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How to Find Agates in Luce County, Michigan

Agates are semi-precious gemstones that developed from volcanic rocks that erupted to the surface of the earth millions of years ago. Luce County, Michigan has many agates on the shores of Lake Superior, in creeks, and alongside roads. You will be looking for rocks that are usually less than 3 inches in diameter and are heavy compared to other rocks of a similar size. Agates have a pitted surface and a potato skin-like texture and often have parallel bands around them.

Things You'll Need

Comfortable shoes
Backpack
Flashlight

Instructions

- 1
  Wear comfortable shoes, you will be doing a significant amount of walking. Bring a backpack to carry your agates.
- 2
  Search the Lake Superior beaches on sunny days early in the morning or late in the day. The sun's rays hitting the agates will give them a translucent glow from the quartz inside them. Walk into the sun and squat low to the ground. If you search on a day that is not sunny, bring a flashlight to shine on the rocks to check for translucency; this takes more time but is an acceptable substitute.
- 3
  Search right after a rainstorm when new rocks have washed up on the beach.
- 4
  Look in creek beds; areas that remain mostly undisturbed are likely to reap rewards.
- 5
  Search beside railroad tracks, as many of the rocks alongside have laid there undisturbed since the construction of the tracks.
- 6
  Search alongside the road, especially in areas that were recently under construction. Agates long buried beneath the surface of the earth may have been brought to the top.
- 7
  Traverse the same area more than once, moving in a zig zag pattern to avoid missing one.

Rocks & Minerals