The book is a quickread howto book that includes only information about how to find agates. Lake superior agates formed about 1 billion years ago give or take 100 million years when volcanoes spewed as the continent started to split in half. Based on the agates of lake superior book by dan r. The keweenaw is a rough and rugged finger of rock that extends 50 miles into lake superior, the largest of the great lakes with the largest fresh water surface area in the world. Want to see more agates go here for pix from the lake superior agate museum. The first two reference books for lake superior beach rocks and agates i found helpful are. The book the other lake superior agates is about the beautiful agates found in the upper midwest region of the united states. 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. Eye patterns are the most notable structures within copper agates. Chert often banded but typically only found in shades of brown, white, and gray. What is lake superior agate, and where can you find it. People often look for them on the banks or at the mouths of rivers, in gravel pits, or in other places where pebbles and gravel abound. Iron leached from rocks provided the pigment that gives the gemstone its.
Now, youll find them scattered all along the north shore. Rock picking agate hunting guides lake superior circle tour. Lake superior agates books about skip an atom and tiny. B101 is a domed polish lake superior agate that shows a solid. From my about to be published book the other lake superior eye. Over time, like billions of years, the agates were freed from there rock by water and ice. The gas pockets in which the agates formed were primarily small, about 1 cm in diameter. The rock colors show up best when wet notice the demarcation line between wet and dry rocks and the best times to look is after a storm has washed up a new supply of. Lookalikes agates and chalcedony are not the only quartz varieties in the lake superior region. B101 is a domed polish lake superior agate that shows a solid agate area, a banded area and a smaller quartz area. If youre a more advanced hobbyist, you will appreciate this professional and scientific resource. I am biased because the lake superior agate is a truly a beautiful agate. Most lake superior agates formed in a rift zone approximately 1. Very different from other agates from around the world.
From seeing agates in the rough at the agate museum, reading karen brzys excellent book on finding agates, and cruising lots of beaches i think i have a better idea of what one might look like in the rough and where to hunt for them. All featured agates are applicable for lake superior. Lake superior agate coming later this spring is a new book published in conjunction with kollathstensaas publishing, titled. Lake superior agate jessica s lake superior agate our newest lake superior agate mark. Lake superior agates were formed over a billion years ago, following a period of lava eruptions in the area of lake superior. Apr 29, 2016 lake superior agates remain butchs favorites, partly because they got him started collecting, because the stones are hard and will take a good polish. The lake superior rock pickers guide by kevin gauthier and bruce mueller provided some helpful supplementary information, as did my reference books by. Youll learn to pick up on those clues valuable to beginners and experts alike. The other lake superior agates 2009 signed by author john d. Although the information below has been compiled to help those in the upper midwest to search for lake superior agates, the same information is relative to agates in other locations. Gas pockets in the molten lava filled with mineral deposits like ferric iron, quartz or calcite as the years passed by. Wolter an all new book about the authors 20year lake superior agate experience. Since that time, they have been carried throughout the region by glaciers and rivers.
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. And identify the agate imposters that might fool you. Below are some of the most popular books and guides of rock pickers, agate hunters, and beach combers of lake superior beaches. Armed with sparkys andor susans book plus some of the pictures and descriptions ive provided here, perhaps will help you id what you are. Lake superior agates or agates in general have a variety of characteristics that separate them from other rocks. Agate basics gitche gumee agate and history museum. Lake superior agate, book, john marshall, lapidary, minnesota, lake superior, rockhound, nature, science, rock hound, non fiction, science. Agate or microcrystalline quartz fractures in a particular pattern called conchoidal fracturing. Thats because 10,000 years ago, glaciers carried them far from their origin in the lake superior region. From my about to be published book the other lake superior eye agates cool. This is a companion book to the introductory lake superior copper agates. Their name is the result of a misconception of their possible crystal structures that was coined 75 years ago.
The book the other lake superior agates is about the beautiful agates found in. The text is also interesting and contains more everyday writing than geological manuals do. Lake superior agates are largely red, orange and sometimes yellow. Lake superior beach glass gichigumi creations studio. Sparky stensaas rock pickers guide to lake superior s north shore and susan robinsons is this an agate. Lake superior agates are world renowned for their unique, translucent beauty but no ones ever seen them quite like james magnuson and carol wood. Agate beach on lake superior lake superior, lake superior. The name comes from the fact that the shapes look like the walls of a fortress. The eye agate has circles that look a little bit like. Read the storied agate and gain a new appreciation for this lake superior gemstone. Its right here on lake superior in ontario, canada. I also managed to hook my wife on the hobby so now we have two sets of eyes, feet, and hands. Although it features the lake superior agate and some strategies relevant to beach hunting, most of the information is relevant to finding all types of agates in all locales.
Lake superior agates are world renowned for their unique, translucent beauty but no ones ever. Scott wolters book is an articulate and helpful book for the unexperienced or avid agate collector. Although that book contains many photographs of agate eyes. Agate beach and other amazing attractions near thunder bay. Rock collectors classify lake superior agates according to their appearance. Iron leached from rocks provided the pigment that gives the gemstone its beautiful array of color.
