Ellensburg Blue Agates

[@danieldoucet9121]

This man was born to do this. Enthusiasm, passion, humour. I just stumbled onto these lectures and can't stop watching !

[@bonblue4993]

I completely agree. I am a rockhound and thoroughly enjoyed this presentation.

[@davidmcmullen3864]

Same here!

[@tinkmarshino]

Dang ain't that the truth... It was the same with me.. I just stumbled into now I can't stop watching them..

[@tigdogsbody]

Some of his talks are dam scary.

[@tigdogsbody]

@@marlonjalen1765 Creeper, weirdo, perv.

[@LuciferAlmighty]

I have an Ellensburg Blue Agate ring passed down from my grandfather. He had so many, my dad has many of them now.

[@geraldstahlman7036]

I wish we had standup geology here in my town! I would buy season tickets!!!

[@kateverbeke4216]

My geology training was Northeast US and Canada, I knew very little about the west. Now that I am retired from 40 years of teaching Earth Science and Chemistry in NYS and living in Arizona, I have discovered these lectures and am TOTALLY enjoying and learning so much!!! I had great professors in NYS as well, but the way Nick delivers is so "down to earth" pun intended....

[@marcydobbs1653]

I can't stop watching. He's the educator that we all wanted as students, and the one we teachers tried to be.

[@7munkee]

I love this guy. I wish teachers were as passionate as him when I was in school. I love his teaching style. I have a lot of his lectures recorded for my granddaughter, I plan to home school her in a few years and this is all important for a basic grounding in geology. Thank you Nick for making these available.

[@Ellensburg44]

Thanks for the nice comments!

[@wncghosthunter]

Agreed, I'm hooked. Thanks Nick...smh

[@asieriths2850]

If you were to show her these lectures and get her interested in geology through this, you would probably be a far better teacher than any that I had.

[@lisacarden2049]

7munkee amen to that !!!

[@craigroberts1670]

Man oh man is this guy great. Never seen any similar shows quite like his. He grabs a hold of ya and doesn't let no. When he comes to the end of his lecture I'm left wanting more and i'm sure if he had extra time he could EASILY put in another 45 minutes. His enthusiasm is contagious . Wish I could move to Oregon / Washington., take a trip to Ellsworth see the beautiful sights and the rocks!!!

[@Doggy-B]

I nerd out to every single one of his lecture series!.. but this one has me hooked more than usual... A great story teller and passionate teacher. 😁👍💚

[@motomuso]

Very much appreciated is the sound quality in these series. Many lectures are ruined by the ambient sound of the voice echoing about the room. Thank you CWU for your production value and thanks for availing to us the knowledge and enthusiasm of Nick Zentner and his colleagues.

[@mattyduncan4679]

If every professor was like this man... Everyone would love being educated.

[@grampygamer8584]

I just can't stop watching this Guys Lectures/Talks. He just like Prof. Brian Cox!

[@JoshuaChowabc]

These lectures make me want to go to graduate school and join CWU Geological Sciences

[@Max_R_MaMint]

Man, y'all are so lucky to live in such dramatic geology. I can't imagine having a breathtaking mountain or canyon etc as an everyday backdrop, or have anything more than the southern Appalachians within practical distance. Just below the Piedmont (upstate) in Greenwood, South Carolina all we have is red mud and sand and on a flat plain. When I've been able to see a "real" mountain in real life; I can actually *feel* it. Not sure what "it" is, but I feel something.

[@dumluk1984]

Awesome. I love his explanation of how thunder eggs are made. Nick is a national treasure.

[@kevins8434]

Nick...I have always been interested in geology. My cousin is a PHD. Has had it for 25 years on now.... Your energy and series have fully sucked me in. Excellent stuff!! Your passion and delivery are bar none

[@jessicamoores181]

Nick, your like a drug, I can’t get enough. You make learning so much fun. Lord, what I could have learned from a teacher like you!!👍👍😁🇺🇸

[@Mr.Caring]

Hello

[@lisacarden2049]

I am absolutely loving these geology videos!! Thank you so much. I love geology and learning new things. Wishing I wasn't so old and could go back to school .. you take care, thank you again..

[@Ellensburg44]

Thanks Lisa. Come visit!

