Agates of the Oregon Coast

Yachats Agate Festival this weekend...

2012-01-19T14:56:00.000-08:00

Fortification Agate found by Steve of Lincoln Co.

Sorry I could not make it to the Agate Festival this Saturday and Sunday.

Beach Comber finds Desmostlus Tooth

2012-01-16T11:53:00.000-08:00

Local gal Shelly found this wonderful specimen of a Desmostlus tooth.

Fortification Agate Found

2012-01-15T13:08:00.000-08:00

Lucky beachcomber Scott found this little beauty!

Man finds 48-pound agate

2012-01-13T10:29:00.000-08:00

Photo Buck Henderson by Larry Coonrod

We have been waiting to see this agate, it is now featured in the Newport News Times. Buck Henderson is pictured with some of the agates he’s collected near Yachats. He found the large rough agate on the right in December. It weighs 48 pounds. The stone on the left is a 15-pound black agate. Both will be on display at the Yachats Agate Festival Jan. 21-22.

Editorial notes:
Posted: Friday, Jan 13th, 2012
BY: Larry Coonrod
For the complete article see the Newport News Times 01-13-2012 issue.

High Surf Advisory for the Oregon Coast

2011-11-30T09:26:00.000-08:00

Video of Jen shows why you don't turn your back on the Ocean while looking for Agates,

she was just lucky to be able to get up and walk away to safety!

Updates - Dec. 23, 2011 A high surf advisory continues this afternoon, evening and through 4pm Saturday afternoon. From the above picture it’s extremely smart to not even get close to all that wave energy. There’s not a safe rock out there to watch from unless from a state park overlook where the waves can’t get to you. Sneaker waves are likely to be abundant. - This is NOT the time to be Beach combing On The Oregon Coast! Wait for the advisory to be lifted, let the sea settle down for a day or two. Here you can safely watch the stormy sea in the comfort of your warm home - watch for view #2 of our web cameras.

IMPACTS: IT IS DANGEROUS TO VENTURE NEAR THE WATER UNDER HIGH SURF CONDITIONS. PEOPLE HAVE DROWNED AFTER BEING SWEPT WAY FROM ROCKS AND JETTIES WHILE OBSERVING HIGH SURF…OR AFTER BEING KNOCKED DOWN BY LOGS AND OTHER DEBRIS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED THIS HIGH SURF ADVISORY

Watch those waves! (added 12-06-11)
"The Friday after Thanksgiving was gorgeous —mostly clear skies, warm temperatures and, for many, the desire to get out of the house after being cooped up the rainy and windy day before.

Unaware — or maybe just not concerned — that there was a high surf warning issued by the National Weather Service, people flocked to the South Jetty. We went down there with the idea of watching the waves from the car, but seeing so many people — I counted 80 at one point — drew us onto the beach as well.

People were jumping waves, playing in the beach foam and looking for agates. A huge log was being lifted by the surf, which, every seventh wave or so, was rushing up the beach, sending people scattering for dry sand.

I watched the log and the people standing directly behind it, one of them crouched down looking for agates, wondering if I should warn them of the danger.

What I need to know is what part of “high surf warning” do these people not understand? And yet I was there too. Seems I’ve also forgotten years ago when I first moved here being trapped under a huge log, losing my glasses, camera and shoes when a wave came over us in a cave near Face Rock.

Friday, I cringed every time the ocean came and moved the log, but thankfully, no one was trapped or caught by a sneaker wave.

But I urge all beach-goers to be aware of the tides, check the NWS before you go to the beach and use extreme caution. The ocean is beautiful and deceptively serene, yet potentially deadly."

Editorial note: As quoted from a Bandon Western World reader.

Lucky Beachcomber finds Enhydro agatized Snail...

2011-11-28T11:50:00.000-08:00

Cheri a lucky local resident found this 1+" agatized snail with a water bubble a.k.a. as an enhydro agate along with her other treasures that you see her while beach combing here on the Central Oregon Coast.