Full text of the lake superior agate see other formats the lake superior aga by scott f wolter the lake superior agate by scott f wolter lake superior agate, incorporated minneapolis, minnesota front cover this beautiful 3pound, redandwhite lake superior agate is pictured against a backdrop of the north shore of the gems namesake. This color scheme is caused by the oxidation of iron. It is so popular in the great lakes area that the minnesota legislature designated it as the official state gemstone. It has been expanded with more beautiful and interesting specimens of lake superior agate page 2 of cover. Get the best deals on lake superior agate when you shop the largest online selection at. It has been expanded with more beautiful and interesting specimens of lake superior agatepage 2 of cover. Lynch and bob lynch features comprehensive entries for every type of agate found in michigan, minnesota, wisconsin, and southern ontario. Youll learn to pick up on those clues valuable to beginners and. The most common type of lake superior agate is the fortification agate with its eyecatching banding patterns. 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. Beginner or expert, this is your guide to lake superior agates. John was the first, in collaboration with scott wolter, to notice the unusual mosaic agate present in some waterlevel agate specimens.
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. These rare lake superior agates are mostly found at the north shore of lake superior. Lake superior agates remain butchs favorites, partly because they got him started collecting, because the stones are hard and will take a good polish. Lake superior agates are a specific kind of stone that was formed by volcanic activity along the north shore 1. Lake superior agate is typically a banded material often concentric but sometimes has eyes and mossy patterns. The authors highlight the celebrated stone with lighthearted stories and an amazing collection of natural, artistic photographs. Copper agates introduction to lake superior copper. For example, agates that have a cross section showing circles or other shapes repeated in many layers are called fortification agates. There is also a dozen pieces of tumbled native copper as well. Much later in life, john published his book the other lake superior agates in three editions in 2003, 2006, and 2009 with a new and enlarged edition, planned for publication in 2016. Agate beach on lake superior is a destination for rockhounds looking for agates and other colorful stones along the western shore of the keweenaw peninsula on lake superior. Lake superior agate is widely known as a tumbling rough. A few lake superior agates have been found that are 22 cm in diameter with a mass exceeding 10 kilograms.
Agates are made of microcrystalline quartz which appears to be like a waxy, plastic, glass type material. The list below provides some basic information to help you find the elusive lake superior agate. The lake superior agate one mans journey by scott f. Theres nothing like a lake superior agate in all its banded glory. Lake superior agate rough great for your rock tumbler. Apr 27, 2017 looking for agates and ready to discover a remote beach where the lake shore is lined with red agate stones. Keep this tabbed booklet close at hand on your next rockhunting adventure. Rock hound guide agates, rock picking lake superior. 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 definitive book on lake superiors agates is here. Iron, quartz and other minerals were deposited into the lava in concentric layers creating agates. At gichigumi creations studio, we have been combing the shores collecting the antiqued glass for over 30 years, and creating jewelry and other items from these found treasures since 2008. Bearberry island lies 225 yards off the northern shore of the keweenaw peninsula. They can be found anywhere along the path of the glacier, which includes most of the eastern twothirds of minnesota, northwestern wisconsin and michigans upper peninsula.
The layers give the agate the circles which look like rings on a tree. Looking for agates and ready to discover a remote beach where the lake shore is lined with red agate stones. These are truly beautiful gemstones with unlimited patterns and colors. The lake superior agate differs from other agates found around the world in its rich red, orange, and yellow coloring. Tabbed booklet with photos and info that help readers become better agate hunters. Based on jim magnusons agate hunting made easy and featuring the professional rock photography of carol wood, this guide helps to turn agate hunts into successful ones. Marshall, author of the other lake superior agates great book anyone that likes agates should have one terry maple, rockhound of 40 years and agate dealer. Bearberry island michigan, united states private islands. See more ideas about lake superior agates, lake superior and rocks and.
More pictures and descriptions of other types of rocks found on lake superior beaches plus a few pix of lake superior agates. Apr 15, 2011 the definitive book on lake superiors agates is here. Lake superior agate, scott wolter, 1999, outernet publishing, isbn. Jun, 2015 agates initially formed along the shores of lake superior. Get the perfect guide to agates in the lake superior states. Recognize the different varieties of lake superior agates. Copper agate mineralization appears to encourage eye formation to a far greater degree than in the glacial lake superior agates found elsewhere. I have been collecting and making marbles from the lake superior agates for over 10 years now. Despite their name, lake superior agates can be found throughout much of minnesota. See more ideas about lake superior agates, lake superior, rocks and minerals.
Agates 12 great agate hunting, agate identification and. Wolters book, the lake superior agate third edition, 1996, burgess publishing is available in libraries and bookstores. Sparky stensaas rock pickers guide to lake superiors north shore and susan robinsons is this an agate. The iconic red color is created by the oxidation of the iron in the rock. Read on to learn about agate island beach on lake superior and more other amazing things you can see and do around thunder bay, ontario. Copper agates introduction to lake superior copper agates.
If youre a casual rock collector, you will find agates of lake superior fun, interesting and beautiful. In june of 2011 i opened gichigumi creations studio in a small building outside of our home in herbster wisconsin on the south shore of lake superior. The lake superior agate is a type of agate stained by iron and found on the shores of lake superior. 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. Meet many of the top lake superior agate collectors of the past three decades. Since your best chances of finding the gemstones are in areas where the earthsoil has been moved, the lakes shoreline, riverbanks and beds, as well as gravel pits all make great locations for. Lynch and bob lynch, this gorgeous deck of playing cards features amazing photographs of agatesincluding the floater agate, fortification agate, eye agate, and morewhich make up the suits. 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 region. Lake superior agates were distributed by the superior lobe ice age glacier approximately 10,000 years ago. The author can be contacted about agates at email protected download article, the lake superior agate other minnesota conservation volunteer agate articles.
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