Fairburn Agate from South Dakota, photographed under white light, then under longwave UV light.
Photos by Dan Snow
This will be on display at the 59th Gem & Mineral Show at the KCI Expo Center, 2020
Fairburn Agate
Show-Me Rockhounds Kansas City
A club for people in Kansas City, MO who enjoy collecting rocks, minerals, fossils, gems, and crystals
Show-Me Rockhounds Kansas City 
As a rockhound and collector, I have always been fascinated by Fairburn Agates. Their distinctive pattern, rarity, and beauty make them one of the most prized stones from North America. I was lucky enough to find a few specimens in the area between the Black Hills and Badlands National Park in South Dakota, and I can confirm that they are truly beautiful stones. What struck me the most about Fairburn Agates is their unique fortification pattern, which looks like holly leaves. The sharp points and inward curves that make up the bands are truly mesmerizing. The colors of Fairburn Agates are also quite amazing. I found some that had bright reds and oranges, while others had a mix of blues and yellows. Finding Fairburn Agates is not an easy task. There are different laws and restrictions that govern where and how you can collect these stones. National Parks like Badlands National Park don’t allow any collecting, while Black Hills National Park does allow surface collection of specimens. Private property is also off-limits without the owner’s permission.
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