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Field CollectingLake Superior Agates
28th Apr 2007 16:01 UTCRyan B.
I'm looking for places to go hunting for Lake Superior Agates and people who might like to collect agates with me. I am located in Prescott, WI, just east of the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN metro area. I have found a few sites in the area but I am looking for something new and someone to share my enthusiasm.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Ryan
28th Apr 2007 23:10 UTCRay Hill Expert
29th Apr 2007 04:27 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
Good luck in your hunt for the elusive Lake Superior agate.......
29th Apr 2007 09:33 UTCMelody N
30th Apr 2007 21:26 UTCRyan B.
Not sure what your e-mail address is, but I would be interested in collecting with you. You can contact me at ryan.badten@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Ryan
2nd May 2007 20:18 UTCIan Merkel
If you click on her name (in blue) it will link you to her e-mail.
Cheers.
Ian
2nd May 2007 22:00 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager
4th May 2007 02:21 UTCSieg
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am from Bay City,WI and have a few pretty good
> agate spots I would be interested in sharing w/
> you.Perhaps we could check them out
> sometime.E-mail me if you would be interested.
I would love to take a trip to Lake Superior in a couple weeks. I already took some time off, but I've never traveled alone before and have no idea where to look. ANY suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I live in Owatonna, MN and have wanted to venture up there for several years now.
5th May 2007 18:10 UTCJohn Truax
Fine quality painted eye agates are being mined in Michigan at this time they are just beautiful! If you are interested I know a guy who is selling a guide service to several Michigan gem locations.
A trip the the shores of Lake Superior in MN should include a stop at the several rock shops on hwy 61, at Two Harbors, Beaver Bay and up in Grand Marias. Thunder Bay amethyst can be dug at the fee mines just a couple hours North of the US border ... too much fun~! You may be able to find some fine thomsonite specimens on your trip as well. Happy Picking :O)
"so many locations ... so little time"
6th May 2007 06:37 UTCDiane R Tjepkes
9th May 2007 01:45 UTCGuy Florek
9th May 2007 14:27 UTCJohn Truax
10th May 2007 15:19 UTCAJE
19th Jan 2008 01:05 UTCL Bowen
I was just doing a search on WI agate collecting as we're planning a trip to visit family in north-central WI this summer. I'm trying to get one day of Lake Superior agate hunting in while we're there. Did you find a good locatoin? FInd any agates? If so, do you mind sharing? Thanks so much!
19th Jan 2008 16:30 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager
http://www.uwfox.uwc.edu/wesm/agate/schedule.html
19th Jan 2008 19:43 UTCAnonymous User
ANyone have experience with the Carlton county gravel dump piles accessable with permission?
Thanks.
20th Jan 2008 03:01 UTCDiane R. Tjepkes
20th Jan 2008 14:55 UTCambergemstone1978
-------------------------------------------------------
> That looks cool, as does the annual agate days
> event in Moose Lake MN. Unfortunately we'll be in
> the area earlier, in late May.
>
> ANyone have experience with the Carlton county
> gravel dump piles accessable with permission?
>
> Thanks.
My family will be attending the agate days this year as well as doing rockhounding of this region. in order to enter any quarry in MN you need to take a course as well as have permission.
20th Jan 2008 16:59 UTCJohn Truax
Good Luck Agate Finding!
21st Mar 2008 14:33 UTCJoyce
23rd Mar 2008 22:44 UTCAaron
9th Sep 2019 03:28 UTCKim Rinde
6th Apr 2008 19:13 UTCROGER KEHRET
I am interested in collecting some agates this spring and would like to have some company if you are interested. I have no experience in agate collecting in the northern part of the state but would like to get started. I am from and also now live in Austin, mn but have lived in Arkansas for 5 years. Lots of quartz crystal , calcite crystal and smithsonite collecting there.If you send me your email address I will link you to my Hi5 , stumble on and flickr sites and you can see some of my minerals, old radios and cave photos.
