An illustrated guide to lake superior s beach stones, as well as a collectors guide to copper country minerals. She knew how perfect the lake superior agate was for the state gemstone. This is a particularly beautiful book, with a great many photos of the different types of fortification and other agates that characterize lake superior agates. My father and i have a photo of our marbles in this book. Rock hound guide agates, rock picking lake superior. We stick to beaches, not because the chances of finding an agate are better, but because there is something unique about being close to big gitche gumee lake superior, listening to the waves lapping the shoreline, feeling the crisp breeze coming of the lake, breathing. Artistic lake superior agate pendants snob appeal jewelry. Thompsonite, the beautiful and popular zeolite mineral found only in minnesota on an isolated stretch along lake superior, was another strong candidate. Lake superior agates are widely distributed along the lake s surrounding areas. This color scheme is caused by the oxidation of iron. This warm weather early on has got me out of the house and looking for agates.
Shop for lake superior agate art from the worlds greatest living artists. Agates 12 great agate hunting, agate identification and. The lake superior agate its wide distribution and ironrich bands of color reflect the state gemstones geologic history in minnesota. Lake superior agate, scott wolter, 1999, outernet publishing, isbn. List of books in the lake superior copper agate series. Specifically, an agate is made up out of layers of chalcedony kalsedohnee. Now, the two jewelers keep agate city rocks and gifts open yearround and are the leading source for lake superior agates, with more on display and for sale than any other shop in the country. Meet many of the top lake superior agate collectors of.
Popular searching areas include mouths of rivers, gravel pits, banks. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. A place to show off your eye agates and to sell them if you so choose to. Rock picking agate hunting guides lake superior circle tour. The eye agate has circles that look a little bit like eyes on its surface. Superior land and the story of grand marais, michigan describes the history of the south shore of lake superior beginning with the first native americans and continuing with the coming of the europeans, the taming of the wilderness, and the development and settlement of the. These rare lake superior agates are mostly found at the north shore of lake superior.
Copper agates from a single boulder electronic pdf format only, for research only at this time. These are truly beautiful gemstones with unlimited patterns and colors. An unusually beautiful quartz stone banded with rich red and orange colors derived from iron ore in the soil, lake superior agates were dispersed by glaciers in the last ice age. Lake superior copper agates, introduction to the worlds most spectacular agates in print. Jun, 2015 an agate is actually a variety of the mineral quartz. Sparky stensaas rock pickers guide to lake superior s north shore and susan robinsons is this an agate. Complete nodular stone with great husk and complete finebanded fortification face.
Lake superior agate is typically a banded material often concentric but sometimes has eyes and mossy patterns. Moss agates have treebranchshaped bits of minerals trapped in them. Over 100 agate photos and diagrams, and many all new essays and chapters including. The new book will follow the highly successful format of their first book that is currently a staple in the stores along lake superior, rock pickers guide to lake superior. See more ideas about lake superior agates, lake superior and rocks and minerals. The granular details of how the agates form in the host rock is still unkown.
Lake superior agate rough great for your rock tumbler. Ive handled many tons of the stone throughout the years, so i know. Buy photo butch goldenstein examines a rock to determine if its an agate april 19 in a field. See more ideas about agate, gem shop and lake superior agates. It was formed during lava eruptions that occurred in minnesota about a billion years ago. Armed with sparkys andor susans book plus some of the pictures and descriptions ive provided here, perhaps will help you id what you are collecting. The definitive book on lake superior s agates is here. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands. A variety of agate believed to be the worlds oldest agates, over 1 billion years old, these are found throughout the northern us having been spread from the original lake superior region by glaciation. Stunning varieties and how they are formed is our largest and most popular book, offering an indepth look at the formation of agates, followed by an extensive discussion of the many structural variations found in lake superior s gemstones. Unfollow lake superior agate to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. The lake superior agate was designated by the minnesota legislature as the official state gemstone.
The lake superior agate one mans journey by scott f. Read the storied agate and gain a new appreciation for this lake superior gemstone. Lake superior agates were distributed by the superior lobe ice age glacier approximately 10,000 years ago. He collects from all over the minnesota and wisconsin area. If youre a casual rock collector, you will find agates of lake superior fun, interesting and.