Weather to bring on the beachcombing event...

2011-11-17T10:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterdays weather of strong winds should have scoured our beaches to bring on some excellent beachcombing. We are all looking forward to those great gravel bars we get her in the Newport area for those agates glistening among the gravel. We have photos that need to be downloaded to show you some of the trophies our guest have come up with. Will try and get them up shortly.

Welcome home to Oregon's Fossil Guy!

2011-10-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

It is once again time for the beaches to uncover the gravel for beach combing on the Oregon coast and Guy is home on business for a short visit looking for spots to explore. Hope the sands wash away soon for a successful hunt. Happy hunting to all of our beachcombers out there. We will add more as time permits.

FACETS Gem & Mineral Gallery has a new owner!

2011-09-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

Our New Pocket Guide Oregon Under Foot

This has been a very busy last four months so I apologize for not keeping the blog updated lately. There have been many things to add, I just haven't had an opportunity to get some spare time lately.

Still a locally owned and operated business with the help of a wonderful, knowledgeable staff,we hope to see you in the show room again.

We would all like to thank Richard, as he is happily retired to Post Falls, Idaho. We are all happy and the customers are once again happy!

Large Trophy Fancy Jasper Found

2011-08-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

Recently lucky Ruby of Seattle, Washington found this 1¾ pound fancy jasp-agate while vacationing here on the Oregon coast while beachcombing in the north county.

Sorry I haven't had time to get this updated lately, there have been lots of changes here at the Gallery. More to tell later as time permits...

Family's near-death experience emphasizes need for safety at Oregon coast

2011-06-04T14:20:00.000-07:00


Photo by Crystal Wheeler									The Oregonian Story By Lori Tobias

Minus tides this week...

2011-04-18T13:48:00.000-07:00

After all of the winds that we have endured here on the coast over the last week, (the SW winds remove the sand to expose the gravel) we are all looking towards a great time at the beach. Frank was in with an exceptionally nice agatized enhydro Anadara clam, bloodstone, fancy agate, and a very nice specimen of Teredo wood (still showing the grain of the wood). More photos to follow on this later.

Yesterday Richard came home with a fossilized double vertebrae of something rather small but larger than a fish. I still have to get the photos off of Richards camera to share with you. More to come later...

Extra Large Blue-black Agate found on the Oregon Coast

2011-04-17T14:28:00.000-07:00

Oregon Coast Agate Club's President found these

Here we are showing two views of one beautiful fancy blue black fortification agate that Frank found recently. The top shows it dry and the lower shot shows it wet to better see the color. The fossil specimen lower right shows two fossils as they were found, cemented together.

We are in the final production of our third pocket guide therefore I have a lots of photos to catch up on for this blog. Frank was in recently with a very nice agatized clam, bloodstone, fancy agate, and a very nice specimen of teredo wood (still showing the grain of the wood). I will have to get those photos up too, as time permits.

Agates abound on Oregon's Central Coast...

2011-03-31T17:08:00.000-07:00

Sandy's agates and Scot's arrowhead..

These trophy agates were found by Sandy beach combing here on the Oregon Coast earlier this season before the tsunami covered the beaches with sand. These agates are all so beautiful, the top one about 4-5", as we call it "fang" on the far left is large and quite unusual as it is sard agate with sagenite and zeolites together. The two white agates both have a cavity opening and feature a fortification pattern at the opening of each.

The lower right foreground is a 2" arrowhead of jasper. More photos will follow later as I can shoot them.

Stay safe and have fun out there folks.

Spring break is well under way...

2011-03-20T11:08:00.000-07:00

Quit a nice collection of fossil Mollusks!

Had a number of guest in the showroom yesterday, the North American Research group dropped by, a few club members from the Portland gem clubs and all. These wonderful fossils were all found here in the Newport area. Nice collection there John.

