I Found My First Montana Agates and Petrified Wood!

[@TheoKellison]

Hey rob! Really glad to see you enjoyed that spot i sent you to! Its certainly got no shortage of rocks, thats for sure; little bit of everything over there! So the reddish and yellow softer rocks you were finding is scoria, there is a ton of it out there but it is pretty stuff. The white layer over the agates is a paper thin layer of opal, a lot of montanans often refer to those as "sunburnt" agates, and usually those are some of the best once you get inside them. Looks like you got some fantastic chert and jaspers though! The color on that green and red one was especially fantastic! Cant wait to see what you do with them!😄

[@MichiganRocks]

That spot was awesome! Thanks for the I.D. of the scoria. I'm sure I picked up some stuff that won't tumble well, but I'm ok with that. I'm sure that I also got some great stuff for tumbling. I just don't know when I'll get all this stuff done. I need to build another giant tumbler!

[@enjoylifesteve3925]

Your last sentence about needing to build a bigger rock tumbler reminded me of the famous quote from the movie, JAWS (1975), which was filmed on Martha's Vineyard where I'm temporarily living now - "You're gonna need a bigger boat...." kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5u4l41pqa1knbM

[@MichiganRocks]

@@enjoylifesteve3925 I remember that line.

[@craigmeskinen6397]

Hi Theo! I live in western MT and would love to know where this spot was. If I’m correct I am guessing it is east of Colstrip and west of Broadus. Would you mind messaging me the location please? Thanks!

[@DeborahJohnson-bh9nd]

PS - It did my heart good to see you picking up rocks willy-nilly. "Ooh. That one goes in the bucket." You're so picky on your home turf, but here you just collected with abandon and it was fun to watch. I can't wait for the follow-up video to see what becomes of it all.

[@MichiganRocks]

I'm sure that I'd be more selective after tumbling some of these. I'm sure I picked up some that won't shine up. With experience, I'd know what to pick up and what to leave behind.

[@drthmik]

I can't really tell in the video what direction you're walking in relation to your Jeep But it looks like you're closer at the beginning I learned about a strategy that Bees use when gathering nectar They fly away from the hive ignoring everything as they go until they are a mile or so away, then they turn around and start gathering from flowers as they fly BACK towards the hive this way they fly the furthest distance empty when moving is easy and as they gather Nectar and pollen their weight increases as they get closer to the hive and once they are fully laden they have only a short ways to go to get home

[@queenelcene638]

Sounds smart to me😮😊❤🎉❤

[@CacklingChick]

So how would you mark the rocks along the way for retrieval on the walk back?

[@TinaHyde]

This is freaking brilliant!! Smart bees…

[@MichiganRocks]

I have definitely considered that strategy. The problem is that I can't help looking for rocks in both directions. I typically pick slowly as I walk away from the Jeep and then walk faster on the way back, but still keep my eyes to the ground. I know it's not the smartest way to do it, but that's what I always end up doing.

[@CacklingChick]

@@MichiganRocks You aren't alone in that method. Ditto!!

[@ccccarriemchardy9216]

Its good to see someone else's perspective in a different area. Still a kid in a big rock shop.

[@MichiganRocks]

This was truly the view of a guy in a new area seeing stuff for the first time. I was a little overwhelmed, a little confused, and very excited.

[@soul_adventurist]

I absolutely love all the different colors of rocks out there! They seem so bright and vivid, too. Thank you for taking us along on your adventures ❤

[@MichiganRocks]

I think the rainy day really helped me there. I always prefer hunting in the water on the Great Lakes because the colors are much closer to how the rocks will look when polished. The rain did that for me in this field.

[@joane.landers9151]

​@@MichiganRocksSimilar to what you're saying about rainy days and rockhounding making stones easier to spot for possible colors, patterns, etc., in the Herkimer and Montgomery County's of New York state, Herkimer 'diamond' water-clear quartz is easier to spot in sub-soil/sandy soil when it rains. In past years, on occasion, I did that. Am enjoying this video of your hunt for stones. Thanks fir sharing.

