Rattlesnake Butte: Calcite Rockhounding in Ziebach County, South Dakota

Updated July 2026

Rattlesnake Butte is a mapped rockhounding spot in Ziebach County, South Dakota. Reported finds include calcite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Ziebach County
State: South Dakota
Coordinates: 44.94963, -101.85922

Geology at Rattlesnake Butte

This spot sits on Hell Creek Formation, mapped as shale 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: Hell Creek Formation
Age: 100–66 Ma (Late Cretaceous)
Rock types: shale
Elevation: 2,470 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 Rattlesnake Butte

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 30°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 10°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, FAITH MUNI AP station (10 mi away).

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 Rattlesnake Butte

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

Calcite Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Rattlesnake Butte.

Rattlesnake Butte FAQ

Where is Rattlesnake Butte?+

Rattlesnake Butte is in Ziebach County, South Dakota, at 44.94963, -101.85922.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Rattlesnake Butte?+

Rattlesnake Butte is reported to produce Calcite.

Is collecting allowed at Rattlesnake Butte?+

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 Rattlesnake Butte?+

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 Rattlesnake Butte?+

The most comfortable months at Rattlesnake Butte are April to October.

How do I get to Rattlesnake Butte?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.94963, -101.85922 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in South Dakota

See all 43 South Dakota spots →

Open Rattlesnake Butte on the map

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