A Lake Superior Agate Hunt Near the Blind Sucker River

[@deijix]

This may be a dumb idea but I would love to see a video where you just get a couple handfuls of random rocks and put them in the tumbler and see what happens. I think it’d be an interesting video to see what each rock turns out like.

[@MichiganRocks]

That's not a bad idea. I'll consider that. Thanks for the idea.

[@invictusfarmer7188]

i am actually doing something similar. every beach we go to i take a cup of rocks from the best gravel bar. i pick out the junk and put the rest in a tub. once i fill the tumbler i run them all and see what ive got. just a fun side thing to my rock hunting. like a grab bag lol.

[@davidbarnett5777]

I actually do that just to see what happens.

[@user-dg2pz1hx1w]

Not dumb at all ☺️

[@irisbrouillard9728]

Just love watching your videos, it is relaxing to see the rocks in the water and hear the sound of soft waves. Nice to meet Sam. Great rocks too !

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks, Iris. Sam has been along on some previous rock hunts. He lives right across the road from me. We have very similar tastes in rocks. He's as picky about what he brings home as I am, so we get along really well on the beach.

[@carlabythelake8162]

Fog and rocks. Two of my favorite things. The flies... not so much. This video was just what I needed at this point in time. Good stuff. Did not know quartz can be tumbled.

[@MichiganRocks]

Quartz tumbles well, but is sometimes sort of boring because it's so plain. I still brought a few pieces home. Here's a video showing some tumbled Michigan quartz: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIKzpZiQmJubbsU

[@carlabythelake8162]

@@MichiganRocks I had missed that video. Thanks. Quartz is beautiful!

[@FeralGrammy321]

I'm Florida born and bred (67 years) and never had the desire to visit a place where it gets so cold water lays around outside, frozen, for months... That was before I saw all the rocks! Going to have to drive if I visit though so I can bring home a trunk full. What a beautiful place and what a really talented guy to share it with everyone, thanks!

[@MichiganRocks]

Yeah, walking on water here isn't that big of a deal for a good part of the year. Florida sounds really good at those times.

[@kellyharper367]

Old disabled house bound dusty rusty rockhound here: The camera shots looking down through the water at the abundance of colored rocks are exciting to me! I never tire of your videos. I rewatch many of them.

[@MichiganRocks]

It's that excitement that keeps me going back.

[@storytimewithunclebill1998]

That place is so nice and the water is so clear. Really great finds too. Was fun to watch. Great video

[@amywelsh8225]

As always, I love your videos (although I’m watching them much later than originally posted and out of order; I just found your channel recently; I’m a newbie rockhounder). Sam is just darling! Father son rockhounding is so special! I really appreciate when you explain why you don’t keep stones, your experience saves us newbies a lot of failed experiments. Bless you. 😊

[@MichiganRocks]

Father and son rockhounding is great, but my son grew out of it years ago. Sam is my neighbor. He's about two years from going off to college, though, so I'm about to lose another partner. Hopefully, he'll still have time for a summer rock hunting trip with me through college though.

[@amywelsh8225]

I wish I lived up there! I’d go every chance I got. I’m down in Madison, WI. Not the best for rocks :( but I make it over to Milwaukee from time to time. I actually just found my first Lake Superior agate though! Oddly, it was in the gravel under my deck, found when replacing a deck board. Funny how I’ve spent so much time looking for agates and never thought to look under my deck 😆

[@MichiganRocks]

@@amywelsh8225 I can't blame you for not looking there.

[@margaretgilbertson1118]

Excellent adventure and I didn’t even get wet or bit by a fly! Thank you.

[@MichiganRocks]

The wet part wasn't too bad on this beach. Two days later and an hour away, the water was much colder. I could do without the flies though.

[@littledabwilldoya9717]

We’ve had stable flies be SO bad before, that they’ve actually chased us off of the beach! Nasty, persistent buggers who’s bites HURT and can actually draw blood! Yikes! LOVE the clarity of the water- so amazing! 🤩 Thanks for taking us along!😁

[@MichiganRocks]

I've had them really, really bad too. I now have a complete mesh suit that I carry in my backpack. It's not perfect, but it lets me stay on the beach.

[@emdee7744]

Great video. I liked the relaxed pace and the soft lapping of the water. Oh yeah, and the rocks too, lol!

[@MichiganRocks]

I tried to capture what it's like to be there. It's not a fast paced activity.

[@craftykat]

Thank you so much for this gorgeous video. It is so soothing, seeing the rocks shining in the water, hearing the waves, seeing the mist rise over the lake. We still have so much snow and ice here and it was lovely to see this, even with the hail at the end, lol. Glad your jeep wasn't damaged.

[@MichiganRocks]

I'm glad my Jeep wasn't damaged too. I just knew it was going to be all dented after that, but it was fine.

