Maybe hunting for Minnesota’s signature agates is your new calling. Here’s how to score these rocks and more on your next outdoor adventure.
We could all use more offline hobbies. And who knows? Maybe exploring the Minnesota landscape in search of cool rocks could be your next thing. Rock hunting might as well be in our blood, since Minnesota has been shaped by its mining history.
These days it’s all about agates, not iron. Our official state rock, the Lake Superior Agate, is found all around Minnesota—but the closer you get to the shores of Lake Superior, the bigger and better they get. Plus, our state is home to all sorts of fascinating gems and minerals with ties to the Iron Range and the geological makeup of the Midwest.
Ready to start your search? Here’s what you need to know about being a rock hunter—er, rockhound—in Minnesota.
Know before you go
The law
You cannot collect rocks from state parks, state recreation areas, or state scientific and natural areas. Some rockhounds enjoy sifting through gravel pits and old mines, but to collect from private property safely, you must secure permission from the property owner.
The gear
Definitely bring a backpack to carry all your spoils—your back and neck will thank you for using a bag with more than a single strap. It can also help to have a pick or chisel to extract rocks from packed dirt.
When searching for rocks in and around waterways, it helps to have proper equipment. The fundamentals are water shoes, a bucket, and a scooper (usually with a flat bottom and a long handle).
Rockhounding is a hobby that can be taken in many nerdy directions and serious depths! Many rockhounds are into geology, natural history, lapidary, and jewelry. Depending on what tickles your fancy, you may also want mineral identification tools, magnification tools, a rock tumbler, or (someday) even a special saw for slicing rocks in half.
The community
There are several clubs, organizations, and even influencers in the Minnesota rockhounding game. Keep up with the Minnesota Mineral Club and the Cuyuna Rock, Gem, and Mineral Society. Follow Agate Ariel and Taylor’s Rocksmithery on YouTube. Gem and mineral shows are also a great way to get involved.
Each is a great resource for getting started and deepening your involvement in the rockhounding scene.
The coolest (and rarest) rocks you’ll find
Lake Superior Agate
As Minnesota’s state gemstone, these rocks are beloved among both novices and experts. Plus, they’re easily found all over the state, even in everyday gravel.
You will know them by their thin, concentric bands of deep red, orange, and white.
Staurolite (a.k.a. fairy cross)
This special little stone features an unmistakable X-shape, formed by two crossed crystalline planes. X marks the spot where you’ll find these “fairy stones.”
Jasper
This stone occurs throughout the state. Gem-quality specimens are tucked along the waterways in Ely, the “Mary Ellen” variety can be found around the pit mines of Biwabik, and evergreen jasper is hiding along the streams and in the gravel pits of Winton.
Jasper doesn’t have a uniform look, but the colors and patterns are usually varied and intricate within a single stone. Mary Ellen jasper features tight swirls of dark red and black, while evergreen jasper is characterized by its deep turquoise hue.
Garnet
Garnet is one of the most common gemstones found in Minnesota. You can scrounge it up in the Cloquet and Little Falls areas.
This gemstone is most often a deep wine-red color and can be identified by its greasy-looking texture and the flat, angled shape of the gemmy part of the surface.
Chalcedony
Chalcedony is quite common in Minnesota. Find it in Osseo, Rochester, Ely, and around the reclaimed mines in Cuyuna.
This milky-colored stone often occurs in shades of cloudy blue and sometimes has agate-like bands.
Thomsonite & zeolites
Thomsonite is a rare mineral found only in a few places—including Minnesota. It is in the zeolite family, and other types of zeolites can be found around the state.
Commonly occurring as a coral-colored inclusion on grey rock, Thomsonite resembles round droplets of pink watercolor paint. Similarly, many zeolites tend to appear as cluster-like formations.
Chlorastrolite
This rare, semi-precious stone can be found in the Thomsonite Beach area in Minnesota (otherwise it’s almost solely found in Michigan).
The stone is deep green with a pattern that resembles a turtle shell. When polished, Chlorastrolite displays a beautiful web of dark and minty green.
Amethyst
This coveted purple quartz crystal can be found along the shores of Lake Superior. It’s not common, but it is possible (and satisfying) to spot amethyst from time to time.
Where to go rock hunting
The North Shore
Rockhounding on Lake Superior is a must. Popular spots dot the stretch of shore from Beaver Bay to Grand Marais. Here you’ll find more than just agates, including some of Minnesota’s rarest rocks.
Further inland, Cloquet and Carlton host plenty of streams, creeks, and gravel that hold much of the same North Shore treasure.
The Iron Range
It comes as no surprise that the Iron Range is an excellent locale for rockhounding. Northern Minnesota’s most metallic minerals are buried here (think fool’s gold and other gold-toned goodies). This is also where gemstones such as jasper, garnet, and chalcedony can be hounded from areas near former mines and quarries around the region.
To the far north, Ely, Biwibak, and Hibbing are noteworthy rockhounding destinations, as well as the Brainerd and Cuyuna areas further south.
Central Minnesota
Just beyond St. Cloud, from Royalton to Little Falls, you can search for mysterious staurolite. These unusual stones lie along the Mississippi, while a mix of Minnesota minerals can be found in area lakes and streams—from agates and garnet to jasper.
Rochester & Southeastern Minnesota
Scattered around the towns of southeastern Minnesota, including Rochester, Mankato, Red Wing, and Winona, are a variety of gemstones, rocks, and minerals. The region’s unique glacial terrain gives it a one-of-a-kind geological character to explore during your search. In addition to agates, the area is known for its fossils.
The Twin Cities
While it’s more fun to head out of the city for an adventure, where the prime rockhounding real estate is less picked over, there are still spots to strike agate in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Scour the Cities’ creeks, and you just might find some; Scouting for spots along the Mississippi River and Minnesota River is the best bet. Many rockhounds find treasure just by rooting around in everyday gravel.
