How to Find Agates:

• Know where to look.

  One of the best agate hunting spots is on any public beach or other location that has exposed rock gravel.

• Know what to look for.

  It’s not always obvious a rock is an agate. Wet it and look closely for translucency, banding and a glossy, waxy sheen. Like people, agates come in many forms and colors.

• Dig deeper.

  When agate hunting on the beach, dig down several inches to where the rocks are wet. Because agates are semi-translucent, they glisten when wet. A great time to go agate hunting is after a big storm when new rocks get tossed up onto the shore. Remember that you’re not looking for large rocks. Most agates are between the size of an almond and a walnut.

• Think outside the beach.

  Agates can be found anywhere rocks have been dropped by glaciers or moved by humans. While Lake Superior’s shoreline may be the most picturesque place to find agates, you’ll find them in gravel pits and on dirt roads, too.