[@victoriadawydiuk4172]

In the beginning of the video I found the almost continuous section of all dark rocks about 4-5 feet from the shore interesting. I wonder why they were deposited that way? Loved the “egg” and the other big piece of quartz! Hail - rocks from the sky😆

[@MichiganRocks]

I always thought that those black rocks were basalt, but @Capt Paul who comments here a lot and is a geologist told me they were something else. I think they might be greywacke. On the beach, you'll notice that the rocks are sorted by size and density. In the water and up on the dry beach, you'll often see a row of rocks that is dark and another row that is light colored. It's not the color that's important, but that different types of rocks have different densities. The rocks are also sorted by size. All the small rocks are usually right along the water line and then farther up the beach the bigger rocks are deposited. Sometimes they alternate back and forth some.

[@mohamadanwar4209]

The continuous tidal effect of the shore waves (flow/ebb) works as a sorting mechanism to all gravels and pebbles. This means that the heavier the gravels (based mostly on the specific gravity of the rock and not necessarily on its size) will decide how far the waves can carry that gravel. This is why if you are looking for magnetite, for example, which has a very high specific gravity, you will be wasting time to look at the dry shore. Waves cannot carry it that far. It will always be sunk few feet into the lake. On the other hand, if you are after agate (made of low specific gravity silica = SiO2), chances are that you will find it on the shore because waves can carry it for a longer distance. In a matter of fact, we use the same technique artificially to separate gold particles in a sluice box/machine. The heavier the rock (in terms of specific gravity) the shorter the distance water can carry it and vice versa.

[@jerrykeehl3276]

Love watching your clips of Michigan Rocks. I even watch with magnifying glass for close ups of one's you walk past. Some you throw back absolutely STOPS MY HEART. Was raised in Michigan, went home from 2005 to 2007 to help our Mother with Alshiemers. Haven't been back much scence. But I definitely have most my PRESIOUS rocks still. Love watching your films.

[@MichiganRocks]

I'm out making videos of rocks quite often and if I took home a bucket full of rocks every time, I'd have way more than I'd ever be able to tumble or make something out of, so I leave a lot behind. I know it bothers a lot of people, but I'd rather leave some for someone else than hoard a bunch of rocks that I don't need. I think some people think that I don't really appreciate a rock when I leave it behind. That's not the case at all. My mom has Alzheimer's too. She lives up in Marquette near one of my sisters. It's not fun watching someone you love have a disease like that. I'm sorry about your mom having it too.

[@emdorris3319]

Wow! The agates there are so beautiful! We get hail storms a lot, here in CO. Glad the keep was not damaged.

[@MichiganRocks]

We get them occasionally, but usually my vehicles are safely in the garage. About a ten years ago, a small town near me got hit with golf ball sized hail. I drove through there after and a lot of the houses had big holes in the vinyl siding. I've seen it wipe out corn fields and other plants too.

[@Indyanas_ocean_view]

Omg! Hail! Wow that's so cool. I've never been caught in a hailstorm before . The agates you and Sam found were very pretty . I loved seeing the lake and shoreline covered in fog. It was very beautiful and peaceful .😍🥰😇👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😍🥰😇👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@MichiganRocks]

I was a little bummed out about the hail because it's not legal to fly my drone in it. I had a fairly heavy case with the drone in it on my back for about six hours. Other than that, the fog was kind of interesting.

[@Indyanas_ocean_view]

@@MichiganRocks Wow! I've seen pictures of hail, but I've never really experienced hail. What's it like? 😍🥰😇👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😍🥰😇👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@indyfan2056]

Alot of those unusual rocks would look great in a rock garden!

[@MichiganRocks]

The problem with that is that they don't look all that good when they're dry. That's why tumbling them is fun. Then they look wet even thought they're not.

[@darkcrystalmagik3369]

@@MichiganRocks and a good option for the big guys that wont fit in the tumbler and arent worth cutting, but still pretty enough to save, is rubbing down with mineral oil to bring out the colors and patterns and almost give it that wet look. Just saw a good video about this on Agate Dad and tried it and it works nicely!

[@lindaeads7536]

Rob, my husband and I have been watching your videos for a couple years now and thoroughly enjoy them immensely. You inspired us to buy a tumbler and started our first batch last week, just changing the grit today. Such fun to open the tumbler, even at this stage, to see how much better they look. Anyway, as to your reference to us cringing when you throw some really nice rocks back, for me it's because I love to decorate around my yard with rocks, all sizes. So many of those would end up in my yard! We live down-state and are planning to camp at Onaway State campground in a couple weeks and have plans on hitting the Lake Michigan and Lake Huron beaches for rocks. I'm making a 10' x 1 1/2' rock (and cement) wall around a flower bed and hope to pick up some nice ones while up. Anyway, keep on keeping on, Rob. Oh, and Sam adds so much to the videos! You're the best!

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks Linda. I hope you find some nice rocks on your trip. I have a lot of rocks in my yard, but I like really big rocks so that the scale is right. I have a pretty big yard. I have some rock walls too, but mine are dry stacked. I got some pretty big rocks out of farm fields, and some smaller rocks too. I chose rocks more for their shape than their color or pattern, but there are still some nice ones that made it to my yard.

[@Perfectionseeker1967]

Congratulations on a successful agate hunt, and peaceful stroll along the shore of Lake Superior. Please try to remember, there are many wild animals in that area, wolves and Black bear are among them! Although Black bear aren't as dangerous as many other types of bear, they are present in that region. (In the fall of 2019, I'd gone up near there six times for one day trips, and spent about 36 hours on the shore to the 60+ hours driving to and from) (I only found three very small agates, and saw one Black bear in all my time up there) So again, congrats!

