Montana agate was formed in the yellowstone park as a result of tremendous volcanic activity. The list below provides some basic information to help you find the elusive lake superior agate. Any lapidary artist will have to have this book in their library. Awesome montana agate best finds in the cut youtube. Lake superior agate is typically a banded material often concentric but sometimes has eyes and mossy patterns.
The 248page, 6inch by 9inch, softcover book includes 240 color photographs, 20 explanatory diagrams, footnotes, references, and an. Agate is a microcrystalline quartz and has a hardness of 7, which makes the montana agate designer cabochons very wearable. The book is well illustrated with many color photographs of some of the best montana agate from the collections of many notable collectors. Agate rough buy agate rough online gem rock auctions. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the hobby. Montana agate is a very grounding stone with a strong multilevel cleansing effect that will bring about a physical, emotional, and intellectual balance.
Buyselltrade, discuss, and upload pictures of your montana agates. The photographs are unbelievable, the quality of the specimens are amazing. Rough montana agate often resembles a potato, and is difficult to distinguish. This variety is found along the banks of the yellowstone river. Agates exist all over the world and are common in idaho, washington, montana and oregon. There is a great variety, and we pride ourselves on our collection. Some of the most beautiful montana agates contain dendrites, or treelike plumes of mineral inclusions. Montana agate one of a kind polished rocks, rough rocks.
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 montana agate is usually a creamy light yellow to almost clear color with embedded moss structures in varying shades of brownish red to black. Lake superior agate is widely known as a tumbling rough. Although this type of agate ranges throughout three states, a small area in montana seems to have the best of this agate. The difference between agate, jasper and chalcedony. Agates are found in both the present stream bed and in the gravel terraces. Agate hunting the rough, yellowstone river youtube.
Montana agate mountain landscape shrouded in mist jp. It is commonly red, white, brown, or black in color. It is so popular in the great lakes area that the minnesota legislature designated it as the official state gemstone. Agates can have many distinctive styles and patterns, but each agate is unique in its own habit, with no two agates being the same. Harmons agate and silver has art and many other made in montana products. The lake superior rock pickers guide by kevin gauthier and bruce mueller provided some helpful supplementary information, as did my reference books by susan robinson and sparky stensaas. Passing my eyeside just now and perfect see through on sams site. Jewelry made with montana agate and a selection of free form cabochons and rough available for custom jewelry designs. A few more montana moss agates of various shapes and sizes.
Look no further for lapidary rough rock and minerals for cabbing and slabbing. To provide some of the best rough rock and specimens available around the world to collectors and lapidary enthusiasts. Most of the montana agate rough is broken up and found in smaller pieces. The montana agate is usually a creamy light yellow to almost clear color with pictures of rough and polished montana agates with description, information and healing properties. In fact, some montana agates like a limb casts come out from wood that became covered by the ash, and fossilized after the volcanic bustle. We have been in the jewelry business for over 40 years. Montana agate is a beautiful scenic agate found in the rivers of montana. See agates for more information about other varieties. An inside look at the history, mining, and natural beauty of agates, provides good background on this beautiful rock. While results with rough agate will vary widely, these offer good possibilities for jewelry or small specimens. This variety of agate is associated with the earth star, root and solar plexus chakras. Tom has published two books, the river runs north and the. It approximately measures from 1015 miles from the surface of the yellowstone drainage.
Get the best deals on montana agate when you shop the largest online selection at. A hard and tough cutting rough that takes an excellent polish. This is a wonderful book, just wonderful, and written by the world authorities on montana moss agate, tom harmon and his son jim. This is a group of small laguna agate nodules from mexico. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Both of these situations can leave the agate with some pitting. The lovely color patterns and banding make this translucent gemstone very unique. Agate, jasper and chalcedony are three commonlyencountered varieties of quartz. Montana moss agate collectors public group facebook. You will increase your abilities, learn to save time and money, and have a great reference book that you will use again and again.