[@MichiganRocks]

@@joane.landers9151 Is that because the rain washes the dirt off of them?

[@joane.landers9151]

@@MichiganRocks In answer to to your question about rain, Yes, in my experience; one day when I was at the Crystal Grove 'Diamond' Mine in St. Johnsville, NY, the day started cloudy and as I walked around the front pit, sandy sub-soil from top of the pit sloping to the bottom of the pit, there were small/half inch Herks kind of half-hiding in the sandy soil. As it began to lightly sprinkle & then somewhat harder, the water-clear sides of the quartz showed up better as the rain washed the soil off the crystals. I found several that day.

[@MichiganRocks]

@@joane.landers9151 That's what I was picturing. It would be fun to hunt those someday.

[@laurieowen8696]

Awesome adventure. What great treasures. You were having fun, I was having fun, we all belong in the fun club. Thanks for bringing us along❤❤

[@MichiganRocks]

I think it was fun having you along!

[@salliemorrill2671]

That was a lot of fun. Yep, I agree w/you in that these rocks are completely different from Michigan rocks. Hello to Nancy.

[@nancyabram229]

Hello to you too!

[@justjulee9135]

I think you were drawn to those beautiful Montana jaspers! So colorful! You found some great petrified wood and some great agates! I cant wait to see what you do with everything!

[@MichiganRocks]

I picked up a lot of jasper in Minnesota, Montana, and lately in Michigan. I think I may be over doing the jasper lately.

[@mikek4443]

I'm loving your western trip videos, Thanks

[@CindyHolmes-p6o]

Loved that you found some treasures. It was fun to listen to the rocks, ker-chunk in the bucket! 😊

[@MichiganRocks]

That is a nice sound, isn't it?

[@JeffWeymier]

What an amazing place.

[@jamesmorrow1646]

I like your irrepressible optimism. Cheers from Australia.

[@MichiganRocks]

Hard not to be optimistic in a place like that!

[@tonyhamilton9764]

Love seeing all that color. Thanks for sharing your great adventures!

[@queenelcene638]

Another fine finding adventure😊 ThankYou for sharing this with us ❤️

[@lilalightandlove421]

Oh my so exciting to have such a huge gravel to explore! Thanks Theo for pointing Rob in the right spot to find agates, jasper and petrified wood. Thank goodness Montana doesn’t have a 25 pound limit for rocks cause there are soooo many beautiful rocks! I really enjoyed your multi state rock hunts!

[@MichiganRocks]

I went a little crazy at that spot. So much fun!

[@MrTurtleMontana]

@@MichiganRocks It's the fullest your bucket has ever been! I even said to myself, "This is the most amount of rocks I've ever seen Rob pick up!"

[@MichiganRocks]

@@MrTurtleMontana It was a big day for me.

[@MrTurtleMontana]

@@MichiganRocks Completely understandable! I had that same feeing when I went back to Montana in February. Only difference being that I came home with probably 800-1000 pounds of rocks (over 19 states, not just Montana)...

[@MichiganRocks]

@@MrTurtleMontana That's a lot of states and a whole lot of rocks. What the heck will you do with that many rocks?

[@netamorton4832]

Happy to see you find so many good rocks to tumble!❤️

[@johncloar1692]

Really nice rockhounding adventure, look like a lot of fun ! Thanks for thanking us along,

[@debbieletchworth918]

Rob Just loved this video. Hear the excitement in your voice. I’m ready to get in my truck and head to Montana. Rocks are beautiful. I’ve never found any petrified wood. This hunt is just awesome, gives me goosebumps 😂❤

[@debbieletchworth918]

Maybe just a little hint as to what part of Montana. There’s probably lots of cow pastures around 😂

[@MichiganRocks]

That was a pretty fun day. Those rocks are in the tumbler now. No clues as to the location. That seems like a slippery slope.

