New Here

[Jim Coulthard]

Hi, My name is Jim and I am new to the forum. I live just a few miles from the agate beds of western South Dakota and been hunting agates for around 6 years. A friend of mine got me into agate hunting after I moved here from Wisconsin. I have found many Fairburn agates and lots of Bubblegum and prairie agates. And a few fossils. My friend and I take out hunting agates anyone who wants to try rock hunting and people from other states who like to rock hunt. If you are coming to my area and want to rock hunt let me know. Jim

 

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[mamabear]

Those are beautiful!! The colors are amazing! Welcome to Tnet. Hope you share more pics with us.

 

[Fireline]

Welcome!! WOW those are cool!

 

[Jim Coulthard]

Those are beautiful!! The colors are amazing! Welcome to Tnet. Hope you share more pics with us.

I have found between 200 to 300 fairburns so far. As I am retired and can hunt as often as I feel like. I have sold alot of them. Jim

 

[SimmonsCreek]

Beautiful!

 

[mamabear]

Ok I am so jealous! I think I need to make a SD trip!

 

[curious kat]

Hi....welcome! Those are beautiful, do you tumble them or do they come like that?

 

[Jim Coulthard]

Hi....welcome! Those are beautiful, do you tumble them or do they come like that?

Hi, That is the way we find them out here. I do not tumble fairburns as they are nice just natural.

 

[StoneWhisper]

Jim.. In our area there is an abundance of "caramel japers" which yes.. looks like a half chewed caramel candy.. and yes they can be naturally smooth or rough.. most we've found are smooth and we don't need to tumble them. I think in your case.. most lap artist would cut, shape your agate into cabochons.
View attachment 961967
This one would make an excellent cab, reminds me of crazy lace or fancy lace jasper.

 

[Jim Coulthard]

I do not know anyone out here that cuts rocks. I have a large Fairburn that a lady out here said she would slab for me but she quit after a few cuts as her saw broke leaving me with a half cut agate. I will send a picture of the agate. Jim

Jim.. In our area there is an abundance of "caramel japers" which yes.. looks like a half chewed caramel candy.. and yes they can be naturally smooth or rough.. most we've found are smooth and we don't need to tumble them. I think in your case.. most lap artist would cut, shape your agate into cabochons.
View attachment 961967
This one would make an excellent cab, reminds me of crazy lace or fancy lace jasper.

 

[Jim Coulthard]

We also have great prairie and bubble gum agates. I tumble the prairie and bubble gum agates.

 

[StoneWhisper]

Noted the semi cut in one of the images.. yes agate can be a bear to cut and shape.. thou the last few images looks like these have been reshaped or even tumbled. if you ever need a handful tumbled.. let me or one of the others know.. I wish that I had a slab saw and we just recently sold out Dremel.. which I was attempting to cut and facet a few stone the old fashion way on a "shoestring" budget.. did very well with our homemade system until one of my topaz's decidered to snap in half..

 

[Loki XXIII]

Hello, I've just finished reading this thread. I fond it with I googled if abby agates have been found in Box Elder, SD. I'm glad I did because you say that you take people out rock hunting. I would really love to join you! I've been twice now, up to tje Railroad Buttes, and have found a bubblegum agate and an eye agate. I would really love to find a Fairburn agate! Please let me know if I may join you on a rock hounding adventure. Please and thank you very much!!

 

[Loki XXIII]

Sorry for the bad spelling, I'm replying with my phone and the spell check function is slaughtering my spelling!

 

[SD51]

Beautiful agates, hope you can get to join them on a hunt!

 

[Loki XXIII]

Yes, they certainly are beautiful! And I hope that I get to go with an expert or 2 as well! South Dakota is such a great rockhounding area, I will be getting out there even if it's not with these guys! In fact, my next move is to get out on the banks of the Cheyenne river near the beds. I figure that my dogs will enjoy walking around out the as well. I'll tell you, judging from the photos that Jim's posted, he has to know some seriously good spots. I've spent hours going through tje massive agate beds and have yet to even shoot a fortification agate. I'm gonna do my best to make it happen though!

 

[Loki XXIII]

Yes, they certainly are beautiful! And I hope that I get to go with an expert or 2 as well! South Dakota is such a great rockhounding area, I will be getting out there even if it's not with these guys! In fact, my next move is to get out on the banks of the Cheyenne river near the beds. I figure that my dogs will enjoy walking around out the as well. I'll tell you, judging from the photos that Jim's posted, he has to know some seriously good spots. I've spent hours going through the massive agate beds and have yet to even spot a fortification agate. I'm gonna do my best to make it happen though!