[@goneutt]

I just love the fact you can regularly fill a modest multipurpose room with people interested in geological topics.

[@Ellensburg44]

Me too! Thanks Matthew.

[@alwedworth]

The best lecture series. Nick Rocks!

[@mathiasniemeier4359]

I have box of theses out in my garage. My daughter gave them to me. Her husband and her , were out hunting one day and found so many that she thought I would enjoy them. I would have NEVER, thought to make them into Jewelry, into it. Thank you for your presentation!

[@LilyGazou]

Cool👍🏼

[@austinschiefelbein1099]

Its amazing to find some one who can make geology so fun. His passion makes it so fun

[@markwood8212]

I stumbled onto these lectures and I am hooked! this is so interesting...! Thanks...!

[@WonderLady]

NZ is a thrilling speaker. Enjoying these very much. This one has better sound than some of the older ones. Totally into this.

[@jimharris2897]

I was stationed in Idar-Oberstein while in the army. Lots of agate diggings and goods in shops.

[@LennyKaosium]

Thank you. Start to finish, incredibly informative and entertaining. Thank you :-)

[@Ellensburg44]

Thanks Leonard!

[@roserondeau9777]

Wow awesome I have listen to a few geology speakers and your explanation makes sense to me. Thank you

[@sadiedangel]

If you would you ever consider doing a lecture on the goodies found in the central OR region, and how they happened, I would be the happiest rockhound ever!

[@StereoSpace]

Fascinating lecture. The thing I love about geology is the interacting processes that evolve a landscape over time. Tens of millions of years of geology, superheated water dissolving and redepositing minerals, weathering, erosion, stream capture, all worked together to put blue gems on the floor of the now dry valley. Really amazing stuff and really well explained.

[@Ellensburg44]

StereoSpace Your comments are much appreciated. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelhunt1115]

***** a few places in washington state i have seen deep blue Agates.

[@Ellensburg44]

rob cammer Great that you've been out there looking. To my knowledge, the quality of blue needed for jewelers is only found here in central Washington.

[@misterb.s.8745]

Does he remind anybody else of Jimmy Stewart? It's the way he talks. Love these lectures!

[@suzicyr8091]

I wish they would have taught us this when I went to school. All of his lectures keep me wondering and learning. I was raised in othello and spent time in the areas around Ellensburg. I love rocks and wondered about all the rock formations.

[@grifftech]

Why weren’t any of my teachers this amazing in school.

[@RobMacKendrick]

My uni profs were. I love watching Dr. Zentner because he takes me right back to that happy time of my life.

[@MarkBeres]

I grew up in eastern Washington and never even knew these blue agates existed. Wow, I watched the whole presentation and was truly intrigued, informed and entertained. Really nice video, well done and I appreciate the opportunity to learn about these special minerals and their unique formation & journey to the Ellensburg area.

[@grandparocky]

Have very much enjoyed this series! Great information well presented for my second grade mind to absorb. Thank You Nick

[@Ellensburg44]

Ha! Thanks for watching, Dennis.

[@jussiheinonen2463]

Nice lecture again! One of the reasons that Teanaway basalts have large vesicles and CRBs do not may be that the former are more closely related to a subduction environment. There is subducted sea water available in their mantle source. This high water content is then inherited by the Teanaway magmas, resulting in large bubbles when water escapes from the magma. Voluminous flood basalts such as CRBs are usually derived by high degree of melting of relatively dry mantle sources, have rather low water content, and thus also contain smaller vesicles.

[@Ellensburg44]

Great input, Jussi. Thanks. I will use this.

[@joeleoleo]

I’m so sad to have caught up, now I need to rewatch and wait for new videos. We need more people like Nick who can synthesize multiple scientific sources of information into an informative and entertaining lecture.

[@sticksstones8498]

Truly amazing. He sees what most cannot. One in a trillion. "Nick... You Rock"

[@tylerseitz6337]

This guy does a way better job than the history channel.

[@CovenGraphics]

Love the series, been ingesting the video's with interest, thank you for sharing them! I've never had an interest in Geology in the past, I can follow the lecture but what I get to enjoy is the dynamics of Earth's history and a picture of the Earth we know and love forming ;)

[@williamp2359]

I wish that my college professors would have been so interesting to watch!