[@MichiganRocks]

Yes, I realize there are bears in the area. We have bears around Alpena where I live too. We were the only ones at our campground for two nights. We were sure to keep any food inside the Jeep.

[@rebeccatelgenhoff3540]

Nice Looking Agates! Pure Michigan weather we have; No storms predicted but it always rains. I am Glad you were at least found a few instead of going home without any😀👍🏻!

[@MichiganRocks]

The weather was supposed to be sunny, sunny and partly cloudy for the three days we were in the U.P. It rained hard two of those days. We still had a great time though.

[@divinabattles8553]

Wow those are beautiful rocks enjoy watching you rock hunting 👍👍👍

[@jeffholmes1362]

What a great day out, love the Agates , Sam has a good eye. Thanks for sharing

[@MichiganRocks]

Sam literally has better eyes than I do. I handed him a lot of rocks to for him to check for bands.

[@nicolagraynewzealandrockho8976]

Great video! So relaxing to watch. The rocks are really interesting, and some great finds from Sam. That large quartz is cool too.

[@MichiganRocks]

I made some Christmas angels last year from white quartz. It cuts really easily and polished great too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHXSi39qgs6DnbM

[@nicolagraynewzealandrockho8976]

@@MichiganRocks I think I saw those, very pretty.

[@MapleRidgeWoodworks]

We love this spot! Its incredible, every year the river dumps into a different spot! The winter ice is constantly changing that entire area!

[@MichiganRocks]

Yep, those little rivers tend to wander around.

[@mariamedic]

I really enjoy your videos. The quality of the video picture and the the way your content is formated makes your KZbin videos excellent quality. Thanks! I've learned a lot by watching them!

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks, Maria. I'm glad you like them.

[@cdub531]

My family have been on a lot of vacations, but my kids favorite thing to do is to go to Michigan and look for rocks .

[@MichiganRocks]

Smart kids!

[@al3akkarimohamed932]

Harmony between nature and the inner peace of man and his desire for creativity.. Another image of beauty.. Greetings from Morocco.

[@MichiganRocks]

That was poetic.

[@littledabwilldoya9717]

HATE stabile flies!!! Have had them draw blood before. Shoot! Think you tossed back a piece of Goganda Tillite.🤷🏻‍♀️ Great job, Sam! Nothing can compare with the variety and colors of Lake Superior stones, IMO. And the clarity of the water...beautiful!❤️❤️❤️

[@MichiganRocks]

I haven't seen gowganda tillite up in Lake Superior. That conglomerate rock that Sam showed looked a lot like it though.

[@mohamadanwar4209]

The unakite samples at 4:00 you compared to each other are good example of the transformation process through which granite becomes unakite. In essence, the flesh-red orthoclase stays the same, while the white plagioclase changes to the green epidote giving unakite its characteristic beautiful green/red patchwork. This process takes a lot of time, and this is why not all unakite samples are the same. For example, the first one you picked is maybe half way through the process, while the second sample is all changed. One more notion: you talked about the black specs and said that they don't tumble well. These black specs in granite/unakite are of the mineral "biotite" or black mica. It is a very soft mineral, and it will never tumble well regardless to whether it exists in a granite or a unakite sample. As a rule for those of us who tumble granite, pick your samples that are rich of the white/milky/clear quartz because it is a very hard mineral that tumbles very well. Plagioclase (white) and orthoclase (pink/flesh-red) are also fine. Just stay away from a granite sample that is rich in mice whether it is white mica "muscovite" or black mica "biotite" because they will always end up being weathered away in the tumbler leaving voids and cracks. Thank you

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks Mohamad. I was pretty sure that the black was mica. As you said, it's very soft and undercuts in the tumbler. I did not know that plagioclase gets replaced by epidote.

[@Shah-ub8ds]

AoA Dear this is shah khalid from swat pakistan is it possible to get gemstones from rivers or especially in swat river if its possible how to check if gemstone is real

[@lynettepavelich7540]

Great spot! Great agate, Sam! I love how the rocks in each of the Great Lakes are unique to their respective locations. And yes, those biting flies are SO annoying!🤣 Thanks for the trip!

[@MichiganRocks]

Yes, it's amazing how the different beaches vary. That makes it more fun to travel around trying different spots.

[@MrsOx-jz9fg]

The stone's with the white band all the way around are WISHING STONE'S

[@MichiganRocks]

Yep, I usually wish that I'll find an agate.

[@MrsOx-jz9fg]

@@MichiganRocks lol.. agates are nice. A lot came in with the last glacier and believe it or not are even being found here in NYS.. loads of wish stone's and so many more amazing stone's. The last glacier was loaded with gifts from Gaia

[@markattardo]

Great adventure, awesome vid. The rocks were cool too👍👍And the dragonfly was icing.

[@MichiganRocks]

I like dragon flies. One summer I was obsessed with taking pictures of bugs for a month or so. It started with dragon flies.