Last night we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Georgie's with a wonderful view of the beach. Great to see so many folks out having a great evening as the tide was going out, strolling with their dogs, flying kites... It almost looked like a summer evening in southern California on the beach!

The SOLV Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup is on Saturday, March 26th! Find out more about this Oregon tradition and sign up to volunteer here. Is the great Oregon Beach Cleanup at any one of over 40 beach sites from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. to clear the entire Oregon coast of debris.

Everyone be safe and have a great time here on the central Oregon Coast.

No Tsunami Watch, Warning, or Advisory is in effect...

2011-03-12T10:10:00.000-08:00

Time lapse video of tsunami waves in Port Orford, Oregon.

NOAA has downgraded the tsunami warning to an advisory. An Advisory indicates that an area is either outside the current warning regions or that the tsunami poses no danger to that area. Refer to NOAA's National Weather Service website at http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/ for continued updates.

Please be careful and be safe out there while beachcombing here on the Oregon Coast. Always remember to never turn your back on the ocean!

Rescuers fight ferocious tide to save woman swept into the tsunami surf

The Oregonian story By Laura Gunderson, David Stabler

Agate Hunting on the Oregon Coast, Agates are being found daily...

2011-03-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

Right now, agates are becoming more plentiful daily at numerous beaches around Newport here on the Oregon coast, just remember to look for the rocky gravel beds, during winter and the early spring months. I will add photos as time permits later. Happy hunting and stay safe out there! Just take a look at some of the previous photos below.

Sneaker wave danger is more than just water

2011-02-26T14:02:00.000-08:00

A personal account of the dangers of sneaker waves, by Robert Smith Oregon State Parks Management

"For over 20 years we have enjoyed the Oregon coast. We have walked the beaches and scurried away from larger waves as they mysteriously climbed the beach. One of our favorite Oregon beach activities is to get out of the constant wind by sitting on the south side of the jetty at Winchester Bay. High up the beach with the warm sunshine beaming down and the lulling roar of the ocean makes it is easy to drift off into a wonderful, peaceful nap.

NOT a good choice.

Even though we were a good 20 yards or more from the ocean we were awakened to find ourselves engulfed in a sneaker wave. Sneaker wave.... well it would better to call it a mini tsunami. It is a small, surging wall of water that carries a huge concentration of sand. Your clothes are instantly saturated with water and sand that increases your weight exponentially - way beyond your level of strength. You are engulfed in a surge mixture of water and sand like liquid cement so that your attempts to free yourself are somewhat futile as it rushes back to the ocean.

What saved us? The fact that this sneaker wave or little tsunami was just one wave and small enough the we could stand up, grab the jetty rocks and stay on the beach. An illustration of the weight gain is that the extra large beach towels we were sitting on seemed to weigh about 30 to 40 pounds each after the wave hit. So that coat you wear to shield yourself from the wind can become a weighted anchor or your death shroud if you are engulfed in a sneaker wave.

Moral of the story: Better to nap in the car or have someone serve as a lookout... and yes, like they say, never turn your back or close your eyes on the ocean."

Four inches of water can lift a five ton log... Stay CLEAR OF LOGS

Editors Note: Via - Coastal Waves 2/11

Large Smiling Sard Agate found.

2011-02-26T12:20:00.000-08:00

Agate collector Nancy, of Sacramento was beachcombing here on the Oregon Coast when she found this beautiful smiling 3" sard agate weighing at just under ½ pound with fortification banding surrounding a crystalline pocket. Congratulations Nancy on another wonderful find.

Oregon's Fossil Guy & Beachcombing in the Snow at Newport

2011-02-26T12:09:00.000-08:00

Scott beach combing in the snow

Greeted by winter snow & hail storms that rivaled the Rockies...Our "Oregon Fossil Guy" hit the beaches early Thursday with our friend Scott & both were awarded excellent results on the rock/fossil gathering sides. Below are a just a few of Guy's trophies: the large one at the top is a sizable 3" piece of agatized wood weighing over a ¼ pound. The lower left piece is a nice piece of myrtle wood and the remaining piece is a very nicely preserved fossil clam shell.