[@clivegreenall309]

Hi Nick. I came across your channel recently, by chance. Thank You for sharing your knowledge. Your style is captivating. I have a few samples of blue agate which my wife has made into "gem" trees. According to the rock shop, they came from Namibia and are known here as " Blue Lace" agate. I have many more of your presentations to keep me entertained, fortunately. Regards from S Africa Clive

[@ramramramram]

Great video, excellent presentation. Thank you!

[@Ellensburg44]

Appreciate your comment, Randall. Thanks.

[@cmpe43]

NZ, you are the super club of Geology!

[@patriciakaufmann2229]

Enjoyed very much!!! Thank you!!!

[@tylercampbell1186]

Why are Ellensburg Agates so expensive, though??

[@geoffreylee5199]

Another magnificent lecture.

[@bradleyhannah8713]

I found some right by the road going into Green Canyon on the west side. There are hundreds of acres for you to look. There are several kinds of agates you can find out there. You will go home with red,green,white,and blues agates. One time I was giving up for the day and had the car door open and something 20 yards away something was shining, I went over and there in the ditch was a real nice blue dross on one side which in layers went to cornflower blue. I still have that piece ,most of it anyway. I kept the bluest part and gave the blue dross to my honey at the time, she was with me when we found the speciman. I love Washington Geology.

[@Nugglashine]

If Tom Hanks was a geology teacher.

[@Folsomdsf2]

Dude, the absolute fuckery is this. This stuff is amazing dude. It's educational entertainment on youtube that youtuhbe recommended to me. It's wholesome and lovely, with a great presenter. Congrats on having this sude CQU.

[@1foolishcaribou195]

I admit I am so envious of you guys. We need a Nick of our own in N.E. Oklahoma.

[@washnon]

This has been most informative ,thanks so much .

[@Brewdiss]

Purple agates in Holley Oregon, by Sweet Home. I was told they are very similar to Ellensburg Blue. Very small search area. Possibly all on private land. Unsure about that.

[@sum2automation]

Yup, geeks rule the world. Truly love his work and very very good at it. Totally enjoy watching your talent and understanding. Thanks for sharing your life and teaching with the world, keep going. :)

[@hollisclark6076]

Every three minutes I am yelling out, "WHAT?!" This is so interesting!!!!

[@lorituck53]

Thank you so much! Although I have hunted Blues off and on for over 40 years I did not know the specifics on where they come from, how they got here. I found the best one of my life 4 years ago and was thrilled to see it in this video. The two pictures one I was holding it in my hand and the next it was on a white tape measure. I did sell that one for $1,200. In recent years I have heard from a few people that go hunting up First Creek. I did not know until watching this video as to why. Curious though, I did ask how to get there. It sounds like you have to park a long ways from it and hike in. I think I may check it out soon as this video definitely has me intrigued as to that area. Thank you again for the most informative video I have ever seen about the Ellensburg Blue Agate and for making my day by seeing one of my own on this video.

[@Ellensburg44]

Very pleased to hear that you enjoyed this lecture, Lori! Congrats on finding a big one a few years back...

[@mathiasniemeier4359]

MAY I ASK WHERE YOU SOLD, YOUR AGATE?

[@harlech2]

Absolutely riveting

[@evelynmoyer9069]

Bought a lovely blue agate ring at a craft show a few years ago when we visited Ellensburg.

[@Ellensburg44]

Nice!

[@frenchysandi]

We have red agates here in Minnesota. Great video.

[@timault8209]

Why is NOONE who attends Nick's lectures younger than 82?

[@bradley723]

Among the wealth of geological information in here, there are some hidden nuggets if you pause and compare to a GPS map. Amazing!

[@bradleyhannah8713]

I spent many hours up near green canyon looking for blues did I find any , you bet I found several nice pieces.

[@Ellensburg44]

Great.

[@victoriabower7547]

Well done presentations.

[@markruffner9143]

Dear Nick, I have enjoyed all your videos and many more than once. As a modest rock and mineral collector, I seem to be drawn more to geology sites than collector sites. It all fascinates me. I am especially attracted to those blues. Some day I hope to add one to my collection but I imagine they are well hunted out as far as public land goes. It does pike my curiosity whether or not you have a modest mineral/rock collection of your own. It just seems natural to me. Anyways, I am finally subscribing. I am in Pierce Co. and hope to make the trek to your side-o-the-mountains and maybe sit in on a lecture if that is still an option. Thank you-Mark

[@franciscotrillo8269]

Cool presentation thanks much.

