Minnesota Trip -- Post 1

I am currently staying with friends just outside of Brainerd, MN.  Thanks to Sharon and Tom for their incredible hospitality.  It works out especially well, since Sharon is chairperson of the Cuyuna Rock and Mineral Club show this weekend.

I left Grand Marais and captured a few melting iceberg photos east of Marquette.

Set up for the show was not until 3pm this afternoon, so one of the club members took me out agate hunting.  Thanks to Sharon's friend, Doug, for the agate hunting tour around Brainerd.  We went to a few gravel pits as well as a farm field, all of which Doug has permission in which to agate hunt.

First the gravel pit....

 

Notice the glacially laid layers in these natural piles.

 

These are piles of sand left over from the rock sorting process.

Next Doug and I went to search for agates in a farm field owned by one of Doug's frinds. 

 

How they grow any crops in this rock-strewn field is beyond me.

 

 

Below are some of the agates I found combined with a few that Doug donated to the cause.