More USB close ups of Lake Superior Agates

I worked all day yesterday on the online rockhounding adventures and didn't get out to hike. I just could not bring myself to get out in the 32 degree gray weather. It is supposed to be sunny later today and perhaps a bit warmer -- so I am going to get out into the dunes.

So for today's blog posting I decided to pull out my USB camera and take close up pictures of rough Lake Superior agates. Many beginning agate hunters assume that the majority of agates found on the beach must be hidden inside an outer husk. In most cases this is not true. Because thees agates are so old and have been rough and tumbled by the waves of Lake Superior, the outer husk has worn off. All of the photos below are close ups of exposed agate structure.

The agate below has yellow limonite coating some of the iron-rich bands.  If you were to face polish this side of the agate, the yellow color most likely would transform.  But while looking for agates on the beach, keep your eyes open not only for this evident structure, but also for the yellow gold limonite color.

The following agate exhibits a waxy luster, obvious agate banding, highly contrasting white bands, and iron-stained red color.

Obvious bands including some with white contrasting color and iron oxide red color....

Pit marked surface, waxy luster, iron oxide red color....

This jasper agate has banded structure and iron oxide red color...

Obvious banding with intermixed bands of macrocrystalline quartz plus limonite yellow gold oxidized bands.....

Gray chalcedony bands without impurities to vary the color....

A candy striped fingerprint agate...