Photo was taken wet to better show the colors.

Beautiful wood found on the Oregon Coast

2011-02-19T09:56:00.000-08:00

It is beautiful, sunny and bright today in Newport for a 3 day weekend at the coast. These beautiful specimens of wood were found recently by two different fellows beach combing here on the Central Oregon Coast. Ken found the beautiful agatized wood specimen. The Myrtle wood was found by Nathan of Neotsu and it weighs over 14lbs. and just over 12" across.

Congratulations Ben on your Crystal lined fossil!

2011-02-18T10:48:00.000-08:00

Ben of Lincoln City found this fancy jasper while beach combing on the Oregon coast: 8" tall weighing in at just about 7½ lb and it contains a fossil clam shell lined with beautiful quartz crystals .

Beach Combing at Newport...

2011-02-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

A fully agatized gastropod (snail like) shell on the left
and an usual agate to the left.

Don't let yourself or your loved ones be an other causality of the dreaded sneaker waves! Please be careful when you are on the beach by staying off the rocky jettys, ledges, or logs, and never turn your back on the water. Always know which way to go, to get off the beach and away from this fast moving water. This combination of cold water, sharp rocks and fast moving water is a deadly combination.

On a happier note...Frank, the president of the Oregon Coast Agate Club was out beach combing and found this fossil, of possibly a seal or otter. He also found a couple of nicely formed agates to share with you.

The minus tides have been quite helpful...

2011-02-05T12:06:00.000-08:00

The minus tides have been quite helpful to our guest and Michael of Portland just found this fossilized Radius/Ulna in a tide pool of a large creature possibly an extinct large mammal the Desmostlus something like a marine hippopotamus or sea cow.

Here is a size able fancy agate another one of our guest found this week. Two really nice finds for our guest beachcombing on the Central Oregon Coast.

Beautiful black agate found...

2011-01-31T17:14:00.000-08:00

This beauty was brought in recently 5 inches long and it weighs almost a pound. Local beachcomber Kathie found this agate with beautiful red jasper highlights and it is now polished. Nice find Kathie!

Newport is beautiful this week...

2011-01-27T13:36:00.000-08:00

Winter has blessed us once again with better weather than summer! No wind, sunny and bright a great time for beach combing on the Oregon Coast. The rates are low and less traffic to contend with, what more could you ask for? Yes there are agates being found again, just the beaches are shifting and the gravel has been spotty. I have been busy working on not one but two books to be published in the next month or so. Just no time for us to participate in beachcombing or to get the photos up on the blog.

Editors notes: Video from News Lincoln County

Dee's Trophy Artifact

2011-01-13T09:51:00.000-08:00

This is quite a beachcombers trophy. Dee of Wyoming was just in with this spectacular museum quality artifact which is a 5¾" harpoon point carved of bone or antler. She found it washed up on the shore among all of the the flotsam and jetsam. I first thought it appeared to be an Indian fish hook. Click on the image to get a better close up.

Editors notes: Bone Harpoon Heads, Late Old Stone Age

New Years eve is showing great finds at Newport!

2011-01-12T19:52:00.000-08:00

Entered December 31, 2010...I just got this out of the camera. Frank found this earlier and brought in one the nicest tube agates we have seen in many years. These are not commonly found here at the coast but this is a beauty. The photos were back lit to better see the patterns that run from the back of the stone clear through to the front. Well done Frank, for a wrap up to the year 2010.

News from the Oregon Coast...

2011-01-12T19:44:00.000-08:00

Entered December 10, 2010... It is beginning to look a lot like beachcombing season again! Frank was just in yesterday with a few trophies he wanted to share with everyone. He found what we all believe could be a fossilized sea turtle scull, (yet to get this photo ) a very well defined fossilized Crepidula praerupta shell. Frank has also been very busy educating our upcoming pebble pups by doing geological presentations for classes in our Lincoln County School District. Good job Frank!

