Lake Superior Agate

[AJE]

The following taken from :
Da Yooper's Rockhound and Lapidary Website:
http://www.dayooper.com/LSAgates.htm

"Lake Superior Agates were once plentiful on the beaches of along the Lake Superior, but, it is a good day if a nice one is found at present. Best hunting is right after a storm or de-icing in the spring. Where to hunt for these gorgous stones? I would say just about any beach that has pebbles on the South, east and West shores of Lake Superior should all be combed.

There are many beaches where they may be found here in the Upper Great Lakes regions, as well as a number of ridges where they can be dug from the ground at the base of the ridge or removed from the basalt such as quarries. Although this is hard work and not many people care to do it. "

More on Lake Superior Agates at:
http://www.dayooper.com/LSAgates.htm

and
http://www.dayooper.com/AgateHunt.htm

[BadgerLight]

Have you been to the Agate Mine in Thunder Bay? It is different than Lake Superior Agate, but it is still from the Lake Superior area and it is beautiful!

photos: http://www.ontariominerals.com/agate_pic.htm

Thunder Bay Agate Mine
Hwy 527. Travel 2 km east of the Terry Fox Monument.
The only agate mine in Canada, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Holds the worlds largest agate. The mine is a dig-your-own for a fee area. You can also get what you dig up polished for an extra fee.

BadgerLight

[AJE]

Actually the Thunder Bay Agate is a very rare deposit of mineral and might I add very unique in its characteristics. Thunder Bay Agate is one of three places in the world where agates are found in veins of extinct volcanoes, and the only agate mine in Canada. Unfortunately this RARE gem is also costly, we could have mined amethyst for an entire day for the cost of ONE specimen of the Thunder Bay Agate.

We had a blast rockhounding at Amethyst Mine Panorama, which is the largest amethyst deposit in Canada. Yes you need to bring in your own tools to extract the deposits but you'll have the time of your life doing it. We came back with not huge crystals but nonetheless perfect for our own collections of rocks from all over.
http://www.amethystmine.com/

Our family had a million wonderful memories of Canada; our poor car literally brought back a load. Hahaha! If nothing else go fishing!

[BadgerLight]

I have been to both mines, bringing home samples from each. They let us purchase our agate by the pound. It was so beautiful it was difficult to choose. Amethyst is my birthstone so I have many samples after visiting several mines near Thunder Bay.

BadgerLight

[AJE]

Hello Everyone, my family would like to go collecting up in MN for Lake Superior Agates. We did it about 9 years ago with a lot of success, but since then I have heard a law has passed for the safety of the rockhound and for the property owners. Does anyone know what this law is called which we must take a course prior to setting foot in the restricted areas such as quarries? How long is the programs duration and the cost to go through this class in Minnesota? Does anyone have any suggestions on contacts? Would like to head to MN in late July or August 2007.

[AJE]

You may want to visit:

"Lake Superior Agates
and the Minnesota Moose Lake State Park
Geology Interpretative Center

Rock hunters and agate collectors traveling around Lake Superior should consider taking a slight side trip (on Interstate 35) about 36 miles south of Duluth, Mn to see the very impressive Lake Superior Agate collection and rock displays at the interpretive center located with the Moose Lake Park Visitor Center. If you have a annual state park pass or a pass for the day from visiting another minnesota state park, admission to the Geological Center is free; otherwise there is a modest admission charge (in my opinion worth the fee if you are interested in agates). "

Reposted from:
Lake Superior Agates - Moose Lake State Park

4252 CR 137
Moose Lake, MN 55767

[AJE]

Some beautiful Agates...we're heading back north the end of October for some rough rockhounding.

[AJE]

The Beautiful Lake Superior Agate

Lake Superior Agates were once plentiful on the beaches of along the Lake Superior, but it is a good day if a nice one is found at present. HINT: Best hunting is right after a storm or ice thaw in the spring. Lake Superior Agate Locations good question… Where to hunt? I would say just about any beach that has pebbles on the South, east and West shores of Lake Superior should be favored.

There are many beaches where they may be found here in the Upper Great Lakes regions, as well as a number of ridges where they can be dug from the ground at the base of the ridge or removed from the basalt such as quarries. This is hard work and not many people care to do it. NOTE: MN requires all pedestrians in the quarries to take an Open Pit Mining course and have permission to excavate. My family plans to take our course early 2008. Also if your interested in a huge summer Lake Superior Agate Event for the whole family do look into Moose Lake State Park, SW of Duluth. SEE the above Post.

So how did these gems form? Lake Superior Agates are believed to be from 1 to 2 billion years old and were formed in the Lake Superior area lava flows. As the lava cooled, silicates and other minerals flowed into the vesicles (gas pockets) trapped in the solidified lava, which then hardened to form the Lake Superior Agate and many other mineral amygdules.

There are many types of Agate found throughout the world, but Lake Superior Agates are by far, the most beautiful. There are no two Lake Superior Agates exactly alike, unless they are the two halves of the same agate. The colors attributed to Lake Superior Agates are infinite, with the most prized being the high contrasting red and white bands. Some other features found in Lake Superior Agates are eyes, tubes, paint stones (pastel/flat color banding), peeled (where the agate breaks across a band plane), fortifications, as well as others.

During the Prehistoric Ice Ages when the glaciers swept across the Lake Superior Area, the Lava rock was easily broken up and eventually formed sand and soil. However, the very hard Lake Superior Agates were carried along with the glaciers and deposited elsewhere. Yes they are found in Western Wisconsin too and on down to Iowa.

Lake Superior Agates are popular within the Lapidary Field as they make suburb colorful patterned cabs, rings, necklaces, etc.., or just look great rough or tumbled.




Make sure to leave open "The Wonderful World of Agates" international show located at Weis Museum Appleton, WI. Agate venders from around the world will be coming to central Wisconsin.

What You'll See:
Agate Experts
Agate Displays
Agate Vendors
Agate Auctions
Agate Photography
Technical Sessions
Author Book-Signings
Agate Adventure Programs

When: July 10-13, 2008

Where: Weis Earth Science Museum
University Of Wisconsin-Fox Valley
1478 Midway Rd. Menasha, Wisconsin, USA

WEBLINK
Agate Show 2008

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"participants are encouraged to register early."

The organizers of “The Wonderful World of Agates” envision an event that will bring together agate aficionados and amateurs alike, to celebrate and explore the beauty, science, history and mystique of these remarkable gemstones."