[@debramaertens893]

What a blast! Loved the background ‘music’ of raindrops and meadowlarks!

[@cheri6174]

Killdeers, little birds that you’ll see on the shore or in wetter areas.

[@MichiganRocks]

I know what a killdeer is, but I wasn't sure what the other birds with the beautiful songs were. I guess they were meadow larks. I don't think we have those here.

[@savagesquirrel9828]

I’m glad the rain did not stop you. Thanks.

[@MichiganRocks]

I think it actually helped by getting the rocks wet to show their color better.

[@nancyjahn4224]

Looks so interesting and fun 😊thanks we enjoy these rock hunts so much!

[@markattardo]

So many cool rocks! Had fun watching your road trip!

[@darrinwilliams5715]

Good job Rob. 😎 that seems a good day of hunting. Cool video.😎

[@SherryAustinMcginley]

It’s fun to see you in unfamiliar territory and your evident enjoyment in the rocks. I’m enjoying your trip.

[@MichiganRocks]

That was a very fun day. I liked seeing new kinds of rocks.

[@TruthWillSetYouFree832]

I enjoyed watching you on the hunt. About half the time I was looking at (and drooling over) whatever was right next to what you were looking at. 😄 There was so much to see all around that the eyes just wander. You got some really neat ones. Thanks for letting us tag along!

[@MichiganRocks]

If you were frustrated by what I didn't pick up, you were probably feeling a lot like I was. There was just too much to see.

[@TruthWillSetYouFree832]

@@MichiganRocks There's just so much, you picked up what caught your eye the best and that's great.

[@gemstonejudy5900]

Thanks for taking us along!😊

[@KevinWard-ui5hb]

Always enjoy watching your videos. I like that you are a teacher and I learn lots from your videos.

[@MichiganRocks]

I was the student that day. I didn't have a clue what I was doing, but sort of picked it up as the day went on.

[@KevinWard-ui5hb]

@@MichiganRocks Well it’s good to always keep learning. Seems you are a fast learner

[@helgavoorneveld1530]

Love the new handle must be so much more comfortable!! Great finds I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll make with them 😊❤

[@MichiganRocks]

That handle is really good. I just got back from four days of rock hunting on Lake Superior and used it every day there too. I think it's fun when stuff like that is made right here in Michigan.

[@helgavoorneveld1530]

@@MichiganRocks it sure is 😁 I use those types of buckets in the garden for weeds and to carry soil and the handles can really dig in the skin...

[@easterazali9237]

Lots of pretty rocks WOW! I enjoyed this episode heaps ! I always imagined Montana to be very green for some reason 😊

[@MichiganRocks]

Not green at all. I was there in May, so that's probably about as green as it gets. The western part of the state is greener, I think.

[@dancrites453]

This site certainly had the most action of any of them. I think they refer to that as a "target rich environment". Amazing variety of stuff I've never seen before either. What a great time! Thanks.

[@MichiganRocks]

It was so target rich that it was a little overwhelming. I struggled through it though.

[@131maymay131]

Enjoying watching the variety of rocks you’re finding!

[@helgavoorneveld1530]

I loved listening to those birds as well so sweet

[@MichiganRocks]

Those birds were great. Someone said they were meadow larks. Whatever they were, they were different from what I hear in Michigan.

[@kellyharper367]

Old disabled house bound dusty rusty rockhound here: So many rocks... It's mesmerizing!

[@victoriamaaske7420]

You need some sunshine to pick out the agates. It seems they have little potholes on the outside. I thit there was a big agate in the water by the yellow rock you picked out of the water at about 12:20.

[@MichiganRocks]

I'm sure I missed plenty. I didn't have sun on my side, but I think the rain helped to show me the true colors of the rocks. That's why I usually hunt in the water on a beach.

[@Nikkisavage100]

Hi Rob, a lot of very nice stones too !! awwww

[@pamelatrozera224]

Great agate and petrified wood hunting. I enjoyed it a lot.

