I retired from the Sioux Falls SD Police Department in 1985, moved to Rapid City and continued on with my "Rocky Ways". I am now 65 years of age and still learnin’, still grinding, polishing, hunting them and cuttin’ them my self. I also guide out of staters every summer from all over the United States. Last summer, I guided a gentleman from Japan. I picked him up at the airport, we went hunting, boxed his finds up and sent them home via UPS, and then took him back to the airport and seen him off the next day. So you can see that rock hunting is quite a past time world wide. What a life us rock hunters have!
The better half and I are also into antiques. We had several combination Antique Shoppes/Rock Shops over the years. We now work out of our house doing the same thing.
You can lie about the big one that got away or the one you ate, but you don't have to lie about the big Fairburn. Just show it to them!
I am also heavy into Metal Detecting. The thousands of abandoned mines and gold camps in the Hills Proper, will keep one busy for years and years. The many Conservation Camps that housed thousands during the WW2 right here in the Black Hills. The great number of Fur & Goods Trade Outposts. There is no limit as to what one can do if bored.
Another cherished pastime is digging and sifting old out house holes. The findings are a treasure to me, but was junk to them.
If you get the time, check out my Web Page at
http://www.angelfire.com/nb/rockman

Robert L "Bob" Morgan Age:65 Hometown: Rapid City, SD The Beautiful Black Hills A Rock Hunters Paradise My Top Treasure Hunting Tips 1. wet down ALL your finds-look for that pattern 2. the more rocks you look at-the more success 3. don't pass up washed eroding draws 4. prairie dog dirt mounds=great finds 5. don't overlook grassy areas My Best Places to Find Cash and Treasure 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

More about me... How I first got into treasure hunting... I was first introduced to rocks at age 7 in Western Nebraska. My school teachers fiancé was heavily into the rock scene. On a field trip to his shop, I was able to grind a cab and learned how to polish it. I was really eyeballing that saw, but teacher said “NO”! He did show us by gently putting his finger against the running blade that diamond will not cut your finger. I think she almost had the big one when she seen that. She then adamantly said "NO"! That was my introduction to The Rock World, and I have been involved in it ever since. Puttin’ a shine on a rock was my cup of tea! My treasure hunting obsession(s): Fairburn Agates is #1. Teepee Canyon Agate is a close 2nd. Finding good specimens for making spheres is quickly gaining ground. My most exciting find: My most exciting find was a Fairburn. Not just any old Fairburn, but an Albino Fairburn. It is white with a pink center. That color scheme is almost unheard of. There is only one other Albino Fairburn that is known up to now. It is in the Smithsonian Institute. It was found in the same area as I found mine, but 25 years earlier. It weighs right at 4 pounds and is almost a twin to mine both in size and shape. My favorite places to look for treasure: Railroad Buttes, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, NW Nebraska National Grass Lands, private pits, abandoned quarries and mines within the Black Hills My favorite treasure hunting techniques: If it is raining, GO ROCKIN'. The pattern will jump at you from a wet rock. My treasure hunt toolkit contains... Rock Hammer, Water(squirt bottle) Chisel, Eye Protection, Extra Water, Safety Items, Water, Bucket, small sledge hammer, did I mention water,(I am a great believer in wetting down all specimens) Eye Loupe, Leather Gloves, and anything else you might think you need. I'm presently hunting for... The new "Manville Agate",(coined word) in Wyoming. It is a Fairburn Agate with many red tints.Absolutely gorgeous and more beautiful than SD Fairburns. Recommended treasure hunting resources: I have to “toot my horn” on the rock hunting resource. Out of towners do no not know where to hunt. In 2004 I published a "Guide To Western SD Rock & Mineral Collecting". Consists of 100 pages, Maps, Directions, Spheres, Gold Panning, Homemade Rock Eq., My Collection & more. The other resource is my rockin’ friends in and around Rapid City.

MY FINDS

Description of treasure: Where I found it: How I found it: Appraisal information:	Description of treasure: Where I found it: How I found it: Appraisal information:
Description of treasure: Where I found it: How I found it: Appraisal information:	Description of treasure: Where I found it: How I found it: Appraisal information: