Moose Lake Agate Days -- Post 4

This is the last post for the Moose Lake Agate Days show that took place a couple of weeks ago. Once the show was over, my agate friends (Gerald and Jill) and I headed southwest about an hour to visit other friends. Now I have been to a lot of homes owned by fellow rockhounds, but I must admit that their collection rivals most I have seen. I was so impressed with their collection in fact, that I won't even identify who they are to help protect it from possible theft. One wall in their living room is covered in intrically detailed lighted cases, that of course, are full of museum quality specimens. Their kitchen and in fact most of the house has beautiful rocks everywhere. And who do you know that has a BOULDER garden? Those of us with mere rock gardens cannot measure up.

A pile of petrified wood logs in the boulder garden:



Mary Ellen Jasper in the boulder garden. This jasper was formed from the fossilized remails of primative stromatolites 2.2 billion years ago. These primitive bacterial organisms were the first to photosynthesize and add oxygen to the earth's atmosphere. Thus, if they did not evolve, we probably would not have either.



Also in the boulder garden was this very impressive stalactitic goethite specimen. Notice the quarter on the wide angle shot.




The biggest prize in the boulder garden, though, is this multi-ton piece of jaspite. Jaspite is a mixture of jasper and hematite that formed after the stromotolites added oxygen to the earth's atmosphere, allowing iron to oxidize for the firt time. It is a long story about how my friend acquired this boulder, but let's just say it wasn't an easy task to move it to her house. Heavy equipment was definately involved! Also notice the quarter sitting on the top of this boulder.



One of my favorite specimens in their lighted cases is this heart-shaped rock. I believe it is called Picosso Jasper.



This botryoidal iron formation was on a shelf at the end of the lighted cabinets. It measures around 3 feet long. It also must have been a task to move.



I have never seem much binghamite, since it is a rare stone found in Minnesota. It has vibrant colors aranged in a fibrous pattern that forms when quartz began to replace the original hematite, goethite, and other iron ores.




I don't remember what my friends said about this specimen. I believe, though, that it is an usual thunder egg from Oregon.



While we were admiring the rocks in the cases, we looked out and noticed the fox, which apparently comes to feed on a nightly basis. What a treat!




The next day, we went to a farmer's field to look for agates. Our friends secured permission in advance from the owner of the property. It was in the same field that I found my semi-fister agate in May. This time I just found small ones, but my friend, Jill found an 8 ouncer! I was amused by the one corn volunteer that is growing this year between the rows of soy beans.



On our way to a restaurant to eat lunch, we all got a chuckle from this sign. Somehow I just can't imagine how you would race worms!

Moose Lake Agate Days -- Post 3

Here are a few more photos I took on Sunday of the Moose Lake Agate Days.

First: some HUGE Lake Superior agates for sale, ranging from 1-4 pounds. Notice the second from the right on top. It is 4.39 pounds that was selling for $1,756!



Some U.P. copper for ssle. Notice some of the huge float copper chunks!



More Lakers for sale, ranging from 1-2 pounders!



A view of some of the outside booths. I had to take this photo on Sunday when there weren't thousands of people. Since Moose Lake Agate Days was featured on the Travel Channel's Cash and Treasurers Show, the word is now out and attendance was way up at this year's show.



Some Argentina Condor Agate:



A miscellaneous inside booth.



In my new Gitche Gumee Geology talk (Summer Lecture Series on most Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights in July and August -- see www.agatelady.com for more information), I mention about the Stromatolite formations. The ones in the U.P. are Kona Dolomite, which when polished is also beautiful. I must admit, though, that I like the Mary Ellen Jasper even better. If it were not for the stromatolites, we would not be here.





Shown below is Brian Costigan (Rockman69 on EBay), and his parents. Also is a photo of part of Brian's booth.





A view of some of the inside booths.



The Agatelady booth on Sunday morning, before the public was allowed in. On Saturday it was nuts. There were soooo many people in the gym that it was hard to move around. If you are smart, next year you might want to think about visiting on Sunday instead.

Reunion Time in Grand Marais

Saturday July 25th was a big day in Grand Marais. First, at noon there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new post office museum, located on main street. Last year, the people who bought the property on which the old post office was located decided to donate the rare 5-sided building to the Grand Marais Historical Society. The group paid to have the building moved down to main street. It was placed onto a new foundation and the building was renovated. This year, the historical society outfitted the building with graphics that trace the town's history. For any of you history buffs, there are now 4 museums in town including the 3 run by the historical society and the Gitche Gumee Museum. Congratulations to the historical society for a job well done!

The front of the post office museum features information about all the postmasters who have served in Grand Marais. Alfreda Mulligan served the longest by far, from 1917 until 1956. Probably not a coincidence, the Mulligan family had a family reunion in Grand Marais today (Sunday). From what I hear, there were over 150 family members in attendance. Below are some of the photos i took at the ceremony and open house for this newest museum















Later on Saturday, Burt Township School in Grand Marais held an all-class 80 year reunion. Although I did not attend school here (I was just a summer kid), I went to the dance to represent my family since my grandmother and mother (both deceased) and my two kids all graduated here. Unfortunately, neither of my sons could attend, but I did get to spend time with my uncle and aunt (Lynne and Doug Kane). I was not able to go to any of the festivities at the school since I was working at the museum most of the day. Approximately 200 people attended the reunion. Below are a few of the photos I took at the dance.

Moose Lake Agate Days -- Post #2

I'm finally getting time to post some more photos from Moose Lake Agate Days. Pictured below are Terry Roses (Fragments of History in Duluth) and Scott Walter (author of the Lake Superior agate book). Scott is holding a fister gray agate that he found while diving off the coast of Copper Harbor.





Check out the tube agate below, as well as a huge Lake Supeior fister.




And then there is the TRUE Rockhound. Actually, it is Bruce, owned by my agate friends Gerald and Jill.



Finally, here are a few Mexican agates that a friend of Scott Wolter was showing off. Actually, Scott and his friend were playing "dueling agates," and taking turns showing off their treasures.