[@meanstoanend81]

The petrified wood specimens are quite unique 👌 Meanstoanend

[@staceysakkinen1270]

What a fun video😊, it was so nice to see you keep so many rocks!!😂 thanks for sharing!!!😊

[@MichiganRocks]

I went a little nuts that day.

[@RM-vw3ov]

Love the calls of the sandpipers and rain as a backdrop to your adventures Rob. Hopefully Theo can help with some ID for you; I cannot wait to see you do a video of cutting and polishing some of those wonderful finds.

[@MichiganRocks]

I'll be showing these polished at some point, but it will be awhile. I think you were hearing killdeer, not sandpipers, at least that's what I remember hearing. Maybe there were both.

[@RM-vw3ov]

@@MichiganRocks ah thanks on correcting my ID! I’m rusty! Will happily wait on those follow up videos👍👍⭐️

[@kirsiselei8703]

What an beautiful spot💕.so many and so beautiful rocks that i would loose my mind😁

[@MichiganRocks]

I lost mind, but then I found it later behind a rock.

[@sonshinelegacy773]

Thanks so much for taking us along with you. Oh my goodness I respect your restraint. There were a couple times like at 16 min and 23 min I think that I could feel my pulse rise when you chose to leave those behind... It's good I don't live near.

[@MichiganRocks]

And I thought I overdid it at this spot. I had a lot of fun that day seeing some new things.

[@ChrisR_4812]

Rob, if you plan on visiting Montana again, it may be worth your while to get a Rockhounding Montana book. My husband is is a camp host at one of the parks (I can't remember which one). Unfortunately, he's not a rockhound. Not sure what part of Montana has sapphires, but it would be fun to hunt for those. Thanks for sharing. Take care.

[@MichiganRocks]

I opted for asking some locals to guide me. They weren't available on the day I made this video, but otherwise, I think I made the right decision. I'm sure there were lots of other things I could have looked for, but in four days, you have to just choose a few. If someone wanted to find all the different kinds of rocks available in Michigan, it would take a very long time.

[@IceLynne]

It's so fun to watch you have such a great rock hunting vacation! Super cool places!

[@TheAmericanX]

hi there

[@lisamills-wv6nc]

Wow! The rocks are so different from Minnesota, and im assuming Michigan too! I would love to go to Montana and find petrified wood and some of the rocks and fossils i see that Theo finds. One of these days! You found some real beauties! 😊

[@MichiganRocks]

You're closer than I am, so get going!

[@migglemaggle9500]

I bet it feels great finding a new rock!! Grats.

[@MichiganRocks]

It did. Nice change of pace.

[@roman11469]

Nice! Surrounded by some really good stuff…Some of that jasper is going to come out gorgeous after you tumble it. I like how you got your “eyes” in the 2nd half of the video. I bet you had to make some hard choices on what to take. I need to get up there and do some hounding myself.

[@MichiganRocks]

Yep, I kind of got it figured out as I got more experience. I'm sure I brought home a few duds, but that's how you learn.

[@andrewwong3825]

Great rockhounding there 👍👍👍

[@davidhile5363]

I think this was my favorite video so far of this whole series. I’m guessing that at certain times of the year that is a larger flowing stream. I think I would have absolutely gone nuts there, so many rocks to pick up and examine ! I agree it’s hard to get used to looking at rocks that are different from our Great Lakes rocks. I was wondering what the patches of black stuff was and then you said coal. The birds singing in the background was cool too. Excellent video Rob !!!

[@MichiganRocks]

This was the only day on my trip that I hunted alone except for the first day on Little Girls Point and one afternoon in Minnesota. I enjoyed the hunts with other people the best because I like company. But as far as rocks go, this spot was awesome.

[@tott3457]

You will have so much fun going through all your finds from your travels. Looking forward to seeing all your treasures!!!

[@MichiganRocks]

The weather has been too nice here for me to get down to the basement to do anything with these yet. I really want to get some before pictures for my tumbling videos.

