Most likely my BEST ROCK HUNT of 2021! I knew it was going to be a good one as I started out early in the morning. All the rocks were still wet from some rain we had during the night with more rain in the forecast. As I was hiking, I came across a HUGE petrified tree trunk. The petrified wood looked to be that of the metasequoia tree, an ancestor to the giant redwoods of California. A petrified redwood, how cool is that! Any rock hunt that includes a petrified tree trunk is a bucket list rock hunt! Almost everywhere I looked there was petrified wood. The petrified wood was either logs, tree trunks or scattered pieces. It was really cool to see and to think about how long it probably has been there.
The day just kept getting better and better. I was happy, smiling ear to ear as I walked with my head down to the ground. I was finding tons of marine fossils like agatized and jasperized coral and shell filled septarians. I had to leave so many specimens behind as I had limited room in my backpack. I found my very first turritella agate! Turritella is the name given to a snail filled agatized fossil. They are so cool looking!
I found a few orange carnelian agates as well as several breathtaking dendritic agates. I felt super lucky when I came across a stunning white montana agate with a quartz crystal center. I was in such awe.
Finally, I packed my bag with a few more treasure state agates, enough to make me forget about how soaked I was as the rain came down. What a day! I felt like I was the luckiest person ever, on top of the world, when in reality I was just a soaking wet gal with a backpack full of rocks. My life is Good, but my life Rockhounding is the Best.
Looking to learn about Yellowstone River agates? This is a publication from 1972 by a man named Paul Fry. This was the very first literature I read when I was learning about Montana agates. It is called "Meanderings of a Montana Rockhound" and it is priceless:
https://pdf4pro.com/view/meanderings-of-a-montana-rockhound-525eeb.html
Here is another page with great information on Montana Agates by Jim Landon called "Montana Agate: The Best Catch on the Yellowstone River" :
https://www.rockngem.com/montana-agate-the-best-catch-on-the-yellowstone-river/
For all those asking, I do not sell my rocks. As my supply permits, I do rock trades. So, if you have some nice specimens you think I would like to add to my collection, we can trade via any size flat rate post office box. Or, if you are an artist or have something else you think I would like, that's an option too! Please be patient as I have lots of emails and sometimes miss some. If you are wanting to purchase some Montana rocks, I have listed the Stores below of two fellow Montana Rockhounds KatyDidRocks and Theo Kellison, great friends of mine.
As far as places I rockhound, greater than 90% of the time I utilize PUBLIC fishing access spots on the Yellowstone river. KatyDidRocks has a great book out on all the places us Montana rockhounds like to go on the Lower Yellowstone River:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1089523180
While you are there, check out her store! She has some fantastic Montana rocks for purchase.
KatyDidRocks Etsy Store:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/KatyDidRocks?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=943508179
Also, if you follow Theo Kellison on Youtube, another fantastic Montana Rockhound, he has an Etsy Store with rocks for sale as well:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/SticksandStones406?ref=shop_sugg
Thanks for following and Rock On!
Best of luck on all your hounding adventures.
Here are some affiliate links to anything I have been asked for by my subscribers or people who have watched my videos. These are essentially "My Favorite Things." I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. If there is anything else you would like me to provide a link for, please let me know.
Link to Montana Rockhounding book I use:
https://amzn.to/3HfpsuJ
Link to the digital microscope I use:
https://amzn.to/3q5s9ce
Link to the pick-ax rock hammer I use:
https://amzn.to/33cmFmU
Link to the rock hammer I use to "crack rocks open":
https://amzn.to/3JQyq3y
Link to the grit I use when tumbling rocks:
https://amzn.to/3HI2AnA
Link to the battery-operated water bottle sprayer I use:
https://amzn.to/3F4z3mu
Beginner Rock Tumbler I recommend:
https://amzn.to/31Br7vf
Link to the mineral oil I use in my rock saw:
https://amzn.to/33fiFSA
Link to the gloves I wear:
https://amzn.to/3s35zAX
Link to the hats I wear:
https://amzn.to/3q0N689
Link to summer rockhounding/kayaking/fishing SPF shirts I wear:
https://amzn.to/3F9QbXQ