Rockhound: Fairburn Agate Bed Cache Traditional Cache
Rockhound: Fairburn Agate Bed Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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The Fairburn Agate Beds are located about 12 miles NE of the town of Fairburn in Custer County SD. Take French Creek rd (Hwy 18) east off of Hwy 79 to the French Creek Campground. The campground and agate beds are located in the Buffalo Gap National Grassland. The campground is very secluded and primitive.
The picturesque landscape consists of cedar topped bluffs and large multi-colored earthen mounds scattered with rock. The terrain is challenging and the weather unpredictable, but that adds to the essence of the adventure. You may park at the campground and hike in or you may drive a 4X4 vehicle closer to the location. A 4X4 is highly recommended and DO NOT drive the NG road in wet conditions as the ground turns into a clay like substance and can be very slippery.
These agates beds contain a vast array of rock and minerals with an occasional fossil to be found. Rock collectors from all around the world scour the landscape in search of the elusive Fairburn Agate. Fairburn agates were first discovered in the early 1900’s near the town of Fairburn and soon found there way into local area rancher's collections. The Fairburn Agate are the most coveted of all agates due to there colorful banding and rarity. Even though they are now getting scarce, they can still be found as erosion occurs.
The Fairburn agate are most identified by there colorful and sharp holly leaf banding. These fortification agates come in a variety of mixed colors such as red, blue, purple, brown, white, black, yellow, pink and orange. Each Fairburn agate has it’s own unique characteristics. The composition of the Fairburn is usually 98% Silica (SiO2), a combination of Silica and oxygen. The balance being trace minerals which help provide the color.
Other agates can also be found in the agate beds such as prairie agates, bubble gum agates and black agates. Though not as precious as the Fairburn, they are still fun to find. Some of the minerals that can be found in this area are rose quartz, milky quartz, jasper, tourmaline, chalcedony, feldspar, mica.
If you need any additional information on Fairburn agate collecting be sure to check out these 2 books: Roger Clark - Fairburn Agate Gem of South Dakota and June Zeitner- Midwest Gem Trails. Also there is a rock shop located off Hwy 79 that is only open during the summer where you can get additional information-N43° 47.411 W103° 13.259
Warning:Fairburn Fever (definition) A chronic medical condition caused by a compulsive urge to search for the precious Fairburn Agate under any conditions and circumstances. Symptoms- searching for long periods of time in extreme weather conditions. Sleep deprivation caused by nightmares of being chased by giant Fairburns.
This area is frequented by many rock hounds during the year and hunters during the fall, so please re-hide the cache where it belongs. When you find it, you will understand. Be sure to wear good boots and look out for cactus. Also check out the nearby Earthcache GC1WHNH. Have fun and good luck!
Cache contents:
4-bags of polished stones
2-lace agate
2-Snowflake Obsidian
1-Tiger’s eye
2-fossilized shark teeth
Handwarmer packet
Foreign coins- Germany 1949, Jamaica 1994, Dominican Republic 1986, Denmark, 1983, Belize 2002
1-TB
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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