My Rocks

[jigglestick]

when the opportunity presented itself last summer, I got a little more serious about my rock hunting.

I had been taught to look for agates by an old family friend when I and my brothers were just kids and I always had an interest in them but I never put a lot of effort into it.

when I had an invite to pick in this private pit near Duluth, it didn't take long to realize what a privelidge it was.

I would like to help others with some tips I learned as I picked, to help you find rocks you may be over looking.

there are prime times to look, though I would recomend looking when ever you can, early mornings when the sun is just cresting can be very advantageous in your agate hunting. the sun, low in the sky shines through the semi transparent gems, lighting them up making them almost easy to spot.

add in wet rocks from a rain during the night and that combination is deadly for spotting rocks that other wise blend in.

the more I looked for agates, the more my brain began to automaticly recognize them for me.

sounds funny, but I know my brain got better and better at spotting them.

Agates have unique charachteristics. not all share the same qualities either. some red, some white to black to almost blue shardes.

the more you pick the easier it will be for you.

broken agates sometimes have that waxy look to the broken area. that is pretty common.

also, the outside of the stone is often covered with dimples. not always, but often.

it reminds be of glass that has boiled and cooled. don't know why I think that but I do.

also, on a lot of agates, I have noticed a yellowy mustard color.

like this...

or this...

or this...

here are a few of the bigger rocks in my collection, including my biggest, a 19.5 once stone.

this is the big one...

some randome rocks...

good luck rock hunting. remember the big ones are still out there!

[DARK30]

Its nice to have a pit you can call your own Some people call that yellow stuff rust. Its not rust.

I just fired up the new rock tumbler last night...can't wait to spread um out

[itchmesir]

man.. i wish i lived in a more agate friendly area.. all you can find around here are quartz agates..

[fishinfey8]

Sweet collection! I have a lot of smaller sized agates, but those big ones take a special eye to spy...Of course, the smaller ones tumble well! Is this new tumbler bigger, better, faster, and stronger?? What does a guy look for in a tumbler dark? Mine was part of a kit that my parents got me when I was a kid. I'm guessing size of the barrel is the main thing...?

[DARK30]

Back to the basics..I actually downsized the tumbler to a 1 quart barrel. I got a Thumlers AR-1 delivered for a little over a $100. I think the the smaller barrel puts less stress on the rocks as they tumble inside. I use a vibrating "Lot O Tumbler" for the polish stage.

After the first two rolls,you can also use clear acrylic nail polish to put a nice finish on them. Some stones don't even need to see a tumbler this way.