[@markattardo]

@@MichiganRocks They are fun to try to get pictures of for sure!

[@salliemorrill2671]

Exciting trip! I would have had your jeep doing a wheelie on the way home from all the rocks I picked out. Great agate finds. Loved the wx report.😳 Grateful it wasn't worse & that you guys were right by the jeep. Tell Nancy hi.

[@MichiganRocks]

I couldn't remember what the weather was that day, so I had to watch the video. Hail! I thought for sure I was going to have damage to my paint.

[@christybeene9232]

I enjoy your rock hunting videos. The water is so beautiful and the rocks are amazing. I hope to get up to the UP soon. I want to find some Yoouperlites and other cool rocks . Thanks for sharing

[@MichiganRocks]

We went yooperlite hunting that evening and didn't see a single one. I think they got hit hard over Memorial Day weekend.

[@upperpeninsulabeautiful]

Those agate hunting conditions are my very favorite to hunt in. The last time I had that I was at reed and green four years ago. Those rocks are amazing! Very impressed with this video!

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks! I’m surprised that any of my videos impress you after seeing some of your finds.

[@upperpeninsulabeautiful]

No matter what you find...your videos are great quality and fun to watch everytime. Your delivery is awesome. If there's anything I've learned from being a KZbinr for two weeks...it's that finding an agate is the easy part. The difficult part is crafting an enjoyable video surrounding the agate that is effortless to watch. All your videos do that!

[@MichiganRocks]

@@upperpeninsulabeautiful I have the opposite problem. I can't wait to get together so we can help each other out. Sam is really excited about some fall rock hunting.

[@smithdog4770]

I used to fish for brookies, with my Dad, in the blind sucker. Watch out for the ticks if you walk the banks though. Nice big rocks at that beach.

[@MichiganRocks]

We checked for ticks whenever we were in the woods. We didn't find any. The brook trout were from the lower peninsula.

[@kayesem20]

I love watching your videos so much. The flies chased us off Lake Superior in June a couple of years ago. Had about 30 in the car when we left the parking lot.

[@MichiganRocks]

Sam and I just got back from our annual trip. The flies were really bad a couple times. We both have mesh fly suits which let us stay on the beach.

[@josedefreitas5126]

It's all very beautiful and relaxing.

[@suzettecalleja3122]

I wish I was behind you to pick up the ones you drop back in.

[@MichiganRocks]

You're not the only one. I'd have a crowd behind me if everyone got that wish. I did tell you where I was, so you are welcome to go check that beach out anytime you'd like.

[@suzettecalleja3122]

@@MichiganRocks i'D HAVE TO GET ON A PLANE TO GET THERE. ha ha. tHANK YOU ANYWAY

[@susanbouck2293]

Our friends were staying at our cabin and got to meet you and Sam on the trail! We were so jealous (especially my hubby) because we watch your videos and we go rock hunting in the UP a lot! We are headed to Alpena after work today to check out some of your beaches on our way to the Yoop! Keep making awesome videos!

[@MichiganRocks]

I'm sorry we missed you. We only saw one other family from a distance in the three days we spent on the beach. What trail did we meet them on?

[@donnalantz7981]

That was a beautiful place. Not one I have found yet. Now I wanna.go find it. You both found some awesome rocks on this trip. Glad your tents stayed dry too. Thanks for sharing.

[@MichiganRocks]

The road isn't marked, but we found it by watching the GPS. Watch for the mouth of the Blind Sucker and it's not too hard to get to. It's close to Perry's Landing, the parking spot near the Lake Superior Forest Campground.

[@donnalantz7981]

Thank you very much. I hope we can get up there soon. I have only been able to get out rockhounding once this year. Been very ill. Now I'm dealing with some major back issues. But I will get there.

[@carlzatsick8405]

Thank you for responding and keep the videos coming Carl Zatsick Farmington Mi.

[@MichiganRocks]

I don't have any plans to stop making videos, so they'll keep coming.

[@BKBees]

Sort of validating that you guys also pick up randos because they're beautiful. It isn't always about just agates and gems, sometimes one just catches your eye.

[@MichiganRocks]

If I only picked up agates, it would be kind of discouraging. There aren't that many agates where we hunt, but there are so many other beautiful rocks to find. I don't care if a rock is valuable. I just take home a few that I really enjoy.

[@jazzy1849]

Rob, I sure appreciate the lesson on unakite, and what is good for the tumbler, as well as the why I throw fractured rocks back segment. I'm new to picking, but becoming particular very quickly, which is a good thing!

[@MichiganRocks]

I learned by trial and error. I'm glad I could save you a little time.

[@RockhoundingLife]

Hi Rob...hope all is well. Glad to see you're taking unakite home again! All the best from your friends in Canada!

[@MichiganRocks]

Hi Jason! I take home a few pieces of unakite. It's hard to resist. I like to take home a couple of chunks to cut each year too, I just love the slabs and they all get used up.

[@toddawwiller6963]

The eye ball rock was a funny awesome find! That was a great place to rock hunt.

[@MichiganRocks]

I just found another eyeball in my most recent video. They’re watching us from everywhere!

[@iampeople.1709]

Nice. 🤩 Thanks. Thailand.

