The federal mineral record holds 2,477 entries for South Dakota — 1,838 mines that shipped ore, 257 prospects that never became mines, 259 recorded occurrences. Below it: 3 places where you can legally collect.
Mineral history, not an invitation. This mineral history comes from a federal record of historic mines, prospects, and occurrences. It is not a list of places to collect. Historic mine sites are usually on private land, under active mining claims, or unsafe to enter — and often all three. The places you can actually collect are in the legal-access directory below.
The commodities that drew miners and prospectors to South Dakota, by number of historic records:
Gold · 537Silver · 519Feldspar · 502Mica · 337Uranium · 230Beryllium · 221Tin · 153Tungsten · 96
Records from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System, a legacy federal database last revised August 2022 and no longer updated.
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Keystone, SD
placer gold
Fee dig · Fee, seasonal · Daily from the second weekend in March through the end of October. Hours climb with the season: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday in March, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in April, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. May through August, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. in September, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in October. November through February is off-season, with tours by reservation only — call (605) 666-4847.
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
Custer, SD
rose quartzquartz crystalsmica
Forest Service collecting area · Free · Year-round where roads are open, but high-country forest roads close under snow from roughly November into April. Summer is crowded; September is the collector's month.
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
Buffalo Gap National Grassland — Fairburn Agate Beds (French Creek)
Fairburn, SD
fairburn agateprairie agatechalcedony
Forest Service collecting area · Free · Open year-round, but realistically spring through fall — access is gravel and clay two-track that turns to grease after rain. Best hunting is right after a hard rain has washed the gravel bars clean.
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
GoldSilverCopperQuartz CrystalsAgatesJasperBerylPetrified Wood
Yes — at places that allow it. This page lists 3 in South Dakota: fee digs, designated collecting areas, and official localities, each checked against its source. Everywhere else, legality depends on who owns the land and what rules apply. Before any trip: check land ownership and current mining claims, get permission, respect closures, and never enter old mine workings.
Treat South Dakota's historic mines as history, not destinations. Most sit on private land or active mining claims, and old workings are dangerous even to walk. The mineral record on this page tells you what the ground holds — the directory tells you where you are welcome to look for it.