Dwarves Earth Treasures: Fairburn Agates, Black HIlls, South Dakota

Dwarves' Earth Treasures Museum:
Fairburn Agates
Southern Vicinity of Black Hills, South Dakota

Here are the famous (or infamous if you prefer) Fairburn agates, highly sough by the American collectors for their wide range of bold colors and patterns. The agates were named after Fairburn, South Dakota, and they can be found throughout the alluvial deposits south of Black Hills (the source) in South Dakota all the way to Nebraska and along Cheyenne River. They're so scattered by erosion of the Black Hills over such large areas that they're quite hard to find. Since the agates are already naturally polished, the Fairburn agates in their natural appearances tend to be more preferred than polished ones. But unfortunately for many novice or low-budget collectors, the agates are notorious for their high prices which can be quite discouraging.

For further reading, please refer to Roger Clark's Fairburn Agates book.

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO SEE LARGER PICTURES

Rough Appearance: Naturally polished look with bits of agate showing. Some colors bleached or blackened by weathering.
Also can come in brown to tan chert. Can be confused with larger Prairre Agates with horizontal zig-zaggy bands.


Polished (found in lapidary scraps at an old rock shop)	Self- Re-polished (old collection)	Looks better when polished

Natural form	Natural form	Polished (found in lapidary scraps at an old rock shop)

It was pre-grinded when I got it. I finished the polishing job on it. :)	Natural form	Polished

Natural form	Natural form	Polished

Actually a fragment of Tee Pee Canyon so buyers, beware!	Almost couldn't see any bands on the rough surface so it got cut and surprise!	Tumbled by previous owner, polish improved by self.