[@timdewey575]

One of my favorite rockhounding spots in Montana; such a fantastic variety specimens.

[@MichiganRocks]

As you could probably tell, I was almost overwhelmed at the beginning.

[@beefmelt]

As you spoke being overwhelmed, it made me remember being overwheled as I was searching the beaches of lake huron and superior. (Your home). It's a good thing to have so many choices.

[@MichiganRocks]

I understand that as well. It's just that I've gotten used to those Great Lakes rocks and now I'm very selective. I have no such experience in Montana.

[@beefmelt]

@@MichiganRocks, as you would commonly say, That's Fun.

[@theOperative0]

as someone who lives in montana and only recently started tumbling, i have to say montana has an amazing selection of great rocks to tumble. i cant walk more then a block from my house before i find a really great rock

[@MichiganRocks]

As you could probably tell, I was impressed.

[@PatricesProjects]

That place is awesome. I hope your bucket overfloweth. I could have pulled up a stool and looked at rocks for several minutes in each spot. Really enjoying your vacation. Maybe it's time for me to take one.

[@MichiganRocks]

My bucket didn't overflow, but over the whole trip I accumulated quite a bit. I'm not sure how I'll ever tumble all of it.

[@KatyDidRocks]

It was great watching you explore a new area - so many beautiful rocks! :) Theo's right, the red and gray rock is scoria. I disagree about the yellow - I think it's something called porcellanite, which comes in all the colors of the rainbow. It polishes, although I don't know if it would tumble very well. I just love this!

[@MichiganRocks]

I'll be finding out what tumbles and what doesn't. I just don't know when. I have a _lot_ of rocks to tumble from this trip! How does this place compare to some of your Yellowstone River beaches on a rainy day?

[@noyopacific]

Thanks for the video Rob!

[@MichiganRocks]

You're welcome!

[@largent45]

You really made a haul out there! And it doesn't matter what it is, if you like it, it goes home with you! And you did really good on the agates! That's awesome and they have some really gorgeous jaspers out in Montana! It looked like the majority of the stuff out there was jasper and the agates and pet woods are a close 2nd and 3rd! That's what they call a trifecta for Montana rock. That's what most people are out there too collect! But they have some gorgeous banded chert as well! And I think that white stuff is an opalization but I could be wrong and most should tumble off because the opal is much softer material than the agate. And Montana agates are one of the hardest agates out there. But you got some beautiful jaspers and pet woods and agates so that will be a fantastic tumbler batch for sure! Thanks Rob!

[@MichiganRocks]

I knew I wanted the three big rocks you mentioned. Some of the other rocks that were new to me might be duds in the tumbler, but that's how you learn. That's how I learned what to tumble from Michigan beaches. I'd just bring some stuff home, try it out, and then know better next time.

[@Rocktwister]

So glad you got a chance to visit Montana, I really enjoy rockhounding there. Haven't been in years! Thanks for taking us along!

[@MichiganRocks]

I'm glad I could give you a little taste of what you've been missing.

[@PocketChangeInspector]

Those tumbled/finished pieces in the beginning of the video look great!

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks!

[@virginiahudson3827]

I hope you had a lot of fun during your visit to Montana. I hope you share a video or two on how these turn out for you when you get them home.

[@MichiganRocks]

I will show the finished tumbles, but it's going to be a long time. It will take a long time to tumble them and I brought back a lot of rocks from that trip, so they won't all go in the tumblers at once.

[@kellyhollingsworth6100]

That looks like fun. Chert is abundant in the western states when slabbed and polished it can make nice stones, the piece of banded chert at 16:30 would have went in my bucket most of the time it is pretty cracked. Nice adventure.

[@MichiganRocks]

That one at 16:30 was nice, but I'm really spoiled with the really awesome banded chert I find here in Michigan.

[@staceymcmahan5016]

Wow! Very cool . So fascinating that each region or state has its own unique minerals and rocks. That looks like a rockhounders haven! Another state to hound is Idaho also called the gem state. Thank you for sharing ❤

[@MichiganRocks]

I'd love to go to Idaho sometime.