The lake superior agate was selected because the agate reflects many aspects of minnesota. All lake superior agate artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30day moneyback guarantee. Lynch and bob lynch features comprehensive entries for every type of agate found in michigan, minnesota, wisconsin, and. Agate basics gitche gumee agate and history museum. Get the best deals on lake superior agate when you shop the largest online selection at. Lake superior agates lot 5 smokey amethyst minnesota top shelf stone 2.
The list below provides some basic information to help you find the elusive lake superior agate. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Below are some of the most popular books and guides of rock pickers, agate hunters, and beach combers of lake superior beaches. What is lake superior agate, and where can you find it. A great time to go agate hunting is after a big lake superior storm when new rocks get tossed up onto the shore. The lake superior agate is found in several midwestern states, especially wisconsin, michigan, and minnesota, where is was selected as the official state gemstone. Lynch has a degree in graphic design with emphasis on photography from the university of minnesota duluth. If youre a casual rock collector, you will find agates of lake superior fun, interesting and beautiful. The lake superior agate book 4th edition kingsley north. Coauthor bob lynch is owner of agate city rocks and gifts in two. The first two reference books for lake superior beach rocks and agates i found helpful are. This is a group for people who love lake superior agates.
See more ideas about lake superior agates, lake superior, agate. Get the perfect guide to agates in the lake superior states. Pipestone, crafted into peace pipes by indians in pipestone, was another possibility. Minnesota designated lake superior agate as the official state gemstone in 1969. It has been expanded with more beautiful and interesting specimens of lake superior agate page 2 of cover. Lake superior agate collectors public group facebook. Lake superior eye agate collectors has 1,324 members. Whether youve never seen an agate or are an avid agate hunter, this new look at lake superior agates is bound to stir your interest. Wolters book, the lake superior agate third edition, 1996, burgess publishing. These books would not be possible without detailed documentation of the agates entered into the large copper agate image database, currently containing over 7,000 separate agate and mineral nodules. Rock tumbling grit with 2 pounds of lake superior agates and plastic pellets. Because agates are semitranslucent, they glisten when wet. Bright white flowing face surrounded by a richly colorful husk. These agates formed in volcanic rock billions of years old, and often have cracking due to being transported by glaciers over long distances.
Is this an agate an illustrated guide to lake superiors. Choose your favorite lake superior agate designs and purchase them as wall art, home decor, phone cases, tote bags, and more. How to identify lake superior agates lake superior agates. Finally returning to his homeland on the frozen tundra of minnesota for good. The stones predominant red color comes from iron, a major minnesota industrial mineral found extensively throughout the iron range region. The book provides a thorough examination of lake superior s strange and unique agate. 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.
Lake superior agates books about skip an atom and tiny. Thats because 10,000 years ago, glaciers carried them far from their origin in the lake superior region. The book is a story about how his friends teach him that his true value is not on the outside but comes from within. 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. They can be found anywhere along the path of the glacier, which includes most of the eastern twothirds of minnesota, northwestern wisconsin and. Lake superior agate earrings for women, 925 sterling silver, u. The presentation is simply excellent and exemplifies the multitude of variations in color and pattern which make agate a true prized possession.
Their name is the result of a misconception of their possible crystal structures that was coined 75 years ago. Wowser rocksfor entertainment as well as for educational purposes, karen shows participants some of her favorite rocks including ocean jasper, polychrome jasper, rhodochrosite, malachite stalactite, blue lace waterlevel agate, panama canal agates, a bag of exotic agates, a bag of shadow agates, a bag of lake superior agates, plate tectonic. Lake superior agate is widely known as a tumbling rough. Tabbed booklet with photos and info that help readers become better agate hunters.
Iron leached from rocks provided the pigment that gives the gemstone its. Lake superior agates books about skip an atom and tiny agates. Beginner or expert, this is your guide to lake superior agates. Sometimes its from where mother nature left it or from the hands of a fellow rockhound. The lake superior agate is a type of agate stained by iron and found on the shores of lake superior. The lake superior agate was formed during lava eruptions that occurred about a billion years ago.
