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Post by snowmom on Jul 11, 2014 8:31:33 GMT -5
Those of you who often pull agates out of some favored location will not think this is anything special, but to me it is a BIG DEAL. looks like it was just a bit smaller than a tennis ball when it was whole... I found just this piece... and this other odd rock with purple spots which seem to be partially filling with pyrite. This side of Lake Huron doesn't offer much in the way of agate hunting, though some are found near the Mackinaw bridge area... I have one other agate with blue grey chert and a small clear window that was no doubt a little thunder egg at one time, but this seems more like what an agate should be. Going back to hunt the area I found this one in again soon.
(doing a happy dance)
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 11, 2014 8:38:49 GMT -5
Congratulations on the find. It sounds like your area is almost as barren of agates as mine. Here in the NE corner of S.D., I've found exactly one agate in the 17 years I've lived here.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on Jul 11, 2014 9:28:44 GMT -5
Nice find......
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2014 9:52:10 GMT -5
Does anyone ever go scuba diving for agates?i would think that was the way to go.forget waiting for them to show up on shore!swim out and get them.LOL[nice finds and congrats Dave
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 11, 2014 10:12:23 GMT -5
Does anyone ever go scuba diving for agates?i would think that was the way to go.forget waiting for them to show up on shore!swim out and get them.LOL[nice finds and congrats Dave I have a DVD of a show that was on TV (cash and treasures) about scuba diving for Lakers. Here's a bit of info from a company that dives for them. Agate Diving/Copper Harbor Michigan Where: Agate diving near Eagle Harbor, MI Phone: (315) 891-7355 Website: Superior Divers Center Cost: Agateering Class Fee = $40 Additional dives available, cost varies Agate hunters are advised to take a basic non-certification course on agateering. A two-hour class, offered in Copper Harbor, MI, covers the identification and location of these precious gemstones. This is a one-tank dive (air furnished) snowmom - glad to see your finding some nice local stuff. Chuck
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Post by snowmom on Jul 11, 2014 10:40:00 GMT -5
wonder if we could find that on YOUTUBE Chuck... finding stuff is probably more of a learning curve, how to recognize it and how to look for it (and where) feeling as though I've made some progress from when I started in April.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 11, 2014 11:22:01 GMT -5
To advance your learning curve, you could try something I've done while searching for Fairburn agates in western S.D. Pick out a spot on the beach with plenty of rocks. An area about 10' diameter should do. Start turning each rock in that circle over and check it carefully. Those sneaky agates like to turn over and hide their pretty side in the dirt or in your case, sand. It's almost as if they can see you coming.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 11, 2014 11:29:56 GMT -5
wonder if we could find that on YOUTUBE Chuck... finding stuff is probably more of a learning curve, how to recognize it and how to look for it (and where) feeling as though I've made some progress from when I started in April.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 11, 2014 14:04:39 GMT -5
Yay!!! Congrats! I know you were stoked to find that! Here's to many more.
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moonmopus
starting to shine!
Member since June 2013
Posts: 45
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Post by moonmopus on Jul 11, 2014 22:54:30 GMT -5
Congratulations on the find. It sounds like your area is almost as barren of agates as mine. Here in the NE corner of S.D., I've found exactly one agate in the 17 years I've lived here. congratulations, snowmom. don, i'm tipping my geologically ignorant hand here a bit but i always thought the whole of SD was covered in killer rocks. your collection sure says otherwise!
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Post by jakesrocks on Jul 11, 2014 23:02:44 GMT -5
Congratulations on the find. It sounds like your area is almost as barren of agates as mine. Here in the NE corner of S.D., I've found exactly one agate in the 17 years I've lived here. congratulations, snowmom. don, i'm tipping my geologically ignorant hand here a bit but i always thought the whole of SD was covered in killer rocks. your collection sure says otherwise! Nope, everything east of the Missouri river was scoured out by the last ice age. Over here we find little chips of agate and pet wood in our gravel pits, and an occasional Wholly Mammoth bone. Along the extreme eastern side of the state they occasionally find a laker type agate, but they're few and far between. For me to find agates and other good cutting material it's a 7 hr drive one way. No rock clubs or shops around here either.
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Post by Starguy on Jul 14, 2014 18:50:52 GMT -5
wonder if we could find that on YOUTUBE Chuck... finding stuff is probably more of a learning curve, how to recognize it and how to look for it (and where) feeling as though I've made some progress from when I started in April. Cool thread snowmom. I've had some success finding Yellowstone river (Montana) agates by wading in the river and sweeping the rocks with a broom. The agates really stand out when you get the river mud off of them. It gives you the opportunity to find agates that aren't on the bank where everybody else looks. Later Brent
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Post by snowmom on Jul 14, 2014 18:56:16 GMT -5
now that's a cool idea... we have brownish algae and sludge from diatoms in the stiller waters around here.. I bet a broom would work to clear some of the rock surface to get a peek...
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 14, 2014 20:15:36 GMT -5
when we kayak out to the rock shoals the two tools I take are a 5 foot long 40 pound pry bar and a scrub brush with a 4 ft handle. It works pretty good but after scrubbing in one area too long you will stir up too much to see the rocks anyway. here's a shot with the brush and bar and here's the prize after a little scrubbing. sorry about the bad phone photo but yes it is a large pudding stone. Chuck
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Jul 14, 2014 20:32:03 GMT -5
People already think us rockhounders are crazy, but wow, can you imagine them seeing people with brushes cleaning the bottom of a lake That's okay, just tell them it is some government project!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 14, 2014 20:32:43 GMT -5
Chuck, do you just scrub suspect rocks, or do you scrub everything?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 14, 2014 20:42:03 GMT -5
Chuck, do you just scrub suspect rocks, or do you scrub everything? I am only looking for pudding stones and I have a pretty good eye for them (after 25 years of collecting). the scrub brush just helps me figure out if they are worth the effort. for the most part I search in water around two to three feet deep where normal people who are not insane would not bother. I tried snorkeling for them a bit last year. There is really a whole bunch of competition out there now. Might have to get scuba gear next. Chuck
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 14, 2014 21:22:48 GMT -5
I'm surprised at how good I am at spotting them too. I can recognize the matrix without seeing any jasper.
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Post by Starguy on Jul 14, 2014 22:24:50 GMT -5
when we kayak out to the rock shoals the two tools I take are a 5 foot long 40 pound pry bar and a scrub brush with a 4 ft handle. It works pretty good but after scrubbing in one area too long you will stir up too much to see the rocks anyway. here's a shot with the brush and bar Chuck It's easier in a river. The current takes the algae away. You still need to know what agates look like. It adds a new dimension to agate picking, and it's a good way to cool off in hot weather .
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