Fairburn — Rockhounding in Custer County, South Dakota
These are the classic Fairburn agate beds, the type locality for South Dakota's official state gem, sitting in the eroded badlands and surface gravels just east of the village of Fairburn. Fairburn agates are prized fortification agates that occur in nearly every color combination, and the same ground also yields agatized wood and yellow jasper. The hunting is surface picking, best after rain or snowmelt freshly exposes material. Reported finds include fairburn agate, agatized wood, yellow jasper. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Fairburn photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing Fairburn in Custer County, South Dakota
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Custer County
- State
- South Dakota
- Coordinates
- 43.66826, -103.02690
Land & collecting status
Generally open to casual rockhounding
Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.
Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.
Sources & verification
Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.
Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.
Found at Fairburn
Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.
- Fairburn AgateEncyclopedia →
- Agatized WoodEncyclopedia →
- Yellow JasperEncyclopedia →
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Fairburn.
- Cheyenne RiverTop pick in South DakotaCuster County, South Dakota · 5 mi awayFairburn Agate
- Red ShirtOglala Lakota County, South Dakota · 6 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- FairburnCuster County, South Dakota · 18 mi awayFairburn Agate
- Buffalo GapCuster County, South Dakota · 24 mi awayFairfield Agate
- KeystonePennington County, South Dakota · 25 mi awayTourmaline, Spodumene, Lepidolite
- OglalaOglala Lakota County, South Dakota · 26 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- ScenicPennington County, South Dakota · 27 mi awayBlue Chalcedony, Carnelian, Aquamarine
- RockyfordOglala Lakota County, South Dakota · 28 mi awayBlue Chalcedony
Across the state line from Fairburn
Fairburn is close enough to the South Dakota border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- Whiteclay (Fairburn area)Sheridan County, Nebraska · 51 mi awayFairburn Agate, Jasper, Chalcedony
- Pine RidgeSheridan County, Nebraska · 52 mi awayQuartz Concretions, Agate, Petrified Wood
- WhiteclaySheridan County, Nebraska · 52 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- NewcastleWeston County, Wyoming · 55 mi awayGypsum
- ChadronDawes County, Nebraska · 55 mi awayChalcedony, Blue Chalcedony
- OrellaDawes County, Nebraska · 56 mi awayFairburn Agate, Jasper, Carnelian
Fairburn FAQ
Why is Fairburn one of the best rockhounding spots in South Dakota?+
Where is Fairburn?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Fairburn?+
Is collecting allowed at Fairburn?+
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More rockhounding in South Dakota
See all 43 South Dakota spots →Open Fairburn on the map
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