Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Jul 6, 2009 23:11:05 GMT -5
We got back from the Back Hills last night, it was a great time and I collected some really nice rocks. We stayed outside of Keystone in the National Forest Grizzly Creek campground. It was a perfect spot close to everything we wanted to see. I found some nice rose quartz on the mountain next to it and I got a bag full of little agates off the road in the campground (can't resist checking out gravel). I got out to three locations for prairie and fairburn agates in the National Grasslands to the East of the Black Hills Too. The first spot we went to South of Badlands National Park was mind boggling! I have never seen that much jasper/agate. Every rock was jasper or agate, unfortunantly this spot must have been picked pretty heavily as there were very few keepers. This was a spot marked as an agate bed on the Grasslands map (get one in Wall, its a must have to know where you can collect.). No pictures of this spot though, I was going to take some after collecting a bit, but a thunder storm came up very quick and the whole area is known for being unpassable when wet so we got out quick. The second spot was at the well known Railroad Buttes. This spot was also marked on the map but with the hills I think fresh material was being erroded out so I found some pretty nice stuff. I also found a nice (what I think is) fairburn agate here. I got several explinations from rock shops in the area on how to tell the difference between a fairburn and others but I'm still a little foggy. The last place we went was east of the town of Fairburn but past the famous French creek agate beds. This time I wanted to hit some territory that was not so picked over. After a bit of driving down a few miles of "road", I use that term lightly we found a large gravel area on the west side of the road. On the east side off in the distance I could see a very small gravel section, but I was looking for unpicked so I headed there. To get to it you had to go accross a very steep hill side that was covered in cactus. I slipped an filled my left hand full of spines (2 days of digging with a pin ). After this you had to cross a area with chest high grass, remember this is rattlesnake country. I must have suffered enough from the cactus so no rattler. The spot was only about 40x40 feet but I found some of my nicest agates here. Sorry no pics of here either, I forgot the camera in the car and by the time I got back I just wanted the spines in my hand out. Anyhow here are the pics. This rose quartz outcrop is actually in Custer state park so no collecting , gotta get a pic though. Railroad Buttes See any I missed? Some of my haul Some of my favorites Rose Quartz Fairburn ?? Agate (I like it anyway) Prairie agates ??
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reelman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 114
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Post by reelman on Jul 6, 2009 23:57:17 GMT -5
Nice looking haul. Sounds like you earned them. The cactus does not sound like much fun.
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Jul 7, 2009 1:41:32 GMT -5
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Post by Bejewelme on Jul 7, 2009 5:11:27 GMT -5
Sas: Looks like a great time! ND is a beautiful area! I saw the best night sky ever there! Looks like the kids had fun too! Now you gotta cab all those beauties!!! THanks for sharing the nice pics! Amber
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Post by NatureNut on Jul 7, 2009 8:46:23 GMT -5
Love the pics of the "junior rockhounds". Looks like a fantastic time! Awesome haul and beautiful pics. Can't wait to see how they work up. Jo
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 7, 2009 9:33:02 GMT -5
Nice finds, Scott! Hate to burst your Fairburn bubble, but they all look like Prairie Agates to me. I had a similar experience: I had some that I was certain were Fairburns, took them to the Rock Shed and they told me they were Prairie Agates. They had some Fairburns for sale and I could see the difference. There's nothing wrong with nice Prairie Agates, though!
I hit the same spots last Fall. Let me know if you go again and I'll point out some other areas for you. My trip report may still be in the Trips & Shows section.
Chuck
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Post by Tonyterner on Jul 7, 2009 10:33:12 GMT -5
Beautiful place and it sounds like a fun trip, well minus the cactus thorns. Looks like you found quite a lot of agates in the road. Thanks for the pics.
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Jul 7, 2009 10:41:42 GMT -5
What a fantastic trip Scott! Looks like you scored some great material too, whatever the I.D. Looks like the kids had a great time.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Jul 7, 2009 15:36:41 GMT -5
Sas: Looks like a great time! ND is a beautiful area! I saw the best night sky ever there! Looks like the kids had fun too! Now you gotta cab all those beauties!!! THanks for sharing the nice pics! Amber SD my friend..............Better rocks in SD,than ND.......(wink)
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earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Jul 7, 2009 20:48:12 GMT -5
Bet ya won't get a picture of Shawn....
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jul 8, 2009 9:47:33 GMT -5
Great pics! Did you meet Shawn?
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Jul 8, 2009 12:38:49 GMT -5
I talked with a couple of guys at the rock shed. One older one younger, which one is Shawn? I never got names.
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highplainsdrifter
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,266
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Post by highplainsdrifter on Jul 8, 2009 12:50:04 GMT -5
Beautiful pics, looks like you had a great vacation. That is some pretty country and nice looking rocks you found.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Jul 8, 2009 17:14:47 GMT -5
Very cool trip photos! I would agree that the red one is a prairie agate as are the black and white ones. I'm personally a big fan of Prairie Agate whether for slabbing or tumbling. They come in many colors and patterns and always take a mirror polish. I've got a bunch in my collection that are so pretty just as I got them that I'll never even cut them up. From the one's I have cut, the red ones seem to be some of the best, followed by some of the black and whites which can be very scenic. For some reason, the brown banded ones, unless mixed with darker colored bands of red, purple or black often seem to be much prettier on the exterior than inside....Mel
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rockwizz
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2007
Posts: 971
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Post by rockwizz on Jul 8, 2009 22:24:34 GMT -5
Great pictures and great trip.Thanks for sharing.
Ozzy
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