Roger Kehret
rkehret42@yahoo.com
9th Apr 2008 23:05 UTCPamela Havermans
On the way back, take US 41 through the center ofthe peninsula. There are many abandoned mine dumps that are interesting to pick through. I can let you know more info if you want.
havermap@monashores.net
27th Apr 2008 20:34 UTCerica stark
30th Apr 2008 00:51 UTCPamela Havermans
I've never hunted in WI; but I would think anywhere in WI along the Lake Superior shoreline would be good. MI rock collecting is good along the entire Lake Superior shoreline. I would email CaptPaul on this thread as he seems knowledgeable about the area. Good luck; let us know what you find!
30th Apr 2008 03:25 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
11th May 2008 07:02 UTCJanice Palmer
16th May 2008 21:33 UTCAmy Thomas
I live in St. Paul and am also very interested in collecting LS agates this summer, hopefully both from local sites and up north. I haven't done this a lot, but have done a lot of research, including contacting the DNR for a list of gravel pits. I also have a friend up by Mille Lacs who is an agate dealer. It sounds like lots of people are interested, so contact me; let's get a group together and go hunting!
Hope to meet you soon,
Amy Thomas
uathomas@yahoo.com
21st May 2008 13:16 UTCNikhil Kumar
Any suggestions for locations around Grand Marais, MI?
Regards,
Nikhil
22nd May 2008 02:21 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
Janice, depending on where your camping along Lake Superior you can find some good agates. In the UP, the best places are along the west and north shores of the Keweenaw, the Porcupine Mtns., and near Grand Marais, MI. There are other places as well, but are too hard to get to without proper gear and knowledge of the local trails. Of course, if your in the Keweenaw, your bound to find copper; it's almost impossible not to........
Good luck to both of you!!
28th May 2008 02:11 UTCJanice
31st May 2008 04:09 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
8th Jun 2008 13:30 UTCBill Boehm
8th Jun 2008 16:14 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager
26th Sep 2008 20:24 UTCAndrea62574
Does anyone know if lake superior thomsonite is more valuable when still imbeded in its matrix or once its removed? I have some large football sized pieces I bought at a garage sale that have thomsonite peeking out of them. Should I try to break it apart and remove it, or is it worth more as it is?
Any info would be appreciated, I'm pretty new to rock collecting!
Thanks!
5th Oct 2008 03:06 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
See my comment to your question in your thomsonite thread.......
31st May 2009 04:25 UTCChris R. MN
31st May 2009 23:20 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
My first suggestion to you might be to contact a local rock/mineral club or college geology department in your area and take it to them for identification. Another idea is to take a photo of your specimen and post it to our Identity Help forum (http://www.mindat.org/msgboard-11.html). We have a lot of people that are very knowledgeable in identifying specimens from photos and also quite a number of folks from the Great Lakes area (myself included) that might be able to identify it as well.....
1st Jun 2009 00:30 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/moose_lake/index.html
1st Jun 2009 01:32 UTCJohn Oostenryk
Easy answer and hopefully solution for you!
I am hoping you have found a giant agate! That size would be an amazing find! I am in NW IL and have been hunting them for 35 years. It is good hunting here on the 'ol Mississippi River. I have buckets of them of all sizes but not THAT big. It is too far south for them to survive size-wise from the pounding they receive in the glacier/river transport.
Here's what you do:
Hose it off with the garden hose and scrub it with a scrub brush so it is clean.
Put it outside (preferably in the sun) and take pictures of the different sides WHILE WET.
Put a ruler or tape measure beside it for size reference in the pictures.
Just make sure your pics are clear and clean. Blurry will do no good!
Post a couple of the pics to me at joostenryk@mchsi.com
I am confident I can verify for you whether it is an actual agate or a different type of stone. I am very familiar with what shows up in the MN--WI--IA--IL river aggregates.
If posting the pic to my email is easier, then I'm glad to help out.
