Wow! What a pattern. This Fairburn is just as I found it. No grinding or polishing has been done to it. Its almost too pretty to try and make it prettier! This one was found about 6 miles off the beaten road, East of Railroad Buttes. It is definitely Bad Land Area. It would still be there if it wasn't for 4 wheel drive ATV's, (driving on the trail that is)! Back in that area, you do not want to get any vehicle off the trail. Not only is it illegal, you may just be buried up to your doors. It only takes a light sprinkle to make going hazardous out there. Incidently, when out there, if you happen to see clouds forming like the picture in the background, Get Out Of There & FAST, unless you have enough provisions to last 3-4 days, because you will be stranded out there if it rains!
Absolutely "Scrumptious"! This is such a fine specimen I could have went the rest of the day without finding anything else to bring home & I would have been perfectly satisfied! Some days are like that, other days you really have to search. I'm convinced that a poor day of rockhounding is way better than a good day at work, but the same can be said for fishing too! This also is unpolished, its as I found it!
Here is one from a different area that I haven't hunted before, but certainly will now! This was found in a creek bed just 4 miles South of Rapid City on Highway 16, not 20 feet off the roadway. I spotted it while standing on the bridge over the creek. The creek is usually dry, but this year there was water running in it. Being wet, it stood out like a sore thumb. I could not beleive my eyes when I seen it just staring up at me. That gives some creedence to my reason for always making sure I have water along to "dip them"! Whatmore, it was found laying face up, for all to see! The majority of my Fairburns had the patterns buried, so I always pick up many many rocks on an outing, and wet them down just to check for that tell tell window. Anyone could have found this one, but it was obvious that nobody had hunted that creek for a long time, at least not with their eyes open. Fairburns are like Gold, they are wherever you find them!
