Meade County: Yellow Barite & Amber Barite Rockhounding in Meade County, South Dakota

Updated June 2026

Meade County is a mapped rockhounding spot in Meade County, South Dakota. Reported finds include yellow barite, amber barite, whewellite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Meade County
State: South Dakota
Nearest road: Elk Vale Road
Postcode: 57769
Coordinates: 44.23999, -103.15166

Geology at Meade County

This spot sits on ground mapped as Alluvial deposits that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Alluvial deposits
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Elevation: 2,950 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 Meade County

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 86°F in midsummer and 34°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 12°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, HEREFORD 12 SW station (6 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 Meade County

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 Meade County.

Across the state line from Meade County

Meade County 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.

Meade County FAQ

Where is Meade County?+

Meade County is in Meade County, South Dakota, at 44.23999, -103.15166. Nearest road: Elk Vale Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Meade County?+

Meade County is reported to produce Yellow Barite, Amber Barite, Whewellite.

Is collecting allowed at Meade County?+

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 Meade County?+

A rock hammer, gloves, and safety glasses cover old mining-district ground. Stay out of shafts and adits; the best specimens typically come from dump piles.

When is the best time to visit Meade County?+

The most comfortable months at Meade County are March to November.

How do I get to Meade County?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.23999, -103.15166 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Elk Vale Road.

More rockhounding in South Dakota

See all 43 South Dakota spots →

Open Meade County on the map

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