Apr 29, 2016 the touristscoured beaches of lake superior arent the best places to find lake superior agates. These layers create the banding pattern that agates are famous for. Lake superior agates are world renowned for their unique, translucent beauty but no ones ever seen them quite like james magnuson and carol wood. I have been collecting and making marbles from the lake superior agates for over 10 years now. Hunting for the stone is a popular hobby among many gem collectors.
The lake superior agate differs from other agates found around the world in its rich red, orange, and yellow coloring. Returning to his roots as an avid passionate agate hunter. Scott wolters book is an articulate and helpful book for the unexperienced or avid agate collector. Lake superior eye agate collectors public group facebook. Wolter this book has 143 pages of valuable information which includes. If you are interested in more detail, please visit the gitche gumee museum and request an agate class, or visit the online gift shop to purchase the museums book understanding and finding agates scan the beach and look for the iron oxide red color. The two harbors fatherson duo of bob and dan lynch have a new book out called agates of lake superior. Lake superior agate goodreads meet your next favorite book. But a closer look at the history of the lake superior agate proves that it was the best choice.
Iron leached from rocks provided the pigment that gives the gemstone its beautiful array of color. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands affordable prices. The book the other lake superior agates is about the beautiful agates found in the upper midwest region of the united states. Apr 15, 2011 the book provides a thorough examination of lake superior s strange and unique agate varieties, as well as a if youre a casual rock collector, you will find agates of lake superior fun, interesting and beautiful. Its wide distribution and ironrich bands of color reflect the gemstones geologic history in minnesota, wisconsin, nebraska, iowa, kansas and michigan. It is so popular in the great lakes area that the minnesota legislature designated it as the official state gemstone. Lake superior agate coming later this spring is a new book published in conjunction with kollathstensaas publishing, titled. Since 1987 she has also written an extensive series of articles. The touristscoured beaches of lake superior arent the best places to find lake superior agates.
Despite their name, lake superior agates can be found throughout much of minnesota. Owners bob and nancy lynch provide rock and mineral specimens, specializing in lake superior agates as well as other local gemstones such as thomsonite and greenstone, as well as oneofakind pieces of silver and gold jewelry handcrafted by them right in. The first in a trilogy of books featuring agate and mineral nodule specimens found at each of the three principal locations for copper agates. Copper agates introduction to lake superior copper agates. If youre a more advanced hobbyist, you will appreciate this professional and scientific resource. Veteran agate hunters will troll gravel pits, riversides, hiking trails, roadsides, as well as beaches looking for agates. These layers build up in gas bubbles aka vesicles within rocks. Pat mcmahans, agates, the pat mcmahan collection is an exceptional masterpiece showcasing some of the finest agates in the world.
This allowed silified water into pockets of rhyolite and basalt. The definitive book on lake superiors agates is here. Gitche gumee agate and history museum grand marais, michigan. Chert often banded but typically only found in shades of brown, white, and gray. She wrote and illustrated a selfpublished book entitled is this an agate. The lake superior agate is a type of agate stained by iron and found on the shores of lake. Lake superior agate news newspapers books scholar jstor october 2017. I am biased because the lake superior agate is a truly a beautiful agate. When agate hunting on the beach, dig down several inches to where the rocks are wet.
A great read on agate formation and chrystallography can be found here. Copper agates introduction to lake superior copper. How to identify lake superior agates gone outdoors your. Lake superior agates formed a billion years ago from volcanic activity in the lake superior region. Lynch and bob lynch features comprehensive entries for every type of agate found in michigan, minnesota, wisconsin, and southern ontario. Lookalikes agates and chalcedony are not the only quartz varieties in the lake superior region. Lake superior agates, 2nd edition north wind books at finlandia. The probable explanation of their formation is revealed for the first time with help from two notable experts in the fields of agate formation and. The authors highlight the celebrated stone with lighthearted stories and an amazing collection of natural, artistic photographs. Wolter an all new book about the authors 20year lake superior agate experience. 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 youll find on lake superior beaches.
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