Cool looking Michigan Jasper?

stdenis_jd · Apr 26, 2016

Wondering what you guys think...seems to be a jasper due to the coloring, microcrystalline structure, banding and conchoidal fractures but I've never seen a jasper anything like this one in Michigan. Shouldn't be too surprising since this thing (like most other stones in MI) probably rode a massive glacial wave down from the Canadian Shield or God knows where else...

I know EricTheCat is from the western UP in MI (edit: just saw ur profile for MN which would explain all the Lake Superior Agates u find

), if you're reading this Eric, you see Jaspers like this up there? That was my first guess due to all the iron/hematite looking banding in it...plus the little agate intrusion was a nice surprise after cutting into this thing 8-)

EricTheCat · Apr 26, 2016

stdenis_jd said:
I know EricTheCat is from the western UP in MI (edit: just saw ur profile for MN which would explain all the Lake Superior Agates u find ), if you're reading this Eric, you see Jaspers like this up there? That was my first guess due to all the iron/hematite looking banding in it...plus the little agate intrusion was a nice surprise after cutting into this thing

Greetings. Nice piece and I like the surface you exposed when you cut that one. Yes I am in Southern MN but the gracious glaciers littered the landscape here with all sorts of interesting rock from up North, including the agates I find. I do find a lot of jaspers and cherts. Here are a few pics of one I have that is very similar to yours that I found in my yard. Not as many colors and certainly not as picturesque as the one you have. It has similar banding and similar pockets of quartz/agate. Given the fracture I always considered it some form of jasper.

A white-throated sparrow decided to come visit while I was taking pics of the rock, so I'm including that.

Happy hunting.

austin · Apr 26, 2016

You're right. A very good looking rock...

stdenis_jd · Apr 27, 2016

Thx for the pics Eric, that's a pretty sweet looking jaspilite there. And the sparrow was a nice touch too

EricTheCat · Apr 27, 2016

stdenis_jd said:
Thx for the pics Eric, that's a pretty sweet looking jaspilite there. And the sparrow was a nice touch too

I found mine after mowing the lawn a few years ago. I knew I hit a rock at a dip with the riding mower so I came back to move the rock and realized it was worthy of keeping. I also found a nice small agate once while mowing, just sitting there glowing in the sun by my house. It blew my mind because I scour my yard and even that spot of gravel regularly and there it was just sitting on top.

stdenis_jd · Apr 27, 2016

Funny you say that because I don't know how many great rocks (the one in this thread included) I've walked past and thought nothing of em. I found this one at one of my "honey holes", basically a gravel dump, noticed it a couple times and just left it there. Bought a 10" slab saw last year, saw it last week and figured it would be a good test subject for the saw. Was quite happy with the results!

That Jasper of yours would cut up quite nicely ;-) you ever check it for magnetism? Looks like definitely hematite and variable iron oxides, but I'll bet it's rich in magnetite too

EricTheCat · Apr 27, 2016

Yes, it weakly attracts a magnet on parts so there is iron but it does not seem magnetic. I have a 6" saw, so I could cut it. I also have a good number of agates that could use a cut too. One of these days I will get the bug to cut and polish some of them. I have had a lot of good luck with the ones I have cut with nice surprises. I hope you continue to find some nice hidden treasures with your saw. You might like a few I cut open and posted here: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/rocks-gems/352409-hidden-treasures.html

stdenis_jd · Apr 28, 2016

EricTheCat said:
Yes, it weakly attracts a magnet on parts so there is iron but it does not seem magnetic. I have a 6" saw, so I could cut it. I also have a good number of agates that could use a cut too. One of these days I will get the bug to cut and polish some of them. I have had a lot of good luck with the ones I have cut with nice surprises. I hope you continue to find some nice hidden treasures with your saw. You might like a few I cut open and posted here: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/rocks-gems/352409-hidden-treasures.html

wOw! those agates are gorgeous...I'm hoping to get to the western U.P. this summer. It's about a 6-8 hour trip from where I live but it'll be worth it...gonna look for some good porous basalt to bring home and see if I can hack a chlorastralite or thomsonite out of some