It is usually formed in nodules and has transparent, or translucent portions. Found not insite, but in the flaxville gravel deposits scattered over a large area encompassing hundreds of square miles. This stone will stabilize your energy and harmonize your yin and yang, which will positively influence your personal relationships. Some of the cabochons in the photo above show interesting mossy inclusions. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Buy products related to agates rough products and see what customers say about agates rough products on free delivery possible on eligible purchases. The beauty of this is that they cannot be claimed, mined and dugout by a few enterprises but will be available, in smaller numbers, to public and collectors for tens and hundreds of years to come. Hunt for montana agates on the banks of the yellowstone river in the golden light of autumn. The fresh exposures do get hunted quite diligently each year, but new agates are always found by the persistent collectors. Montana agate is one of the alluvial agates, it is not found in site, but in the flaxville gravel deposits scattered over a huge area encompassing thousands of square miles. If youre on the hunt for some, the familiar orange and yellow banding is a dead giveaway, but noting the size and weight of a found rock can also help identify it as an agate. Dryhead agate mine, bighorn river area, pryor mountains, big horn co. Agate hunters tramp river banks to find treasures local news.
Find the hidden treasures when you cut into one of these beauties. Gem rock auctions sells verified agate rough online in all shapes and sizes. Although this type of agate ranges throughout three states a small area in montana seems to have the best of this agate. Imitation agates are softer in texture and can be scratched quite easily.
You should find different images of the montana agate, because every one is unique. In our online store we have montana agate jewelry that we see as the tribute to the land where the last native americans bravely their freedom against colonizers. The highestquality montana agate is free from cracks or checks. Heading over to the east side of the state, my rockhounding buddies and. From the big sky country, famous for the dendrite black designs hidden within. Since then millions of carats of montana sapphires have been produced, and at least one million cut stones have entered the jewelry trade. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands. Dryhead agate mine, bighorn river area, pryor mountains, big. Montana agate facts, lore, history, myths and pictures. Pat mcmahans, agates, the pat mcmahan collection is an exceptional masterpiece showcasing some of the finest agates in the world. In this book you will learn from an expert with extensive experience. In the plateau areas, montana agates may have developed a distinctive white crust, although the agates that are found away from the yellowstone river are often more cracked and checked than the rocks that are found along the river. Montana moss agate is a name given to this beautiful chalcedony. Montana moss agates are semiprecious stones and are widely used in jewelry making.
The dryhead agates were named after many bison skulls found near the site. Agate hunters tramp river banks to find treasures local. In general, these montana agates are produced from silica sio2, and the striking inclusions composed of manganese, iron, and other significant minerals. Montana agate is one of the alluvial agates, it is not found insite, but in the flaxville gravel deposits scattered over a huge area encompassing thousands of square miles. It includes a geological background and understanding, methods of finding, and how to finish these fine agates. We have agates, jaspers, quartz, petoskey stones, and more. Rock tumbler gem refill kit yellowstone, montana black dendrite agate rough 8 oz. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. Others exhibit the orangebrown banding common in agates found in gravels of the yellowstone river and its tributaries in the southeastern part of the state. Inside out will appeal to both beginners and experts. Author of collecting rocks, gems and minerals, polk has been collecting, cutting and polishing rocks for jewelry and display for more than 20 years. Also available in second grade, smaller sized chunks under 1 lb.
Gemscreations montana moss agate super high grade rough for jewelry cabbing lapidary 340. The temperature of imitation montana agates is usually the same with the prevailing temperature. Huge inventory of loose montana agate rough of all shapes and sizes. You can place montana agate in full moon moonlight to energize. Get the best deals on agate rough when you shop the largest online selection at. They are one of the most popular materials used by jewelers in montana. We have some great jewelry and cabochons available. Real montana agates are not as transparent as imitation ones.
Look no further for lapidary rough rock and minerals for cabbing. Montana agate comes from near the yellowstone river in montana the vein actually runs from the yellowstone national park in wyoming to north dakota. Montana moss agate montana moss is a transparent to translucent agate with brown and black mossy inclusions. Lake superior agate rough great for your rock tumbler. Montana agate has also been established both from the present stream bed as well as, in gravel terraces. To identify rough agate, consider its translucence, size, weight and banding, and look for surface marks, irregular fractures and waxiness. Select your favorite agate rough and choose to buy now or place a bid. Lower quality pieces are often sold in the rough to tourists, but nicer pieces are generally cut into cabochons and used for pendants and earrings.