Very Sincerely,
John O
6th Jun 2009 16:07 UTCKim Benning
7th Jun 2009 05:36 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
19th Jun 2009 15:15 UTCScott Sadlocha
24th Jul 2009 05:42 UTCMax Action
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2629/3746633270_5f1b53afe7_o.jpg
19th Oct 2009 22:45 UTCJen
23rd Oct 2009 17:08 UTCMark & Linda Mahlum
Mark Mahlum
29th Oct 2009 18:41 UTCMax Action
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2621/4056110584_1a05321aaf_o.jpg
Yes, that is a boot for scale.
29th Oct 2009 19:06 UTCRock Currier Expert
30th Oct 2009 06:58 UTCNax
30th Oct 2009 12:20 UTCRock Currier Expert
30th Oct 2009 14:59 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
21st May 2010 07:43 UTCJames Johnson
have read with interest on places to go and look for the agates...can anyone tell me the best time to drive up there to find the foliage in bloom ?
all information much appreciated.
James :)
St Louis area
22nd May 2010 07:37 UTCJohn Truax
On most of the Twin Cities news websites you will find "fall colors" maps, each autumn season. Google is your friend!
Here is a map of typical peak color dates: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fall_colors/typical_peak.html
Agate picking is quite rich in the Moose Lake area, several gravel mines still allow collecting, rocky logging and quad trails can be productive as well.
Good Luck Picking~!
J T
22nd May 2010 21:14 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
It really depends on where you'll be traveling to this fall. If your heading to the Arrowhead of Minnesota, figure about late September. If your in northern Wisconsin or Upper Michigan, usually the first part of October; however, these are only averages. The weather can really play tricks on the exact timing of the best foliage. As John mentioned, check the local Natural Resources department for the state you are visiting, and also either NOAA or the NWS as they put out a foliage forcast that is updated frequently during the Fall season.
In my opinion, the Great Lakes region can't be beat for colours in the Fall.....
23rd May 2010 01:02 UTCJames Johnson
my blog site contains alot of photos of my trips and rockhounding adventures as well :
http://jwjphotoblog.com
Just got back from taking the Tulsa Club to some nice druse locations today...
James :)
25th Jan 2012 21:32 UTCDave Miller
Me and my g/f went rock hounding last summer around Grand maris and found some nice agates. Best time I guess is in the spring. My g/f and I are planning on having friends come with us going up to the kewana area to look for more good spots + look for stuff with some metal detectors in some abandoned mine areas. Maybe if your interested give me an email back. Its hard finding people that are rock hounds. Thanks and hope this helps a little bit
25th Jan 2012 22:52 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
I'm assuming "kewana" is the Keweenaw Peninsula of Upper Michigan, also known as the Copper Country? If so, there are many places to search for minerals and I can give you some pointers if you'd like. Just shoot me a private message or visit the Mineral Chatroom sometime.....
7th Mar 2012 03:38 UTCmo
7th Mar 2012 12:22 UTCAnonymous User
Pieces of agates and very small ones can be found along the shoulders of gravel roads anywhere near Carlton, Moose Lake, and nearby areas, since the gravel came from the nearby sand & gravel operators in that area.
The beaches of the Keweenaw yield very small agates, and they can be more easily found by waiting until late afternoon or evening, wearing a hat with a brim and walking toward the sun. The agates show up more easily since most of them are translucent. A lot of the beaches east of Grand Marais, Michigan, are not collected from as much as here, and do yield good agates, but those found there were most likely transported by the glaciers since the area has no basaltic rocks.
13th Jun 2012 07:47 UTCJason Simonson
15th Oct 2012 00:16 UTCchadb
15th Oct 2012 00:22 UTCchadb
26th Oct 2012 02:32 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
12th Feb 2013 05:29 UTCRhonda
Thanks,
Rhonda
13th Feb 2013 02:43 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
The best people to contact might be the Lynch's at Agate City Rocks & Gifts in Two Harbors, MN for more information about agates in the area. Also, many of the gravel pits in the Minnesota area have agates in them, but permission must be obtained before entering any of them, including the abandoned ones. For those, you may want to contact a local rock club for accessibility or contact the Moose Lake Area Chamber of Commerce in Moose Lake, MN.
