You have decided to hunt for Lake Superior agates, but how do you know what to look for? There is no simple answer. Usually, the richly colored banding pattern is not well exposed and prospectors must look for other clues to the presence of agates.The following characteristics will help you identify agates in the field
Band planes along which the agate has broken are sometimes visible, giving the rock a peeled texture. It appears as though the bands were partially peeled off like a banana skin. Iron-oxide staining is found on nearly all agates to some degree, and generally covers much of the rock. Such staining can be many different colors, but the most common are shades of rust-red and yellow. Translucence is an optical feature produced by chalcedony quartz, the principal constituent of agates. The quartz allows light to penetrate, producing a glow. Sunny days are best for observing translucence. A glossy, waxy appearance, especially on a chipped or broken surface, is another clue. A pitted texture often covers the rock surface. The pits are the result of knobs or projections from an initial layer of softer mineral matter deposited on the wall of the cavity in which the agate formed. Later, when the quartz that formed the agate was deposited in the cavity, these projections left impressions on the exterior.
Photo credit mandj98
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