[@maijaliimatta296]

I enjoy your videos. I have enjoyed picking up rocks on Michigan beaches and trails for most of my life. Now I have connected with friends and family that are just as enthusiastic about rock discovery and exploration. I have learned so much as you take us along on your learning adventure. I have tried to use different rock guides in the past, but I have recently started using the, “rock identifier” app. It isn’t perfect, but it seems to mostly add up to what your videos have been identifying. Thanks again for all your work in presenting this valuable and enjoyable content. Rock on!

[@MichiganRocks]

I tried that app once. I gave it three different rocks and it identified all three as the same thing, and it was wrong every time. Maybe it has gotten better, but I haven't heard good things about its accuracy. Sure would be nice if there was something like that that worked well.

[@maijaliimatta296]

Thanks for your quick feedback. Helpful to know. Is there an app that you use, or do you learn as you go?

[@MichiganRocks]

@@maijaliimatta296 I have a few books and have learned over the years. The thing is, a lot of rocks are mixes of different things and don't have a simple name. The other thing is that many rocks need more tests to identify them. You can't always tell by just looking. You might enjoy a video I did with two geologists. You'll see what I mean about it not being all that simple. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJDXZX95Zpioqq8

[@maijaliimatta296]

Thank you, I will check them out. I ended up binge watching so many of your videos when I had a cold. I think I need to go back and rewatch a few. Keep up the great work! Thanks for helping us newbies learn about our Michigan rocks and improve our experience for the next rock hunt!

[@davidhile5363]

It was nice to see Sam again ! That was an awesome hunt, you found some cool stuff. I’m heading back up to Michigan the first of the week so I can get in on the fun. My coarse grit arrived today so I can get all the tumblers running. Loved the agates !!!!!

[@MichiganRocks]

It was nice to be able to take Sam along again. He's good company and finds way more agates than I do.

[@cindyheimdahl227]

So many colorful rocks! What a fun adventure.

[@MichiganRocks]

It just keeps being fun to look at all those rocks. There are always unusual ones that surprise me.

[@cindyheimdahl227]

Just finished a 3 hr walk on my favorite beach in WA, and found some cool rocks. Not as pretty as yours, but I did find 3 agates!

[@MichiganRocks]

@@cindyheimdahl227 Three agates in three hours is doing pretty good. Either way, a three hour walk on the beach is a good thing.

[@FindingTheHiddenGems]

Nice video. Looks like an amazing beach. I've never been to Superior. It's minimum 10 hours away but probably definitely worth the drive. Love your channel. Agates are my favourite but I really like the rock varieties you find on Huron and in the UP on Superior. Have a good night Rob!

[@MichiganRocks]

Yeah, I'd say it's worth the drive, especially if you stay for a few days.

[@pamelasalton2336]

Last time we were at Blind Sucker there were lots of bear tracks. Been agate addicts for over 60 years. Started when I was 7. We finally started wearing hip boots and light long sleeves. Whatever you do don't wear white. Thanks for the awesome videos.

[@MichiganRocks]

I know, those flies love white. I have a mesh fly suit. I put it on the next night when they got pretty bad. It's not perfect, but it works pretty well.

[@hakes2]

I've been there a few times, beautiful, my dad was really into rock tumbling, I have lost interest, but watching this channel and living in the UP I just might, great videos

[@MichiganRocks]

It's a fun hobby. It gets you out on the beach and then you get to tumble them when you get home. If you collect enough in the summer, you can tumble all winter.

[@susanboger7874]

I love rock hunting !!! I find myself looking down into and landscaping rock for agates ! I found some petrified rock once this way !

[@MichiganRocks]

That's a common problem, I think. I find myself looking too.

[@KD-wi1zl]

What a great day for hounding, nice gentle water.

[@MichiganRocks]

Yep, calm days are great.

[@shannon3686]

That was alot of fun!!! Chuckled a few times😁 thank guys! Hope the rest of your trip went great.

[@MichiganRocks]

It was a great trip. This was the first of four beach hunts.

[@shannon3686]

Can't wait to see the sequels💜

[@sparband]

It’s good to see Sam again. He has the same passion for rocks that you do. Lots of Unakite at that beach. The water there sounds like the temp of our year round Northern California beach water. You feet go numb immediately. Our beach water current comes down from Alaska. I think that southern California’s beach water is slightly warmer, as it comes from Mexico. You guys found some good ones. The jacobsville sand stone and the yellow and black dotted rock plunks hurt a little. I liked those. I guess that you can’t take everything home. . Sam has good luck and a good eye for finding the agates. That was a beautiful dragonfly. I hope that he was ok.

[@MichiganRocks]

Sam outdoes me on agates every time. He hunts the dry rocks where they're easier to see. I can't stay out of the water. All the other rocks look so much better when wet. The water was actually not that bad. My feet got used to it pretty quick. Two days later, on another beach, they never did get used to the cold.

[@sparband]

@@MichiganRocks I guess in the water you are a bit safer from the biting flies.

[@snookwind]

Thank you. So peaceful

[@judispackman3616]

You saw that spiral pretty rock and you instantlly got at least 3 lovely rocks.

