Keweenaw Rockhounding

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Activities: Rockhounding

The Keweenaw Peninsula's unique Pre-Cambrian geological formations make it a motherlode for rock-hunters, both amateur and professional. Volcanic eruption, erosion and the passing of the great glacier have brought great changes in the area's geological content and manufactured or deposited a diversity of rocks and minerals which eventually led to one of the greatest mining booms in United States history.

Area-Wide

Area-Wide
	Agate Hunting Lake Superior agates are available on many rocky beaches of the Keweenaw's north shore. It is not too difficult to sift through stones and pebbles along the Lake Superior shoreline and find small agate chips. They are tranclucent and look like small pieces of caramel candy, or strata pieces beautifully lined in shades of brown, red, gray, black and white. They appear oily in contrast to other stones. The larger agate stones, which may later be polished and used as jewelry pieces or ornaments,...
	Greenstone Hunting Chlorastrolite (greenstone) is our Michigan State Gem and can be found in northern Houghton and Keweenaw Counties. These elusive green nodules can be found primarily on the "poor rock" piles along Cliff Drive and at the Delaware and Mandan locations along US-41 in Keweenaw County. These cut and polish into beautiful gemstones.
	Native Copper Hunting Native copper in its pure metal form is the most sought after mineral of this fantastically mineral-rich peninsula. Varying quantities can be found in the waste rock piles of the historic mines. It is also found in a variety of soils and gravels which contain copper that was deposited by glacial movements. Rare silver specimens can sometimes be found. Metal detectors are very helpful, but not necessary, to find metallic prizes.
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