[@shawnmurray7232]

27:48 that "coal" looks like a burnt tree stump. The lightest coal is Lignite and weighs about 40lbs/CuFt, it has a LOT of deep browns in its coloring, but IS sometimes found in Montana. Common coal (which is nearly black like in your video) is kind of heavy, almost like a rock at about 80lbs/CuFt compared to around 169lbs/CuFt for agate, charcoal on the other hand is only around 10 - 15lbs/CuFt.

[@MichiganRocks]

I was told by locals that it was actually coal.

[@icatz]

What a cool place to hunt. Nice variety. That funky flat jasper was bizarre. TFS ❤️🎸🏏

[@MichiganRocks]

Yeah, I have no idea how that formed like that.

[@naminaoberhausen2131]

Very beautiful rocks. Really enjoy your videos. From Jordan

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks!

[@gwynnfarrell1856]

I believe KatyDid explained that the white deposit on the outside of the agates is opal which has formed as a result of weathering, possibly from sun exposure? That area sure was rich in jasper. Can't wait to see what you do with all those great looking rocks! The rain pitter pattering on your clothes was a great accompaniment to the hunt. 😊

[@MichiganRocks]

Yep, she told me the same thing the next day when I went out hunting with her.

[@gregprince2523]

Go on out to Washington..... Blaine area .... You can't carry them all but they sure are beautiful!!

[@MichiganRocks]

I'd love to, but that's a really long drive. Maybe someday.

[@TinaHyde]

I honestly did not want this one to end, Rob! Seeing this beautiful gravel bed from the perspective of a novice made it feel like I was wearing a VR headset! That must have felt like rock heaven!❤ Oh, and I’m no geologist or anything, but that white coating you were wondering about? Powdered sugar. Definitely powdered sugar.

[@MichiganRocks]

I'm usually a rock licker, but with the cows in the field, I decided against that for this location. Now that I know about the powdered sugar, I think I may have made the wrong call there.

[@TinaHyde]

@@MichiganRocks 😂 Thank goodness your instincts were spot on!👌💩

[@Indyanas_ocean_view]

It looks like you found lots of unique rocks. Maybe that yellow crumbly rock is sulfur or brimstone. 😍🥰😇👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@MichiganRocks]

It didn't smell like sulfur, but maybe. Never thought of that.

[@kimwatkinsrocks265]

I just got back to Montana. I come to Glendive every year then just recently moved here😊 so much petrified wood out here. A Ranger at local Park told me that a lot of the petrified wood is sequoia. Have fun! I have a couple of you tube videos of a few of my finds that I tried to tumble🙄

[@MichiganRocks]

I didn't even think about what kind of trees these were. Thanks for the info!

[@jeffholmes1362]

Firstly, love the video and really enjoying your trip. Secondly it was funny watching you so excited, jumping from one rock to the next, oh look at that, oh look at that ooo there’s another one……😂😂😂😂. But it must have been hard to not fill the car , so many nice rocks.

[@MichiganRocks]

I was freaking out a little there. I calmed down and figured things out eventually though.

[@grandparocky]

Great video thanks for sharing!

[@MichiganRocks]

You're welcome!

[@kastah]

😂😂You really had a luxusproblem there, I think I had needed many trips back and forth to the car, hehehe...must have been fun to be at another spot and with so many beutiful rocks👍👍🙏🙏

[@MichiganRocks]

So many beautiful rocks is right! I had tons of fun.

[@mlstuart6332]

a lot of treasures there

[@Smallathe]

Very cool rock hunting! :)

[@SandyFielding-cl4dc]

Me and my husband visited an area we haven't been a about 5 yrs and while walking around, we spotted 2, only 2, n the hole 1 Acer area, 2 solid yellow little stones. Came home and googles them bc We've never seen any rocks like them b4 and found out that they were yellow, lemon jade. They stuck out like diamonds but couldn't find anymore. Enjoyed the hunt with ya. Stay safe and God bless.