[@MichiganRocks]

Lucky me!

[@debs_wheels]

Great video. Your beach walks are always relaxing. The hail storm gave me PTSD though. I once had a car nearly totaled because of hail

[@MichiganRocks]

I can't believe mine didn't get dented. I moved it partially under trees, but it was still getting pelted pretty hard.

[@cynthialewis7460]

That black rock with the streak was really cool looking. I gasped when he put it back.

[@MichiganRocks]

There's a lot of gasping and yelling as I drop rocks back in the water. I do a lot of rock hunting, but there's only so much time to polish all of them, so I try not to bring too much stuff home.

[@milesnn]

Awesome adventure sweet finds yup the season for flys mosquitos but well worth it nice camp of course camping without rain or hail lol thanks for sharing

[@MichiganRocks]

The mosquitos were not bad at all. At the campsite we had a few, but I fired up the Thermacell and that took care of them.

[@SyntaxMSU]

Those stable flies can be absolutely wicked. Last year in July I was often the only person on the beach because I had a wetsuit to protect me. I'd often see 30+ flies on me at a time.

[@MichiganRocks]

I was on a beach once with my kids, wife, sister and brother in law. They were thick. Somehow we managed to stay for an hour. Part of the time, my sister walked behind me swatting my legs with a leafy branch so I could pick rocks. I have a great sister.

[@chrisbailey949]

Followed your dirt road through the woods to an amazing part of the Lake Superior shoreline a couple days ago! Found a couple small agates along the river. Spent 4 nights at Petoskey State Park and 5 nights in Muskallonge.

[@MichiganRocks]

Wow, that's a lot of camping. I'm glad you found a couple agates.

[@penelopefp]

I love this. We go to northern MN every year (fishing) and every year the kids bring home a container of rocks/treasures. I have no idea what they are or if they will polish, but I'll get them out and start comparing them to your video. The kids are 16 and 13 so we have LOTS to look at. 😆 One rock hound I talked to said they might be leaverite, "Not worth nothing so just leave 'er right where you found it." 😁😂😁😂😁🤣 I love your videos. I was in a hail storm in Kansas with hail bigger than golf balls, not quite as big as a baseball. Did a number on my car and broke the windshield. Glad your tent wasn't damaged.

[@MichiganRocks]

One person's leaverite might be another person's treasure. I pick up all sorts of rocks just because I like them. I tumble them too and most turn out great. I have a lot of videos showing beach rocks that I've tumbled that aren't agates. Here's one example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZOUh5-Fot5jn5I

[@aminejabrane7201]

Ï7

[@TimIrvin]

That was enjoyable. Some good finds.

[@MichiganRocks]

Glad you enjoyed it, Tim.

[@ที่พึ่งคนไกล-ฮ9ง]

มันเป็นแร่ทางธรรมชาติ.ที่มีแต่ความชุ่มชื่น.ที่มีแค่แต่ความอุดมสมบูรณ์.เป็นทรัพยากรณ์ทางธรรมได้ดียอดเยี่อม..เยี่อมมาก.ทักทายจากไทยแลร..ไทยแลนณ์..

[@kimfrommn7162]

Fun video!! Sure glad your hero didn’t get hurt from the hale! My day in Duluth in mid June was a very calm day! It was just beautiful! I found more flat rocks than agates, but the flat rocks that day was my objective! Take care!! 😊

[@MichiganRocks]

Were you skipping them, or did you have another plan?

[@chippewagewl]

Awesome, just recently started rock hounding Love it. I may go today if not to windy

[@MichiganRocks]

Good luck!

[@dailthegoat799]

18:30 I’ve found some of those and they will sometimes tumble nicely

[@MichiganRocks]

That's good to know. I always feel like black rocks are not going to do well. I must have had some bad black rock experiences in the past.

[@dailthegoat799]

@@MichiganRocksso many “black rocks” out there you don’t know what shines up and what won’t testing it with a knife to find it’s hardness always helps though

[@MichiganRocks]

@@dailthegoat799 I tend to be pretty lazy about doing a test like that. I should probably change my evil ways and start scratching a few rocks on the beach.

[@billvinson7859]

Don’t worry about leaving some behind. My problem is I want to take them all. Great video.

[@MichiganRocks]

I'm not worried about it, but a lot of people watching it seem to be!

[@amaris7649]

I got my first chance to pick along Lake Huron last weekend, but there's nothing quite like that lot where I was, although I did find a piece of petrified wood. Don't think I'd get more than a 100 yds down that beach though because I'd be looking at (and admiring) everything!

[@MichiganRocks]

I don't think you found petrified wood. There are some rocks that look sort of like petrified wood though. Maybe schist?

[@cindysistler2392]

I love that you and your son enjoy doing this together!

[@MichiganRocks]

My son and I did like doing this together but he grew up, got a job, and is too busy to go with my anymore. Sam is my neighbor. I've been treating him like a replacement son.

[@tott3457]

This hunt was Amazing ❣️ You are So disciplined!!! Me not so much, that’s why I watch all the different rock hound adventures! I do look for rocks on our modest ranch. I would have to many if I hunted for them anywhere else!!!

