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In the face of today's economy and health issues, agate hunting has the potential to provide a valuable pastime that many people can benefit from.
Countless area residents have, at one time or another, walked along dirt roads, gravel pits, and lakeshores looking for our state gemstone, the Lake Superior Agate.
Ed Hoover, who once bought and sold agates at his Pine River bookstore Cass County Books, suggests that money shouldn't be the primary drive for agate pickers.
"Do it because it's something to do outside rather than watch TV," said Hoover. "Do it for pleasure and maybe you'll make some money."
According to Hoover the best places to hunt agates are freshly plowed farm fields. It is here that a person might find an agate that hasn't been crushed like those found on gravel roads or rooftops. Though this may be a good place to look, it is also a way for a person to get a lot of exercise.
"You gotta cover a lot of ground to find a few agates," explains Hoover.
Agate picking is a hobby with many benefits. Despite all the walking resulting in some healthy, outside exercise, agate picking is an inexpensive activity. In small town Northern Minnesota, farm fields are usually nearby and it certainly doesn't cost anything to look for rocks on lakeshores.
Perhaps even better, agate picking is almost universally seen as a family activity.
"We did it as kids. It's a great thing to do with your kids, and you have a chance of finding a gem," Hoover said.
Local rock hound Eric Brunes agrees that agate picking is popular, easy and a great family activity.
"That's what really started me with agates. Finding something for me to do with the kids. Finding something to do with the family," Brunes said.
Along with the benefits of agate hunting, there are some limitations.
"As far as Cass County and Crow Wing County it is getting kind of hard to be an agate picker anymore," Brunes said.
This is because of private property signs being posted in gravel pits across much of Minnesota. Owners in the state are being forced to make these gravel pits, that were once agate picking havens, off-limits due to insurance liabilities. Luckily, Brunes was able to secure permission to pick agates from a local gravel pit owner outside of Pine River.
"It is a family sport...It was a family sport years ago. It got tough. Pits are getting closed down all over the place. It's kind of taking the wind out of our sails on doing a lot of agate picking."
Since starting picking with his children, Brunes has formed a collection. According to Brunes and Hoover, agates are worth money solely because they are considered beautiful. While size, shape, and color do determine price somewhat, it is this beauty that determines the value of an agate.
"There are ugly agates, and try to sell one of those. No way," said Hoover.
But how are these beautiful gems formed? According to Rick Meyer of Pine River-Backus High School there are two theories that try to explain how these stones are made: the Single Gel Theory and the Multiple Solution Theory both say that agates are formed within basalt vesicles, or trapped pockets of air that were made while the basalt was molten lava. These vesicles are filled by heated, mineral rich water, but this is when the two theories differ. That water is either trapped until chemical reactions force the minerals within it to solidify - as the Single Gel Theory suggests - or the water deposits a layer of mineral material on the inside of the vesicle before draining and being replaced by more.
Read full story [Pines and lakes]
Visit Agate Days for more on Lake Superior Agates
Benitoite is a rare blue silicate mineral, found in hydrothermally altered serpentinite. Benitoite fluoresces under short wave ultraviolet light, appearing light blue in color. Dr. Louderback, who conducted the discovery examination of this mineral, named it Benitoite, “as it occurs near the head waters of the San Benito River in San Benito County,” California
For more info visit Benitoite.org
Larimar (Blue pectolite) known widely as Atlantis Stone is an extremely rare gemstone. It has been found only in one location: a mountainous, relatively inaccessible area in the province of Barahona in the Dominican Republic. The first mention of the stone was a request to mine Larimar in 1916; however, it was not until 1974 that the stone really made a grand entrance.
For more info on Larimar, visit www.AtlantisStone.com
Thousands of rock lovers go to the Agate Capital of the World each summer to enjoy the commeradary of being with fellow rock hounds.
Moose Lake is home to the Largest Lake Superior Agate, weighing in at 108 pounds and can be seen in the lobby of the First National Bank of Moose Lake.
A Free Gem show is hosted at the local school with many Gem vendors from numerous States showing off their pride gems which feature Lake Superior Agates.
For more information on Moose Lake Agate Days, visit Agate Days
Ellensburg Blue Agate is only found near its namesake, Ellensburg Washington USA. First discovered by the Kittitas Indians who inhabited the area, and in 1913 offered this advice on finding the agates, one should “Walk with the sun over your left shoulder.”
What makes it unique and much sought after? The answers to this question can be summed up in several words. Scarcity, color range, variety, hardness and adaptability to a variety of settings.
The scarcity of the stone is such that finding even the smallest of pieces is considered a good day’s find. Most all of the land where "Ellensburg Blue” is found is private and inaccessible.
Click here for information on Ellensburg Blue Agate
© 2008 Blueagates.com - Used with permission
