Customer Agate Finds

CUSTOMER AGATE FINDS

June 2012

I have had a number of people stop by the museum in the last couple of weeks to show me some incredible agates. Several people have also sent me pictures via email.

Let's start with some agates found by Brian Wolbrink from Allendale, MI. He has been agate hunting for several years, but lately has really turned it up a notch. He purchased some used equipment from me last year and is compiling even more equipment. Some of the agates below are still in the rough, while others have been "dressed up."

First, here is a picture of Brian and then two photos that he submitted via email.

Brian's next agate is an unusual ruin again. The horizontal streak through the specimen is a healed fracture.

Brian's next agate is a very translucent carnelian agate.

The next agate has some interesting iron oxide plumes.

Brian's next agate is a cute candy striper.

Here are a couple more of Brian's agates. In the second photo below, notice the bright mineral inclusions near the top of the specimen.

The next series of agate photos were submitted via email from David Schuder who lives in the Keweenaw Peninsula in the western U.P. of Michigan. He loves to cut open rough looking Lake Superior agates in hope of finding interesting inclusions or other formations. Most of the agates were found in the Sedar Bay area. The first two agates shown below are sagenite agates.

Check out this terrific eye agate.

This submitted photo is not completely in focus, but I love the tubes and the character of this agate.

The first email I received from David included information and pictures that correct the list of agate formations included in my agate book for Michigan. Previously I have never seen a Lake Superior agate with dendritic formation. I stand corrected.

This terrific Lake Superior candy striped agate belongs to my friend, Jill.

The next series of agates were brought into the museum by Nolan and Doreen Johnson who are from St. Johns, MI. These first two pictures show both sides of a nice Laker.

Here are a couple more of their agates plus a picture of Nolan and Doreen.

Recently Wayne from Three Rivers, MI came into the museum to show me this incredible agate. This specimen weighs around 7 ounces.

Although agates from different geographic areas tend to vary in their characteristics, this is less true for an agate found in Washington state by Toni from Toledo, WA. Other than its huge size, it looks a lot like a Lake Superior agate. Despite its large size, notice that the agate is still translucent. This agate was found in a river. Since it is a whole nodule, there are no fractures that expose the banding.

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CUSTOMER AGATE FINDS

June 2012

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