Lake Superior Agates

[DARK30]

I have not personally seen the stone and this is the only pic I have. There is some quartz but that's why its only $400 and not over a thousand I suppose. If I picked that thing up, it would not be for sale.

[Steve Foss]

Dark, I looked around a little more and found that same agate on Facebook. Quartz plug is big, and stretches pretty far back.

But I'm most definitely with you. That one would become an honored part of my collection! While considered an "impurity" on the market, the quartz gives it added character, IMO.

I'm not big on tumbling agates, but I think picking the coolest part and giving that section a fine face polish would produce a very nice result.

[DARK30]

There are no two alike. I picked this one up this morning. Maybe 5 or 6 ounces..

[Steve Foss]

Love the pale moss greens on that one, Dark. Great angles and peeling.

[TonkaBass]

Awesome color on that one Dark! I got some more nice ones, but forgot them at my cabin. I will get pics up in a couple weeks when I get up there again. I don't know what I would do if I ever found one over a pound!

[Connan]

hey awesome finds everyone!! Ive been doig some agatwe hunting this summer and have had some good success. Here are my best from summer 2011. I found all these in Minnesota.

12.5 Oz.

11.5 Oz.

9.7 Oz.

A Tube Agate.

Water-washed babies on superior

Pink Floater

Here is some Thompsonite I found while looking for agates.

[img:center]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6072/6039007036_4c9ae691c3_b.jpg

[img:center]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6193/6113091911_aa9683bb0f_b.jpg

[TonkaBass]

Some awesome stuff connan! The lines in those are great!

[reinhard1]

First WELCOM TO HSO!!!! awesome pictures as well as awesome agates. good luck.

[Connan]

Thanks guys! its exciting finding them. I got the bug. I have a bunch of other small ones as well. You can see them on my flickr page.

Flickr

[DARK30]

Welcome Connan!

Nice tuber. I've heard there are a few guys actually scuba diving lake superior now!

A couple from this week...

(same rock)

(same rock)

[Steve Foss]

Connan, welcome to HSO. Great to see you here.

Thanks for sharing your excellent finds with us. I never get tired of looking at pics of the wonderful LS agates.

[Kim1212]

My dad was a rockhound when I was a kid (and still kind of is) and he collected, sawed, crafted, and did other crazy things with rocks. North Shore agate hunting is awesome, I miss living in Duluth sometimes. I actually found a very small agate near Ely today but it's just not the same. Love all the pictures!!

[Connan]

Thanks Dark30! and Steve/ Kim. The Tube is one of my fav's for sure(small but beautiful) ... dARK i saw your youtube video; it inspired me to keep up the search!!! Love that Eye/fortification agate you found wow! Thanks alot! Great find there, gota love a new agate! I recently inherited some scuba diving equipment from my uncle. Im looking to get into the sport and try some underwater hunting!!!! ... Kim- My grandpa was an agate/fossil hunter, that's where I got it from I guess. But you can find them all over Minnesota~ Just keep a eye open and you will find them everywhere.

[TonkaBass]

Nice pics again Dark! I took a little walk today and got a handful, here are some of the nicer ones.

The next two are from the same rock but opposite sides. This agate is covered in bands, but they a fine and hard to see. the picture doesn't do it justice at all.

[Connan]

nice finds! Looks like an enjoyable walk. The last one looks like it would be fun to cut open.

[Steve Foss]

Wonderful finds!

To cut, or not to cut. Tis the question!

[DARK30]

Nice lil tumblers! I'm looking forward to tumbling some of the specimens this winter.

[Connan]

I found this guy the other day. We finally got some much needed rain; must have washed this beauty free.

[reinhard1]

NICE!!!!good luck.

[TonkaBass]

Awesome! That makes it worth it!

[TonkaBass]

connan, what do you use to cut your rocks? Do you do it yourself?

[bobbymalone]

I found one in some upturned dirt in a ditch near finland a couple weeks ago. About the size of a softball but no really nice banding patterns

[Connan]

connan, what do you use to cut your rocks? Do you do it yourself?

All of the above agate I've posted are the natural finish and haven't been cut or polished. But I have found a few whole nodules that didn't have much banding exposed. I cut a few of these open with a diamond tile saw that I had. Then started grinding them by hand, then with sandpaper form like 60-2000 grit. Then used some abrasive polish type stuff, Ha. It worked ok.

Here they are:

B4.

After

[DARK30]

Working 12 hour days doesn't help the hunt. I did find one nice little peeler last Sunday tho...

[reinhard1]

nice looking agate!!!!good luck.