[@MobsterNine]

Great speaker, fun and interesting video. Thank you!

[@Ellensburg44]

Thanks for watching.

[@edgoodman4259]

CWU Class of 75 here---- (CWSC Then) My sister and I went agate hunting up under the powerlines a couple times. She found a large gem quality Blue agate, the best I've ever seen. She was going to keep it but she took it to a local Jewler who offered her $250 for it. To a poor college student in 1974 this was a fortune so she sold it. It was later made into a pair of wedding rings.

[@lizzymoore54]

Excellent seminar!

[@tinabell6583]

Move to Yakima Washington in 1967 lived next to the owners of Beeman's Rock Shop owned some of Andy's beautiful Ellensburg blue Rings sadly have lost

[@intipatsa9776]

I havent heard about Ellensburg or any of the names of places, I only know of agate gems from the game Baldur's Gate. Yet, I watched your entire video. It's very compelling.

[@roseymarygillespie5046]

I love the mini tutorials that you have created. Could you please think about doing something on these holes that have made their appearance the last few years all over the world. also I would enjoy it if you could think about covering the east coast as their are many many geological things that are interesting. Your 2 or 3 minute geology series is amazing and so informative for adults and kids too. It is precious and I consider it one of the things that should be programmed into kid viewing plans by parents and grandparents. Thank you so much.

[@Ellensburg44]

Thanks much. I don't know much about sinkholes...but will keep it in mind.

[@citizenschallengeYT]

Yeah, and when you get bored with Washington, please consider moving to Colorado to settle in and take up lecturing. ;- ). Fortunately I've traveled through Washington a few times, so can relate to some of the places you discuss.

[@NoOne-yt6yf]

Are blue agates related to silver foxes?

[@patriciamurray5189]

Excellent lecture series.

[@scottwheatley662]

You should come to 681 Thorofare Road crimora Virginia and explain these bulbs they look like asteroid strikes

[@Rick-uk4yi]

These lectures are great. Anybody know of something similar for California?

[@Ellensburg44]

Thanks. Don't know about California.

[@joeleoleo]

I’ve been looking for similar presentations elsewhere around the Northwest and unfortunately Nick’s entertaining & informative style and synthesis of data is not common. If you’ve watched these videos you have more of a foundation for understanding the dry silo type lectures that are out there, but unfortunately it’s hard to find anyone else synthesizing the data into relatable informative narratives.

[@ronjclark7581]

twotoes.com

[@regnbuetorsk]

damn, now i want to go to Ellensburg

[@elainedoudna2054]

There isn't an Oscar for outstanding performance by a professor?

[@bradleyhannah8713]

I went to CWSC in 73-75 then again after the Army in 82-84.

[@cynthiahoff1512]

Hey Brad! Great to see you here. I love Nick! Watch his lecture on the Leavenworth area and the big lake there. Very interesting!

[@OneWorldHistory]

Love this stuff... however it is saddening that there are so many grey-hairs (like myself) in the audience and not enough younger folks.

[@wtglb]

OneWorldHistory that was the first thing I noticed! Love his lectures though!

[@sticksstones8498]

A'Men

[@oceandrew]

The realization that we don't know as much as we think we do comes with age (wisdom).

[@azraikezoe388]

He is so captivating and wish I could move there to finish my grad work even though I ha 5 to 8 gray hairs myself! I miss geology, mineralogy and structural geology. Illinois is so boring and moldy. I had to go 850feet underground to find some cool minerals but they where so tiny and fragile.

[@kczcb4697]

Great informative videos. Seems like all of my favorite twisty roads ( Frenchman’s coullee, sun lakes, whiskey dick highway) have great geological history

[@Converted2truth]

I want to move to Washington!

[@grovermartin6874]

Let's all meet there for one of Nick's exhilarating lectures, Rose Marie! After the smoke clears...

[@kimberlydlapp3441]

We've got jade, really beautiful carnelian, thulite, fossils, azurite, crystal points (clear quartz, amethyst), pyrite, amber, and more!

