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How to Find Minnesota Agates

Agates are beautiful, highly sought-after gemstones found in the state of Minnesota. It is the state gemstone, displaying natural colored bandings of red and yellow blends throughout the rock itself. They are highly prevalent in states such as Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan, where the Great Lakes border. Each Minnesota agate is unique and naturally created from the lakes. Many rock collectors enjoy searching for these agates around the Great Lakes region, specifically the Lake Superior areas.

Instructions

- 1
  Learn to identify a Minnesota agate. You can always use a rock field guide to help you properly identify an agate, but typically they show off a banded pattern of colors from red to yellow. Some look more like basic gray or brown rocks, but when polished, their beautiful colors are exposed. These gray and brown rocks will typically look like pitted potatoes with a rough texture and will have more weight to them than other rocks the same size.
- 2
  Search anywhere along Lake Superior's shores. Since most Minnesota agates originated from a glacier in present-day Lake Superior, these are prime locations for spotting agate rocks.
- 3
  Search the waterways that empty into the Great Lakes, as agates may have been washed down these canals and pushed to shore. These waterways, such as the St. Mary's River and the Soo Locks that empty into Lake Huron, are prime locations for Minnesota agate rocks.
- 4
  Purchase agates in stores around the Minnesota region. These agates have typically been cleaned and polished for sale, highlighting their amazing striped patterns, vibrant colors and natural beauty. They are sold not only as collector's rocks by themselves, but are also combined into jewelry and other craft pieces.

Rocks & Minerals