Broken Boot Gold Mine: Gold Prospecting in Lawrence County, South Dakota

Updated June 2026

Broken Boot Gold Mine is a mapped rockhounding spot in Lawrence County, South Dakota. Reported finds include gold, arsenopyrite, galena, pyrite, sphalerite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Lawrence County
State: South Dakota
Nearest road: US Highway 14A
Postcode: 57732
Coordinates: 44.37071, -103.74232

Geology at Broken Boot Gold Mine

This spot sits on ground mapped as Alluvial deposits that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Stream-worked gravels like these are where placer gold tends to concentrate, settling toward bedrock, inside gravel bars, and behind boulders.

Mapped unit: Alluvial deposits
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Elevation: 4,720 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 Broken Boot Gold Mine

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 83°F in midsummer and 38°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 14°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, DEADWOOD station (1 mi away).

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 Broken Boot Gold Mine

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 Broken Boot Gold Mine.

Across the state line from Broken Boot Gold Mine

Broken Boot Gold Mine 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.

Broken Boot Gold Mine FAQ

Where is Broken Boot Gold Mine?+

Broken Boot Gold Mine is in Lawrence County, South Dakota, at 44.37071, -103.74232. Nearest road: US Highway 14A.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Broken Boot Gold Mine?+

Broken Boot Gold Mine is reported to produce Gold, Arsenopyrite, Galena, Pyrite, Sphalerite.

Is collecting allowed at Broken Boot Gold Mine?+

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. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Broken Boot Gold Mine?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Broken Boot Gold Mine?+

The most comfortable months at Broken Boot Gold Mine are March to November.

How do I get to Broken Boot Gold Mine?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.37071, -103.74232 in Google Maps. The nearest road is US Highway 14A.

More rockhounding in South Dakota

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Open Broken Boot Gold Mine on the map

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