| When I first got into rock and gem hunting in | | | | South Dakota brought the |
| Colorado I had a very serious fetish for crystals and | | | | finder the healthy sum of $13,000!! So if you're |
| gems. While I would see information here and there | | | | hunting for items to sell, you |
| about agates, I really never quite got the clue about | | | | may want to look to the agate for a good source |
| the world's fascination with agates until, just after | | | | of profit.Finding Agates isn't too rough a job, yet top |
| moving to Oregon, I finally stumbled across my first | | | | quality specimens take some |
| gem quality banded agate in the Prineville area while | | | | determination and effort as they are not always |
| hunting crystals and geodes. What a beauty it is - | | | | plentiful. While maps abound |
| yellow and green banding, about 3 inches long. Finally I | | | | with x-marks-the-spot agate hunting locations, you |
| understood why people were drawn to agate | | | | still can expect to spend |
| hunting.Agates can be found all over the world. The | | | | some time hunting when you get to a location. |
| patterns are as diverse as the | | | | Popularly travelled locations can |
| number of stones there are to be found, and all | | | | get hunted out, too. Finding lesser known spots can |
| colors of the rainbow are | | | | take time as people are not |
| represented. For a time I just started collecting | | | | always willing to let you in on their favorite sites. I |
| these wonderful stones just for | | | | have my own favorite site |
| the delight of having them to look at. But as I | | | | which produces spectactular stones. Some time if I |
| learned more about the agate I | | | | find someone who really |
| found there is a whole world of reasons to collect | | | | wants to go with me I will take them, but this is not |
| them. Agates not only look | | | | a location I will scream to the |
| terrific as display items, they are also provide the | | | | world about (not just yet anyway). You can expect |
| finder a versatile crafting outlet. | | | | the same reaction from |
| Beautiful jewelry stones can be crafted from | | | | others when you visit localities and try to elicit |
| agates, from carbochons to beads.Agates can be | | | | information from local rockhounds |
| slabbed and the slabs can be used to make just | | | | about hunting sites. So expect that if you are |
| about anything. I | | | | hunting "off map" that you will be |
| have a collection set aside for slabbing to build a | | | | doing the work of locating beds all on your own. It's |
| "stained glass" type of window. | | | | a tough job, but is very |
| Some people set the stones in fireplaces and | | | | rewarding when you run across an uncharted agate |
| mantles. You can make table tops | | | | bed.To save you some time in looking up examples |
| inlaid with agate, dangling windchime like ornaments, | | | | of what is just laying around out |
| pictures and picture | | | | there for you to pick up, I have provided some links |
| frames, and lampshades. Agates can also be carved | | | | below that will take you |
| into ornamentive boxes, | | | | straight to the pictures. I have looked at all of them |
| figurines, perfume bottles, and so on. I saw a tea | | | | myself (which has done |
| set recently that was carved | | | | nothing but make me want to get off this |
| from agate ( it was magnificent, but I was afraid to | | | | computer, pack, and get back out in the |
| even guess at the price of | | | | field) and found that you can click on any of the |
| such a work).For those of you buying and selling | | | | pictures for a closer look at the |
| agates, the prices of a good stone can be | | | | specimens.Have a good time browsing the pictures |
| somewhat surprising.Stones can go from $5.00 up | | | | on these links. I wish you the best of |
| into the hundreds. Some museums display agates | | | | luck finding top value specimens of your own. |
| priced into the thousands of dollars. One agate from | | | | |