Wagner: Selenite Roses Rockhounding in Bon Homme County, South Dakota

Updated July 2026

Wagner is a mapped rockhounding spot in Bon Homme County, South Dakota. Reported finds include selenite roses. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Bon Homme County
State: South Dakota
Nearest road: 295th Street
Coordinates: 43.11153, -98.10530

Geology at Wagner

This spot sits on Pierre Shale, mapped as shale and bentonite that formed roughly 100 to 66 million years ago. Sedimentary rock like this erodes unevenly, so the most productive collecting is typically along fresh cuts, badland slopes, and active drainages.

Mapped unit: Pierre Shale
Age: 100–66 Ma (Late Cretaceous)
Rock types: shale and bentonite
Elevation: 1,680 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 Wagner

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 31°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 12°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WAGNER station (9 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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 Wagner

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Selenite Roses Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Wagner.

Across the state line from Wagner

Wagner is close enough to the South Dakota border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Keya Paha RiverKeya Paha County, Nebraska · 77 mi awayAgatized Wood, Opalized Wood, Silicified Mastodon Tusks

Wagner FAQ

Where is Wagner?+

Wagner is in Bon Homme County, South Dakota, at 43.11153, -98.10530. Nearest road: 295th Street.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Wagner?+

Wagner is reported to produce Selenite Roses.

Is collecting allowed at Wagner?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Wagner?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.

When is the best time to visit Wagner?+

The most comfortable months at Wagner are March to November.

How do I get to Wagner?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.11153, -98.10530 in Google Maps. The nearest road is 295th Street.

More rockhounding in South Dakota

See all 43 South Dakota spots →

Open Wagner on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.