His book the river runs north is one of the best books available on this subject. Agates sometimes form in igneous rock, and they might also have been surrounded by softer rock that has since eroded away. Make offer moss dendritic lot of agate india montana rough tumbling lapidary 7 lb 12 oz. It is named after the state of montana where it is found at many locations and is a popular rough. Rare tahoma frog skin agate tumbling stone chips lapidary rough.
For beginners, this book provides a solid foundation for further studies into agate, while experts will find it valuable for its stunning photographs. It is a persistent producer of popular agate varieties such as montana moss and. Although more rare, hyalite opal, montana moonstone and dogtooth calcite can also be found around bozeman. Dryhead agate mine, bighorn river area, pryor mountains. Ill be happy just to be in the magical montana high country once again. In this episode, kate discovers agates under the silt, glowing slightly in. Cabochons montana agate stones for crafting and jewelers. Found in gravel deposits in the middle and lower yellowstone valleys. Most of these montana agates are found in gravel deposits from the pleistocene age 10,000 1,6000,000 in the area of the yellowstone river and its tributaries. The base color ranges from clear through milky to amber brown. Its all in what you see thats the beauty of all natural stones. Agates are found in both the present stream bed and in gravel terraces. Earths treasures has informational books, maps, supplies, free handouts, and rough and cleaned specimens displayed to further help you in your hounding.
Author patti polk is recognized as one of the top agate collectors in the world as noted in the highly respected reference book agates iii by johann zenz. Montana agate is characterized as nodules of gray, semitransparent chalcedony, which can be polished and cut. Located near the yellowstone river in northeast montana and is the source for montana moss agate rough, slabs, cabochons. Agate is identical to quartz in terms of composition and physical properties. Its found, most abundantly, in the alluvial gravels of the yellowstone river. Select montana agate cutting rough this is select material with good translucency and patterning. That was where the native americans were said to run the bisons over the cliff, killing many of them, and then arranging the bison skulls in ceremonial manner. Karen brzys booklet on understanding and finding agates was helpful in identifying true agates from agate first cousins or agate wannabes. Agates of large size or with particularly distinctive, fine, or landscapelike color patterns are at a premium.
Montana agate the best catch on the yellowstone river rock. We have sapphire jewelry and montana agate jewelry. For some reason, the beauty of the montana agate specimens really stuck in my mind. Two gemstones, sapphire and agate, have been so popular in montana that the state legislature designated them as official state gemstones in 1969 sapphires were discovered in montana in the 1860s. They also feel warm during cold season and cool during the hot season. The presentation is simply excellent and exemplifies the multitude of variations in color and pattern which make agate a true prized possession. Their prices reflect mainly labor and artistry rather than the value of the material itself. The plan is more or less bear canyon for fortification agate and fossils, maybe a side trip to the yellowstone river for montana agate, and then on to teepee canyon for red fortification agate, and fairburn agates. Agates are semiprecious gems that can be found all over the world, and they are common along the shores of lake superior and in northeast minnesota and northwest wisconsin. Our individual sellers are located all over the world bringing you the most unique and beautiful gem. Some natural fractures, whole nodule chunks that range in size from pound to over 2 pounds in size.
Agate is a banded form of finelygrained, microcrystalline quartz. Montana agate can be found along the entire length of the. Index to rough cabbing rough carving rough tumbling rough. Rough montana agate often resembles a potato, and is difficult to distinguish from other rocks. Dryhead agate is a nodular banded agate formed in sedimentary rock from montana. A cut slab of montana agate shows the dendritic moss and tree formations unique to the area thursday, september 30, 2010. Some seem to represent scenery, like this one, islands on a lake. Mar 20, 2017 i cut these myself took a risk and this is what was the result. Rare earth trading company was formed with one simple mission. Balances emotions, discerns the truth, accepts circumstances, powerful emotional healer.
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