Crawford (Fairburn area): Fairburn Agate Rockhounding in Dawes County, Nebraska
Updated July 2026
Crawford is the gateway to Toadstool Geologic Park and the northern Oglala National Grassland, and the grassland draws around it are one of the few places in Nebraska to hunt Fairburn agate, the prized fortification agate, alongside prairie agate, jasper, and chalcedony. Reported finds include fairburn agate. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Crawford (Fairburn area) photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing Crawford (Fairburn area) in Dawes County, Nebraska
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Dawes County
- State
- Nebraska
- Nearest road
- Highway 2 71
- Postcode
- 69339
- Coordinates
- 42.70448, -103.40435
Geology at Crawford (Fairburn area)
This spot sits on White River Group, mapped as clay that formed roughly 34 to 23 million years ago. Gravels like these concentrate whatever survives the river: agate, jasper, and other tough silica typically show up as rounded, waxy stones.
- Mapped unit
- White River Group
- Age
- 34–23 Ma (Early Oligocene to Late Oligocene)
- Rock types
- clay
- Elevation
- 3,630 ft
Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.
Best time to visit Crawford (Fairburn area)
Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 90°F in midsummer and 41°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 13°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, FT ROBINSON station (4 mi away), adjusted for elevation.
Land & collecting status
Generally open to casual rockhounding
Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.
Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.
Sources & verification
Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.
Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.
Found at Crawford (Fairburn area)
Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Crawford (Fairburn area).
- Crawford (jasper area)Dawes County, Nebraska · 2 mi awayFairburn Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood
- Sioux CountySioux County, Nebraska · 13 mi awayChalcedony, Celestite, Fossils
- Little BadlandsSioux County, Nebraska · 14 mi awayVertebrate Fossils
- Dawes CountyDawes County, Nebraska · 15 mi awayChalcedony, Celestite, Fossils
- OrellaTop pick in NebraskaDawes County, Nebraska · 15 mi awayFairburn Agate, Jasper, Carnelian
- ChadronTop pick in NebraskaDawes County, Nebraska · 23 mi awayChalcedony, Blue Chalcedony
- MontroseTop pick in NebraskaSioux County, Nebraska · 23 mi awayAgate, Jasper, Fossils
- Agate Fossil BedsSioux County, Nebraska · 25 mi awayAgate, Jasper, Chalcedony
Across the state line from Crawford (Fairburn area)
Crawford (Fairburn area) is close enough to the Nebraska border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- ArdmoreTop pick in South DakotaFall River County, South Dakota · 21 mi awayFairburn Agate, Agatized Wood, Jasper
- OelrichsTop pick in South DakotaFall River County, South Dakota · 31 mi awayFairburn Agate, Jasper, Calcite
- OelrichsOglala Lakota County, South Dakota · 43 mi awayAgate
- OglalaOglala Lakota County, South Dakota · 48 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- Parker PeakFall River County, South Dakota · 50 mi awayAgatized Wood, Silicified Wood
- Jay EmGoshen County, Wyoming · 52 mi awayAgate, Malachite, Onyx
Crawford (Fairburn area) FAQ
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More rockhounding in Nebraska
See all 32 Nebraska spots →Open Crawford (Fairburn area) on the map
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