[@MichiganRocks]

I try not to take more rocks home than I have time to tumble or make something out of. I still bring too many home though.

[@mastertechnician3372]

Thank You for sharing it with us,

[@MichiganRocks]

You're welcome!

[@sarahstrong7174]

Lots to chose from there. Thankyou for showing us. Nice to have the sea sounds as well as the rocks.

[@MichiganRocks]

No sea sounds in this video, only lake sounds.

[@sarahstrong7174]

@@MichiganRocks Ah good point, but the waves sounded like gentle sea sounds to me, as I am not used to lakes big enough to have waves any bigger than ripples.

[@MichiganRocks]

@@sarahstrong7174 I have people refer to the big lakes as seas once in awhile. Easy mistake to make, because you can't see across either one. Just wanted to make sure you knew that I was on a lake. There are popular T-shirts around here that say "Great Lakes, Unsalted and Shark Free".

[@sarahstrong7174]

@@MichiganRocks Looks nice for a swim.

[@MichiganRocks]

@@sarahstrong7174 I wasn't brave enough to go into the chilly water.

[@clintgoulet7572]

Just in that neck of the woods and found some nice agates and rocks in general.

[@MichiganRocks]

It's a great neck of the woods for rocks.

[@clintgoulet7572]

@@MichiganRocks found some very nice agates. Our first as we are learning and training ourselves to concentrate to find those specifically.. maybe see you out there some day..

[@Unsensitive]

Just some pure ephemeral water rocks from the sky!

[@elainenunes7955]

I've been watching your programs for some time now and I find it very interesting. My 9 years old grandson is a rock hound when he can get to a rocky beach, we live in Florida a lot of marine fossils around here. He finally got his rock book out and I think I found a couple you found. One is black and white which the book called Gabbro and the other is Dalmatian stone can be white, yellow or blue with black spots on it. Keep the programs coming again they are extremely interesting.

[@MichiganRocks]

Do you watch Wild Kyle? He's a Florida fossil hunter. I'm just editing a video of us fossil hunting together last week. There will be another video of the two of us out this Friday too.

[@princessanya1178]

I'm learning a lot from you. Thank you for making these videos 🙂

[@MichiganRocks]

You're welcome, Princess Anya! I'm glad you're enjoying them.

[@katecarpenter7366]

Great video!

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks!

[@SteveandSusiesHomestead]

I have noticed in several of the videos , a wide line of black rocks out about knee deep. it seems parallel to the beach. Any thoughts ?

[@MichiganRocks]

That's very common. The lake sorts rocks by density and size. Often on the shore there will be a line of small rocks and another area of larger rocks. The small ones tend to be right at the water line with the bigger ones up farther on the beach or in the water. The line of black rocks is common too and can be either in the water or on the beach. Many times it's in both places.

[@patriciamckean4186]

Refreshingly cold water. 🥶 I swam in a bay west of Munising last late summer. The next day was cold. Mother nature is fickle. Found a pink unakite with epidote crisscross design. Very pretty.

[@MichiganRocks]

Unakite can be awesome. It's one of my favorites.

[@Valerieknitterhands]

I really enjoyed this trip.

[@MichiganRocks]

Me too.

[@kenkorpa9314]

Thank you for a great vid.

[@MichiganRocks]

You're welcome, Ken.

[@katiewood6036]

I like rocks that polish but my favorite rock from my trip to the UP last year was a piece of that sandstone. Thanks for taking us along.

[@MichiganRocks]

That one I showed was pretty cool, but I rarely take home something that I can't polish.

[@Brian_the_Rockhound]

My friends from Michigan. He talks about it often. I wanna get up there to collect. Long drive from NY but eventually I'll get there.

[@dawnminard218]

Me and my husband have our wedding anniversary in June June 27th it is been tradition we go up there for our anniversary for about a week so we are going to the Upper Peninsula I live in Grayling Michigan and I found some pretty cool rocks here but I have learned a lot by watching your videos so I can't wait to go up to Mackinaw for my anniversary a friend of mine who lives up there she's found some pretty cool rocks and I cannot wait so thank you for sharing your rock love with all of us because I have learned so much just by watching your videos and what to look for the only thing I have not found yet is a yooperlite I want one so bad so I will be on the hunt for one of those

[@MichiganRocks]

I haven't found many interesting rocks right in Mackinaw City, but Wilderness State Park was a little better. It's close to Mackinaw.

[@cvx2dog549]

I’ve noticed up there that when the wind is out of the south the flies are the worst.

[@MichiganRocks]

I don't have enough experience to notice that correlation. I have read that it's hot, humid weather that brings them out. That matches my experience. I have a mesh fly suit that I finally put on the next evening. I just wore the pants and they helped a lot. The problem is, that if you get them wet, they stick to your legs and the flies bite right through them.

[@cvx2dog549]

Tightly woven clothing works best. The flies can be really awful. They seem to like blue jeans. I’m feeling miserable thinking about them!

[@brianazmy3156]

The fog really cut down the glare and the water was very clear. Nice finds. I stumbled upon a channel "Montana Rock Mom" that goes hounding in the Yellowstone River. The agates there are amazing.

