Agate hunting is one of the most enjoyable and exciting activity that the Pacific Northwest offers. Collecting agates is a popular pastime for many people including avid rockhounds and those who just enjoy the outdoors while searching for sparkling rocks. Check agate hunting tips for the best success on beaches, river gravels, and deserts.
Agate is one of the most common minerals that can be found along the ocean shorelines, in river gravel bars, in deserts, mountains, fields, and road cuts across the American Northwest.
Where to Find Agates?
Ocean Beaches
Pacific Coast Beaches are fantastic and the easiest places to find ocean-tumbled materials. Collectible rocks and minerals can be found along beaches of the Washington, Oregon, and California.
Washington: Agates can be found on the beaches of Puget Sound and in shorelines managed by the Olympic National Park and Forest.
California: Crescent City and Eureka beaches are popular for agates, jasper, quartz, chert, jade, and serpentine. Some Central and Southern California beaches also yield small agates.
Oregon: Known as the best destination for agate hunting, the entire Oregon coast is public land, meaning you can explore any beach in search of treasures. Agates, jaspers, fossils, and other unique beach finds are plentiful along the 300-mile shoreline.
River and Creek Gravel Beds
Rivers and creeks with mountain tributaries are great sources for agates. Over time, volcanic rocks break down and release agates, which are carried downstream by strong currents. These agates are deposited in gravel bars along the riverbanks, creating perfect rockhounding spots.
The best time to search river banks when the water level is low, as this exposes more gravel bars and increases your chances of finding agates.
Desert, Mountain, Field, and Road Cut Rockhounding
The agate collecting sites are distributed widely across Northwest America and found in mountains, fields, and deserts. Each site produces unique agates with its own distinctive characteristics including shapes, colors, and patterns.
Unlike beach and river materials, those agates are much rougher and could be found in their host rocks or nearby.
It is important to practice outdoor safety when you are heading to uninhabited deserts or mountain areas.
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Agate Hunting Tips
Agates glow under sunlight and shine when water gets on them. So, the best practice to find agate on the ground, in sedimentary deposits, or in gravels is to walk around and search for shiny and colorful rocks. Walk toward the sun before or after noon when the angle of sunlight touches agates or when rain or high tide makes them glowing.
Beach and river agates can be partially tumbled by water and other rocks and can be spotted more easily.
To spot and identify rough agate, use a spray bottle with water to expose colors and a flashlight to spot translucent edges. Consider its size, weight, banding, and luster.
How to Spot Agate on the Beach
Due to agate and jasper can be found almost everywhere along the 300-mile Oregon’s Coast shoreline, beachcombing for these colorful gemstones is very popular in Oregon. Mineral and fossils are lying on the surfaces of beaches and in gravels of the riverbanks or creeks that enter the ocean, so no hard work is needed to get them.
Pick a rocky beach. Most of the time, the gemstones are covered by sand, but after strong storms, especially winter storms, the rock beds are exposed. You can often find beautiful agates or jaspers in gravel beds, near ledges, and in stream gravels. The main characteristics of agate—transparency, color, and banding patterns—are helpful for finding and identifying them. When the waters have recently receded, sunlight can make agates sparkle, making them easier to spot. Additionally, brightly colored agates or jaspers are easier to see when wet.
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