[@MichiganRocks]

Wow, those sound really cool.

[@michaelvandyke]

Awesome and congrads on the finds!

[@Cirium.mp3]

That's a real nice sky in the opening shot mane, 8/10

[@donaldgilliland4145]

Need more BUCKETS 😊

[@manisteerocks7092]

Just started watching..totally drooling 🤤...rock heaven 😋

[@MichiganRocks]

That place was awesome. Our beaches are also awesome but with different rocks.

[@staceymcmahan5016]

Arizona is a great state for petrified wood. And its gorgous! Just have to check regions that aren't part of national petrified forest park.

[@MichiganRocks]

I have tumbled Arizona pet wood before and I agree. It's very colorful

[@nicolagraynewzealandrockho8976]

I love hunting in the rain, makes them all show up. So many colours there. Fill up that jeep 😂😂

[@MichiganRocks]

Yes, I think the rain really helped.

[@donnalantz7981]

Timestamp 15:31 that was a beautiful jasper. I have seen you pick up several jasper and chert. I recognize several things fron watching their videos. Kate and Theo plus a few others. You picked up some really nice rocks.

[@MichiganRocks]

I'm happy with what I brought home, although I might have overdone it a bit.

[@donnalantz7981]

No, not you. You wouldn't do something like that. LOL and if you wanna offload some, we'll you could always think of me. But im sure you will make good use of it all.

[@RockerranShow]

We have been getting lots of rain here! I am glad you found some different rocks than you are used to. Michigan not Petrified wood was news to me recently

[@MichiganRocks]

I didn't quite understand that last sentence. Are you saying that you just learned that Michigan doesn't have a lot of petrified wood?

[@RockerranShow]

yes, I assumed Michigan had plenty of Petrified Wood. Just saw you went to Myer's bridge with Kate. I was there last Saturday but the Yellowstone was real high. I am excited the local river is finally dropping after runoff!

[@leslyeschoenhuth1107]

At the 16:13 mark you picked up 2 reddish rocks actually touching what looks like a caramel colored Agate.. smooth & Waxy.. so many times you pick up a rock right next to what looks like an Agate.. All Waxy & sort of caramel..

[@MichiganRocks]

I knew that was probably happening, but it took me awhile to figure out which ones were the agates. I was having fun, so I'm not too disappointed if I missed a few.

[@arongstone]

Nice find ❤❤!!

[@tiffanyobetts4197]

Great video! I don’t think I’ve ever seen you keep so many rocks- but you’re in Montana so you have to! :) Will make a good “rocks in a box” video soon!

[@MichiganRocks]

I'm not sure about soon, but I did put a lot of these into a tumbler yesterday.

[@pamelasplace7429]

What a peaceful setting for rock hunting. As I was watching your video and you got to the end, you do kind of have a catch phrase (per your conversation with KatyDid on one of the videos from the montana adventures) at the end when you add links to other videos you say "I'll see you over there"

[@MichiganRocks]

Not a very catchy catch phrase. I do say that a lot though.

[@janehelbert7551]

My eyes would be going crazy to look at as many rocks as I could!

[@MichiganRocks]

Yep, that's kind of how I felt.

[@tinastoddard5411]

So many beautiful rocks. I think it would be a fun video if you, Theo and Montana rock mom wnt agate hunting.

[@MichiganRocks]

I don't really know Montana Rock Mom very well. I've watched a couple of her Makers Challenge videos, but that's about it. I have talked to Theo and Kate more often, so I felt more comfortable asking them to take me out hunting.