Good luck! (tu)
13th Feb 2013 04:09 UTCBill Cordua 🌟 Manager
Another way to get in touch with people and find local spots to hunt is to join a local rock club. There is a club, the St. Croix Rockhounds, quite near you in Stillwater Minnesota. There are also clubs in Minneapolis-St. Paul, notably the Minnesota Mineral Club and the Anoka County Gem and Mineral Club. All welcome new members or guest, have interesting programs and go on field trips.
14th Feb 2013 15:54 UTCJohn Truax
It is the best annual rock show in our area. Hope you can make it Rhonda.
As Paul recommended a trip to Agate City in Two Harbors is a must see on a trip up Hwy 61,
and the Beaver Bay Rock Shop as well.
Lake Superior agates can be found in about any rock pile in Minnesota ... farm fields, logging roads etc...
Have Fun!
J T
14th Feb 2013 17:38 UTCAnonymous User
14th Feb 2013 23:19 UTCKristopher Dingfield
17th Mar 2013 08:26 UTCli
17th Mar 2013 16:12 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
21st Sep 2013 01:49 UTCKathy Anderson
4th Feb 2014 04:24 UTCMatt Neuzil Expert
-------------------------------------------------------
> Oooook.....
lol.
When i was at field camp some students helped "rescue" a piece of BIF from shores of a wyoming lake. I don't know how much it weighed but I think six people had to help load it onto a piece of cattle grate or fence and then carry it quite a distance to the car. It made for an interesting recovery to say the least :)
No need to break nice pieces when they can easily be removed with man power.
4th Feb 2014 11:58 UTCSusan Robinson
27th Aug 2014 22:15 UTCKirstie Fournier
I live near Hessel, MI, and and have traveled to Lake Superior at the Lake Superior Agate Museum in Gitchi Gume…someone has said there are lake superior agates in Michigan. Could anyone let me know where to go and who to ask? I am a rock hound from Oregon and a member of the Mount Hood Rock Club in Gresham, Oregon.
I would also like to follow up with some tips as to where to go in Minnesota to get legal access to some of the closed quarries.
Please let me know soon, as I will be leaving Hessel, MI in a couple of days.
Thanks so much in advance.
Sincerely,
Kirstie Fournier
28th Aug 2014 03:05 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
There are indeed agates in Michigan, you just need to know where to look. If you review the posts in this thread, that should be all the info you'll need to get started. The northwest beaches of the Keweenaw and around Grand Marais are good places to go. You likely won't find anything like the Minnesota pieces size-wise, but they are there.
Good luck!
28th Aug 2014 12:12 UTCRock Currier Expert
22nd Jun 2015 04:21 UTCJacob Landis
22nd Jun 2015 05:21 UTCD Mike Reinke
I have no 'place' to recommend, but I found one in Iowa just looking through the decorative gravel at a gas station in quad cities. Lots of dredging of the river, could turn up almost anything. I only found one at a casual glace, so whether that was the only one around or not, I can't say. But I suspect it was quite a fluke. So if you are not after real quantity, I'd say just keep your eyes open, and enjoy the 'exploration.'
15th Aug 2015 21:08 UTCAl Bayne
9th Sep 2019 03:23 UTCKim Rinde
11th Sep 2019 13:57 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
Welcome to Mindat, Kim!
Have you tried any of the local Twin City's mineral clubs?
13th Jun 2023 06:08 UTCBrandon Lee
Hello! Anyone still around in this discussion? If so I’m curious if anyone has been to Omar’s gravel pit in the last couple years??
Thanks!
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Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: May 10, 2024 00:28:54