Many, many years ago up here, the glaciers melted into rivers and dropped slews of agate and jasper that you can see in lines about 10 feet down in the Earth’s crust. So, rockhounding for the good stuff usually happens in eroded areas like hills, streams, lakes and pits where digging has taken place. Fellow rockhounds Steve and daughters Kayla and Salena took us on a tour of “The Pits” of Minnesota’s North Shore. 
The hounding was terrific. We found some beautiful Red Jasper and Jaspellite (Red Jasper and Hematite) in their stunning array of variations.
There was also a great variety of Chinese Writing stone (Porphyry). So named for the rectangles of material in contrasting color at odd angles resembling Chinese characters.
And of course, there were the Lakers, which are the multicolored, banded agates.
And some beautiful material that we don’t know, so we are calling it “Idontknowite”.
Update: Steve tells me the Idontknowite is Banded Flint
Angie played in a mud puddle with Boomer, their happy doggie.
Steve, Bill and Angie
Boomer, Salena and Kayla