[@MichiganRocks]

I've watched a couple of her videos. Have you watched "KadyDid ROCKS!"? She's also in Montana.

[@brianazmy3156]

@@MichiganRocks I'm kinda new to the KZbin rock hounding channels and so far all are very interesting. I'm working on making a homemade tumbler and doing some hunting in my state. I have a few boxes of rocks that I've collected while living in other countries as a military kid and I'm excited to see how they will turn out. You guys are more inspiring than you might realize. Thanks again and stay safe.

[@MichiganRocks]

@@brianazmy3156 Rock tumbling is a fun hobby. If you already have an interest in rocks, I think you'll enjoy seeing them get shiny.

[@brianazmy3156]

@@MichiganRocks most definitely a renewed interest thanks to you guys with all of the videos.

[@outdoorsy01]

Another awesome video! I need to adapt my focus and look for rocks more often

[@MichiganRocks]

As opposed to fossils?

[@alyssaknoll645]

Hi thank you for the content! I enjoy learning from the descriptions you offer. Also really like how you edit in what the rocks look like during the video!! Where can I get a scoop like Sams?

[@MichiganRocks]

You'd have to make a scoop like that yourself. Kingsley North also sells scoops. They have four different models. Here's how I made my scoop: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2XUdWWaaJl6m5Y Here's one of the Kingsley North scoops. They have foldable and one piece in two sizes: kingsleynorth.com/treasure-scoop-36-inch.html ?ref=robertabram1& (affiliate link)

[@CityRockhounding]

Beautiful rocks, peaceful sounds. Do you search for certain rocks, or just look for all of the above that stands out? Do you have game plans?

[@MichiganRocks]

The prize for me in Lake Superior is agate. I look for anything that is interesting to me, but this is the only spot I can find Lake Superior agates, so that's sort of the goal.

[@CityRockhounding]

That makes sense! Certain spots have certain rocks depending on the area. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to this young but old spirit rock hunter beginner.

[@Nikkisavage100]

A lot of nice stones, wish i had a lake as yours in France with unakites & agates

[@MichiganRocks]

Do you have other good rocks there? I have no idea what kind of rocks are in France.

[@Nikkisavage100]

@@MichiganRocks In Alsace, we find agates, but not as easily as you, in the south of the country, garnets, tournaline, quartz, in Auvergne amethysts & obsidian

[@MichiganRocks]

@@Nikkisavage100 It sounds like you do have some good rocks around at least. I wouldn't say that it's easy to find agates here. These videos usually represent somewhere between three and seven hours on the beach. They're pretty few and far between.

[@paulpopa8468]

Thanks for the tip on unakite. I have found at Whitefish Pt and Mainstee area an it tumbled really well.

[@MichiganRocks]

The good stuff tumbles great. The speckled stuff doesn't always do so well.

[@michaelgramlich8164]

Do you guys ever get Agates? Or just rocks to tumble? I’m trying the tumbling thing I’m new lol. If you have any tips for me anything would help and I know you both are champs at tumbling and shining rocks

[@MichiganRocks]

We found a lot of agates in this video. I'm not sure what tips you're looking for. I have several videos with detailed instructions on how to tumble rocks: Rotary tumbler followed by vibratory tumbler: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaTVnqOGj9d0q7c Rotary tumbler with ceramics: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moqqd5SiZcpkjbs Rotary tumbler with plastic pellets: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5-xp6ytrN-nqJo How to use a Nat Geo Tumbler: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaS3lGShjbqohtE Tumbling beach rocks in a Nat Geo tumbler: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYfQnmVqe8hqoJY

[@michaelgramlich8164]

@@MichiganRocks Thanks I appreciate it I’ll definitely be checking those out. I really like the Channel

[@alczek]

Typical UP weather. Sam was the BOSS.

[@MichiganRocks]

We got a good sampling of different types of weather. The next day was beautiful. The day after that it rained again.

[@bob_frazier]

I don't ever recall seeing gravel so perfectly sorted by size. But I'm not at the Great Lakes. It's strange looking, but cool.

[@MichiganRocks]

That happens on most of the beaches I go to. The rocks get sorted by both size and color. There is typically a line of black rocks just out a couple feet from the edge of the water. They must be a different density than the other rocks.

[@carlzatsick8405]

Hello Rob, my question disappeared I am looking for a saw to slab softball or a little bigger sized rocks with no luck Can you do a segment on lapidary equipment and what you would recommend ? Thank you Carl Zatsick Farmington Mi.

[@captpaul8827]

I'm surprised you spent that much time there with all the granite/gneiss on the beach! ;-) Some of those rocks looked like porphyritic somethings, maybe basalt but not the typical ones you see along the Rift. Of course, much of that rock came from Canada so who knows what all could be in it. Looks like an interesting place to spend the day...

[@MichiganRocks]

Pretty much every beach I go to has more granite than just about anything else. I have learned to live with it. We were on the beach for about six hours, I think. We enjoyed every minute of it.

[@captpaul8827]

@@MichiganRocks I bet. I'd likely be there all day as well...

[@tricks4trades795]

Nice rocks! Loved the video🤘🏻

[@MichiganRocks]

Thanks!