Top Hounds— An Interview with Rob Abram of Michigan Rocks
Of all the treasures to be found on Michigan beaches, Rob Abram is one of the easiest to identify. With Youtube now serving as any hobbyist’s best friend, chances are good you have seen at least a few of his 400 videos. So when Rob heads to the beach, he gets noticed.
Rock Tumbler Buying Guide
Shopping for a rock tumbler and bewildered by the options? Let us make it super easy for you with our guide of beginner recommendations!
Stylish Stylolites— When Limestone Dresses Up Like Someone Else
Often confused for petrified wood, these pieces of deformed limestone have proven to be quite the tricksters here in Michigan; but what exactly are they, and how do they form?
Petrified Wood in Michigan: The Facts and the Fiction
Petrified wood, it’s a stone everyone is familiar with by name at least. And everyone gets excited about finding it, but can it actually be found in Michigan? The story is complicated, but the answer is…
The Stunning Quartz Crystals of Goose Lake
Quartz crystals— big ones at least— are not common in Michigan, but they can be found in at least one place: Goose Lake, near Marquette…
Midnight Mining: The Deadliest Rockhounding Adventures
It’s exciting. It’s rewarding if you don’t die or go to jail. But when you midnight mine, there’s no guarantee that you’ll ever see the light of day again…
The Blues After Dark: The Fluorescent Secrets of Leland
Leland’s famous blue slag holds a fluorescent secret!
So you found silver metal on the beach. What is it?
So you’ve found a shiny piece of metal in the sand. Is it silver? Is it platinum or titanium or osmium like your app tells you? The answer is as simple as it might be disappointing!
Meet BIF— The World’s Toughest Rock
What’s the strongest rock on the planet? And one of the oldest? And also in Michigan? Our pal BIF, the banded iron formation!
Agates: Banded and Beautiful
Michiganders far and wide have heard of the legendary Lake Superior agate, but what exactly are they? And what is all this you’re hearing about cold water agates? We’ve got just the answer to this, and more!
Yooperlites, aka Glowdalites: what are they and where can I find them?
From everything on how to find them, to what they are, learn everything you’d ever need to know on Michigan’s magical, glowing stone— the Glowdalite (aka Yooperlite).
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THE ARTICLE MINE
Expert-written articles about Michigan-based geology, earth science, public interest, guides, insights, travel, and adventure.
Come along and take a break from rockhounding to learn something new, get inspired, and deep dive into rock-solid observations leaving no stone unturned—with a marble-ous rock pun or two mixed in!