[@johnkulm997]

These videos are great! Just a guy and a chalkboard. No fancy camera editing. But the speaker is immediately engaging and stops me from clicking to a different video.

[@tinymetaltrees]

I’m going to have to come get some for my little trees!

[@louiscervantez1639]

Excellent - MORE - More

[@IanTruthSeeker]

Love your lectures, and my hair is not grey!?

[@xiongfa2152]

something I'm not getting: why is the majority of the audience silver haired? Just my second video of this man and I love him. Just not understanding the age of the audience. I mean, I have silver hair and I'd sit in this room...just not sure why others would?

[@lithicbeads]

Blues of small size but superb color come out of the Walker Valley basalts near Mt.Vernon. There is an in situ source people can work as well as blues in very small amounts in the glacial sediments out as far as the west beaches of Whidbey Island.

[@martinfromseacity2010]

very engaging lecture,

[@JohnBruininks]

🤓 Nick ROCKS! ❤️

[@guyfaux1494]

I find it interesting all the cotton-tops in the audience. Seems like younger generations have a thin interest in substantial knowledge and prefer virtual appreciations.

[@naturelovely5558]

Washington was made like Hawaii and used to feel like Florida, and had flowing lava : ) earth is cool

[@lostpony4885]

Thats the half of it, the other half came crashing in from the sea.

[@stanburton6224]

So the blue is "structrural" blue, much like how butterfly wings use tiny scales that act as a diffraction pattern to diffract out blue light..

[@JPREEDY77]

Hey Nick! What if I told you that you could find blue agate east of Wallowa mountain, in the Snake River at Farewell Bend?

[@davequick5070]

I have found blue agate near Huntington as well.

[@JS-wg4px]

In reference to him talking about water precipitating layers of quartz in the vesicles of the basalt, how does new water get into the hole when it already has a layer of quartz lining it? Wouldn't that layer seal it off?

[@Ellensburg44]

Good question. I'm weak on such matters, but apparently all rocks and minerals have dense networks of microfractures.

[@nancyhainline2517]

Thank you for a great explanation of the formation and source of Ellensburg Blues. I'm in MO, but come thru to visit family, and would love to spend a day (not long enough, but all that is free) on an agate hunt. Are there people, or clubs, I could contact for directions and permission for such a thing? I expect landowners would want a fee?

[@cayadahl]

I am actually from Minnesota, and I love learning about geology. I would like to learn more about the geology of my area, but learning about other areas is always fun too. I love watching these videos. Nick you make this so interesting and fun!!!! Thank you!

[@Ellensburg44]

Very nice comments. Thanks much.

[@michaelpcooksey5096]

Nice... so what may be the matrix for the SE Iowa Geodes around New London? They have a sort of tan/brownish brain external texture & insides sport crystals, oil, etc. Any ideas?

[@sluggotinfantryman]

Great lecture! Thanks.

[@minerjoe90]

we have lots of agates here in Nova Scotia, but I never found a blue agate. I have found black agate. very rare to my eyes.

[@Ellensburg44]

+minerjoe90 Interesting. I hear your province is beautiful.

[@sophiasummers1637]

Nick could you Don a Colorado geology series?

[@priscillaross-fox9407]

Wow! those are beautiful and so much prettier than Lake Superior agates which are mainly brown colors. I don't think I got to keep any of the agates I found up north but they were small to tiny anyway. There's 2 or 3 buckets of beach pebbles up north but I can't get up there any longer. I do want to mention the gas bubbles in the magma. (You didn't mention this as I recall) Those that cool slower have larger 'pockets' to fill than those that cooled quickly. Mother Nature sure has given us some beautiful things.

[@Ellensburg44]

Thanks.

[@mysticvirgo9318]

the Ellensburg blue agates get their coloration from similar method that gives Opals their colors? Neat!

[@jeffreynelson2660]

Yesterday I was driving north on 97 just past the Rocky Reach Dam, and noticed a thin layer (about a foot or less) of white rock between thick layers of basalt. Just wondering if this was volcanic ash from an ancient eruption. Any ideas?

[@Ellensburg44]

Probably lake beds between giant lava eruptions, Jeffrey. 15 million years ago.

[@jeffparryncc1701]

A brilliant series 👌

[@Ellensburg44]

Thanks Jeff!