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Here's an Eye Agate my neice found at Little Girl's Point
Go Here for Guide Books on Lake Superior Beach Rocks and Lake Superior Agates
Part 1 - Identifying Beach Stones & Agates around Lake Superior
Part 2 - Recognizing Rocks & Agate Collected on Lake Superior Beaches.
Rock & Agate Tumbling
Rock Tumbling Lake Superior Rocks & Gemstones.
Tumbling and polishing Agates - Agate pictures & some tips on using tumbling pellets.
Maps, Pictures, Guide to Lake Superior Agate & Rock Picking Beaches
In a previous page, Part 1, I offered pictures and descriptions of common beach rocks found on Lake Superior beaches. In a seccond page, Part 2, I show some beach rocks & minerals, and some agates, that can be polished into attractive gemstones. In this page, Part 3, I continue to show and describe more varieties of rocks and minerals that make attractive gemstones. I also show here some recent agate finds and some agate-wanna-bes that some will mistakenly identify as an agate.
My identification and descriptions rely on a variety of sources, all of which are listed in the recommended agate & beach rock books section at the bottom of this page. The book "Rocks & Minerals" by Bob and Dan Lynch was particularly helpful because of the huge amount of color pictures of various specimens. The "Lake Superior Rock Picker's Guide" by Kevin Gauthier and Bruce Mueller provided some helpful supplementary information, as did my reference books by Susan Robinson and Sparky Stensaas. Karen Brzys booklet on "Understanding and Finding Agates" was helpful in identifying true agates from agate first cousins or agate wanna-bes.
Clicking on the small images shown here will bring up a larger view in a separate window. By the way, if you want to print out any of these larger images, just *right click* on the image and choose "copy image" to copy it to your hard drive. Once there you can click on it and print it out.
Water Level Agate?
I initially thought this was a water level agate but because the bands appear more opaque rather than translucent I think not. The bands are formed like they do in an agate but the crystals of the bands are so small they are opaque.
Basalt with Quartz fill
Here's another example of a banded rock that isn't an agate. Quartz has filled a seam in a basalt rock.
Quartz-Jasper
Here's three quartz occlusions where jasper has been fused with quartz with some agate-like banding around the margins. Some would consider these true agates.
Banded Gneiss
Here is another example of opaque bands formed in a metamorphic rock. Gneiss is abundant in the Upper Peninsula beaches.
Quartz-Chalcedony Bands
Here we have translucent bands alternating with some that look more opaque. However from what I understand exists with a true agate, the bands are too broad. So I'd say this is another wanna-be.
Prehnite
I believe these specimens are prehnite. The specimen on the far right may have some copper staining.
Jasper
These rocks are Jasper, a microcrystaline form of quartz that has been stained, usually by iron ore. The rock on the right is Jasperlite with bands of iron ore.
Jasper with Calcite fill
Slate
These banded rocks are slate, another metamorphic rock. Originally a layered sedimentary rock but was later subjected to heat and pressure to fuse the layers together. Slate are smooth and usually flat. Make good skipping stones.
Part 1, Lake Superior Beach Rocks & Agates
Pictures of Agates & Almost Agates Black River Rec Area Beach.
Want to See More Agates - Go Here for pix from the Lake Superior Agate Museum.
See more Lake Superior Agate Pictures plus some advice on using tumbling pellets to tumble and polish agates.
Black River Harbor Agate Hunting - pictures and video.
Recommended by a SuperiorTrails friend & rock hound, this new guide has actual photographs of various rocks and minerals found on Lake Superior beaches. Co-author Bob Lynch is owner of Agate City Rocks and Gifts in Two Harbors Minnesota |
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Karen Brzys. Director, Gitchee Gumee Agate & History Museum, has created this comprehensive tutorial to finding agates. Includes over 750 photographs and diagrams. |
Lake Superior Rocks & Minerals Field Guide
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Here is another book recommended by a Superior Trails reader and rock hound who was able to identify over 50 rocks found on the beach using this guide by Kevin Gauthier and Bruce Mueller. Also included are tips for polishing the stones and rock. Kevin and Bruce also publish a similar guide for Lake Michigan rocks. |
My wife Jo found this agate hunters book while traveling in the UP and thought it would help her find her first Lake Superior Agate. It is full of tips for agate hunting (and rock picking) and has some very good color photographs of a number of agate variations as well as photos of the other kinds of rocks you'll find on Lake Superior beaches. |
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Sparky's guide covers what north shore beaches to comb, a bit of history on the formation of the various rocks found on beaches, and helpful information and pictures on identifying beach rocks and minerals. |
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Rock On Festival - Lake Superior Agates
We had a great time at last year's festival. My wife Jo found 5 agates on the beach and is now an addicted agate hound!. |
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Links for Rock Picking on Lake Superior Beachs and information on Agates and Rocks found around Lake Superior
About the Lake Superior Agate - Minnesota's State Gem |
Continuing your Travel & Trekking
Around Lake Superior
Superior Trails Lake Superior Circle Tour
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Don't miss experiencing Duluth's Canal Park, Shopping and Entertainment District.
Duluth's Enger Park Tower provides a panaramic view of the city of Duluth.
See our reviews on Best Hiking and Camping Guides around Lake Superior.
Enjoying lake breezes and views at the Canal Park Brewery Beer Garden - Canal Park.
Follow our Hunt for the
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in Duluth, Minnesota.
Tall Ships Duluth Festival is coming in 2016
Enjoying lake breezes and views at the Duluth Canal Park Brewery Beer Garden - Canal Park.
See the lighthouses on an Apostle Islands Cruise.
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