to bite you
The how would give you at least a four to five foot advantage away from snakes. Verses using your hand to pick up a rock that a snake is hiding under he’ll bite you before you stand up
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Oct 29, 2020 22:55:19 GMT -5
Oh!
Rock On !
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 29, 2020 23:43:42 GMT -5
Nice find it shows there plenty of hope for more goodies to find there. That also looks like rock heaven to me. Those are the types of places I look for when fishing streams, rivers even on lakes around here those are all glacial deposits around here. Not to mention no digging involved the only real tool i use is my eyes to scan the rocks to look for those that stand out from the others A potato rake or hoe with four tinges would help you find snakes hidden in the rocks and use it to turn over rocks then if a snakes comes out stick him or throw him with the hoe then shoot him so he don’t come back to bite you The how would give you at least a four to five foot advantage away from snakes. Verses using your hand to pick up a rock that a snake is hiding under he’ll bite you before you stand up I'm pretty stoked about going back. My father-in-law is getting up there in years. He took a nap in the truck for awhile today. I didn't want to keep him out there too long, so I only "surface" scoured. I'm probably going to go back next week and spend a lot of time here. I picked up some hip waders today. $20 for new ones at a pawn shop - thanks again to my father-in-law who made some calls yesterday to find them for me - I didn't ask him to do it, he just did. So, I'm probably going to spend some time walking French Creek down around this same area as well as spending a good portion of the day at this place again. I usually use my rock hammer as a rake...plus it's a couple inches longer than my hand rake! You never know when those couple extra inches will come in handy! You might have the right idea of using a longer rake though! I'd be very leery taking a shot at a "buzz-tail" with my pistol around all these rocks. My luck I'd hit myself with a ricochet! |
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Oct 29, 2020 23:53:06 GMT -5
Dude if you want to get with the program and work less and find more Check this out you said you have waders Now Rock On  |
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Post by amygdule on Oct 30, 2020 0:03:27 GMT -5
Good Luck...!!!
There is so many Rocks to look at.
Looks like Fun to explore.
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Oct 30, 2020 0:09:23 GMT -5
If you want want to get a screen that I dump into after scooping stones You have 2 options to go with Buy a complete gold panning setup that has a screen that sets on top of the gold pan once rocks are dumped into screen the smaller stuff falls into the gold pan pick over the bigger ones when done Or make one from a old metal fan take it apart now you have two halves buy some hardware screen cut to size and wire wrap that to the fan screen now you can dump the gold pan rocks into ‘this to remove the bigger stuff then pan for gold or just use this  Search the gold pan starting by picking over the booger stuff by reviving the work on the crumbs for other smaller goodies Flour gold Miscellaneous stones or gemstones  This hole setup will run about a 100.00 and last a lifetime the potatoe hoe will need replacing as the forks ware out |
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Post by fernwood on Oct 30, 2020 4:51:16 GMT -5
Nice story. That is a huge pile of rocks to inspect.
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Post by Peruano on Oct 30, 2020 6:31:14 GMT -5
Btw the amphibian you depicted is a tiger salamander. They are part of a group called the mole salamanders and like to live in cavities in the ground and under rocks and logs. Neat animals.
Congratulations on the new source (s) and good luck in scoring some keepers.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 30, 2020 6:59:06 GMT -5
Dude if you want to get with the program and work less and find more Check this out you said you have waders Now Rock On I've been considering getting a sifter/scoop and will eventually get with the program...as soon as I figure out the whole program with which I want to get! I'm Rockin' On! Good Luck...!!! There is so many Rocks to look at. Looks like Fun to explore. Thanks! I had so much fun yesterday! I almost felt like I was a five-year old again (kind of) at Christmastime and my father-in-law just gave me a shopping spree at a candy store! LOL If you want want to get a screen that I dump into after scooping stones You have 2 options to go with Buy a complete gold panning setup that has a screen that sets on top of the gold pan once rocks are dumped into screen the smaller stuff falls into the gold pan pick over the bigger ones when done Or make one from a old metal fan take it apart now you have two halves buy some hardware screen cut to size and wire wrap that to the fan screen now you can dump the gold pan rocks into ‘this to remove the bigger stuff then pan for gold or just use this Search the gold pan starting by picking over the booger stuff by reviving the work on the crumbs for other smaller goodies Flour gold Miscellaneous stones or gemston This hole setup will run about a 100.00 and last a lifetime the potatoe hoe will need replacing as the forks ware out I'm not sure I want to get into panning, at least not for gold...at least not just yet. That's a nice job on the screen! I actually saved the front side of a fan that recently died, just so could use the front for sifting rocks after tumbling! Great minds think alike! My wife has a metal detector I bought her for a present...she has YET to use it! I'd like to get her this kind of setup if she ever regains that "initial interest" she expressed! Nice story. That is a huge pile of rocks to inspect. Thanks! I was almost going through sensory overload yesterday with the amount of rocks! Like I had said, I mostly surface scoured and am really excited to really inspect this area! Btw the amphibian you depicted is a tiger salamander. They are part of a group called the mole salamanders and like to live in cavities in the ground and under rocks and logs. Neat animals. Congratulations on the new source (s) and good luck in scoring some keepers. Thanks! As we drove up to the site, my gut was telling me there would be some Fairburns in there...but my gut hasn't always been right with regards to that! LOL Thanks for naming my little buddy! The Tiger Salamander seems to be pretty prevalent around these parts. I frequently see them around. |
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Oct 30, 2020 7:41:18 GMT -5
It’s not necessarily intended as a gold panning tool however if there is gold in the area this is how to quickly classify the large from smaller sometimes smaller nuggets
I have no idea if there any sapphires in your area or only Montana this is how I would find them or other small gems
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 30, 2020 7:53:39 GMT -5
Lucky you... not just for the new rock opportunities, but for having the rocks enrich your relationship with your father in law. Precious.
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Oct 30, 2020 8:12:28 GMT -5
It’s not necessarily intended as a gold panning tool however if there is gold in the area this is how to quickly classify the large from smaller sometimes smaller nuggets I have no idea if there any sapphires in your area or only Montana this is how I would find them or other small gems I have tried to pan that pesky flour gold through the whole pan back into the river that’s a real pain takes a lot of practice with out the sniffer bottle. But my way is very productive if there were any nuggets also known as pickers! 🧐 That requires picking without tweezers😛😁 |
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