[@marknorthrup7646]

So glad that you were able to experience the Yellowstone river, in the rain especially. Not a common experience. I feel that you would have done much better with someone along with experience as I felt that you were really looking hard at colors and stripes. Color works great for the jaspers and stripes work fine for chert (which was much of what you picked). You should have found a lot more pet wood than you did in my opinion... unless Theo sent you to a picked over spot, which I doubt that he would. Most of your agates were chalcedony because you were looking for the clear agates and not knowing about the skins they often have. I was the exact same way when I went to the Keewenaw a few years ago. I was picking up everything "interesting" and not knowing anything about what I might be missing. It's all still fun of course, but it is a long way to go without finding all that you might. I want to go back to Michigan again soon as I think i might do better next time. (I live in SW Missouri)i

[@MichiganRocks]

Yep, I was acting like a complete beginner, because that's what I was. The spot was picked over somewhat because I met a couple there who had been there the day before. They said that there was another couple there the day before too. I didn't walk too far either, because I was having so much fun with what I found close to the Jeep. I'm sure that someone with Montana rockhounding experience would have done much better, but I'm not at all disappointed in what I found. I was there to have fun, and I accomplished that in a big way.

[@patriciamckean4186]

No sun for the agate to glow, although rain makes the colors more vivid.

[@MichiganRocks]

Yep, I was thankful for the rain for the colors, but sun would have been welcome too.

[@CodyHartman710]

Montana is definitely a must go to destination for me. I'm just in Oregon and find similar rocks, but the colors and size of rocks you're finding is simply amazing 😍 nice work Rob on the agates, jaspers and pet wood 😊

[@MichiganRocks]

I've always thought Oregon would be a good place to go rockhounding. Seems like you have some good stuff there.

[@robbybobby64]

You don’t get to Montana much so bring a piece of it home with you. I came home from the beach here in Delaware with 3 one gallon ziplock bags full of agate and all kinds of crystal. Petrified wood too. I found 5 arrowheads in the last 2 weeks also. Very exciting. Back home to New Jersey now. I like the beach better.

[@MichiganRocks]

Wow, you did great on arrowheads! I ended up with two gallon bags from this day and many more from other days on my trip. I think I took more home from this spot than any of my other hunts on this trip.

[@rockersfromaz3001]

I went to Montana last year to rockhound and I took katydid’s book with me and went to a lot of the places in her book however the directions were very confusing lol however I did end up running in to her the morning of our first big hunt. Every step we took I found agates or pet wood. Then the next 2 days Kim from Montana rock mom met up with us and took us to a secret place and well we ended up shopping over 350 lbs of rocks home between all of us. All were agates jaspers or pet wood. I found the most amazing rocks and I did not want to leave. The pet wood is very easy to identify! Which I’m sure you’ve figured that out by now lol I can’t wait to go back!!

[@rockersfromaz3001]

Alrighty then

[@MichiganRocks]

That's amazing that you happened to run into Kate while you were there. Isn't she great? I really enjoyed hanging out with her for a few days. I didn't haul out quite 350 lbs. but that's more than I could possibly use. I was very, very happy with what I did take home.

[@rosesummers5075]

Would have been fun to show you around western north Dakota for some great rocks.

[@MichiganRocks]

You might enjoy some upcoming videos.

[@brightpurpleviking]

Whoa, now THAT place is on my rock bucket list LOL

[@IvanLopez-zh3xz]

Great episode!!!!!°

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks!

[@kyhawk406]

That white on the outside of the agates can sometimes be referred to as a “husk.” Which is essentially sun-bleaching! A lot of the red and yellow mixed jaspers are mookaite! And you showed a lot more self control than I would have! Even living in Montana I would have picked so many of those! Theo knows what’s up! Great spot!

[@MichiganRocks]

Mookaite is from Australia, so it's not that. Same colors as mookaite, though.

[@nicolagraynewzealandrockho8976]

This just popped up again , i watched it on my smart tv. Really cool video

[@MichiganRocks]

I am getting close to finishing those in the tumbler.

[@nicolagraynewzealandrockho8976]

@@MichiganRocks I bet they will look beautiful. Ive just taken a 4 pound barrel out of final polish, so shiny.

[@katiedid713926]

Wonderful video!!

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks!