Big Sucker Creek

Minnesota

Find: Lake Superior Agates, red jasper, stromatolite jasper, banded iron, beach glass, amygdaloidal basalt

GPS: 46.9241, -91.85014

Nearest city: Duluth, MN

Recommended Vehicle: Any

Summary:

This was one of the best rockhounding spots near Duluth that I have found. All the other spots I visited to the South had been heavily picked over. I found excellent pieces of jasper here, even though I came with the intent to find agates. Agates seem present in the area, but I only found little bits and chips of chalcedony.

You’ll find a parking lot has a nice path that leads down to the water. Be courteous to both those that are fishing and the private land owners that border the access path to get down to the water from the parking area.

 

Video Guide

For the best experience, check out the video guide. I show how I found my best pieces and challenges you might face along the way.

To avoid confusion, some of the early clips in this video were from further South near Duluth.

This is my strange rock referred to in the video. As for now, I believe it is some sort of fossilized stem within an unknown igneous rock.

This is my strange rock referred to in the video. As for now, I believe it is some sort of fossilized stem within an unknown igneous rock.

A little agate nodule that the water hasn't beaten up too much yet.

A little agate nodule that the water hasn't beaten up too much yet.

This spot had huge blocks of red jasper. Excellent if you're into lapidary.

This spot had huge blocks of red jasper. Excellent if you're into lapidary.

My best ID guess on this is stromatolite jasper. You can see the layered swirls in this pic, but they're definitely not like an agate or banded chert.

My best ID guess on this is stromatolite jasper. You can see the layered swirls in this pic, but they're definitely not like an agate or banded chert.

Oxidized concrete? Sometimes the urban debris is admittedly cool.

Oxidized concrete? Sometimes the urban debris is admittedly cool.

This appears to be a melted aluminum can, tossed around by Lake Superior. It's non-magnetic, and very light.

This appears to be a melted aluminum can, tossed around by Lake Superior. It's non-magnetic, and very light.

There's some cool amygdaloidal basalt here too. This light blue and orange color appeared together commonly.

There's some cool amygdaloidal basalt here too. This light blue and orange color appeared together commonly.

Whenever I see this in the surrounding rocks, I tend to find more agates. Sometimes it can mark a good spot!

Whenever I see this in the surrounding rocks, I tend to find more agates. Sometimes it can mark a good spot!

This seemed like an agate when in the water but I am thinking it's calcite.

This seemed like an agate when in the water but I am thinking it's calcite.