The Oregon Coast Agate Club Christmas party was last night, great food and a fun gift exchange was had by all in attendance. We have elected new leadership and hope to see the club continue to grow. Visitors are always welcome to join us for the meetings held the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm in the Central Lincoln P.U.D.(across the Hwy from Safeway) meeting room in Newport. The annual show will be held June 18 & 19 at the Yaquina View School, multi-purpose room.

This photo to the right was found earlier last spring by Roscoe. & Billy of Tillamook What is it? Looks like a crepidula...but developed the wrong direction.

November beachcombing finds...

2010-11-10T13:58:00.000-08:00

Lucky Spike, a local beachcomber was just in with these beauties he has found over the last week or so. The fossilized crab claw (rarely ever found) is really quite impressive. The agates are very nice sized sard (brownish one), blue-black, and the bottom one is a cloud agate.

Considering that the beaches are not gravely yet, this just goes to show you, that you too can find some goodies during our "Discovery season" which is the value season here on the Oregon coast.

Yes the beachcomber's are finding agates!

2010-11-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to local beachcomber Barbara, who found a rare 3" Pigeon blood RED agate this morning south of Newport. This beauty was not a red-orange carnelian.

Yes our Discovery Season is beginning to produce some agates. No I can't tell you which beach to find them on but yes they are beginning to be found. This weekend it is predicted to have some minus tides so the afternoons should produce an extended shoreline for our beachcombers. Please be careful to hunt with a partner to watch your back and don't jeopardize your life with those sneaker waves.

UPDATED NOTE: Our camera battery just died so she brought it back to us polished in December.

Living Amid Middens—Preserving the Past, Looking to the Future

2010-10-26T13:28:00.000-07:00

For those of you that missed this wonderful presentation. It is now online for your enjoyment...

For more than 20 years, Steeves has been involved in research and preservation of significant archaeological sites on the central Oregon coast. A native Oregonian, she grew up at the coast and returned here to work following doctoral studies at the University of Oregon. She has had a life-long interest in Indian cultures and a passion for understanding the coastal environment. During her 36-year archaeological career, she has literally walked across the state documenting sites. With hiking boots on, she continues to enjoy exploring her back (and front) yard, as much as traveling the world.

Find out what archaeologists, working closely with tribal members and scientists, have learned about the central Oregon coast, and why preservation of these non-renewable resources is critical. Cultural sites in and near Yachats will be considered in relation to the Oregon coast archaeological record.

Editors note: Courtesy photo - Newport News Times file

First big blow of the season enroute to the Coast.

2010-10-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

Now you can experience the raw beauty of the Oregon Coast during our value season where you can enjoy storm watching from the comfort of one of Newport's warm and cozy beach front resorts.

"Saturday night and into Sunday, the rain will increase considerably, accompanied by Hurricane Force Winds, 60-75 mph. Such winds are fully capable of blowing people off their feet and tossing them down streets, lawns and hillsides. These winds are expected to occur from 8pm Saturday to 8am Sunday. Power outages are also common with such winds.

A heavy surf warning is also in effect for all day Sunday. The Weather Service warns that tidal flooding is possible since a higher than normal tide will co-inside with the storm surf and high winds." This would not be a good time to be out on the beach!

Editors notes: For the rest of the story

½ pound Agate found today!

2010-10-05T14:14:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Jennifer of Federal Way, WA who dropped in to show us this beauty she just found today weighing ½ a pound. I guess the season is going to start earlier than we thought it would.

Florida Beachcomber finds 8¼ pound Agate!

2010-10-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't had a moment to keep you updated, I have been so busy here in the showroom, lots of folks in this summer. The photo "Still Rock'n The Coast at Newport" below remained gravely until sometime the last week of September.

Beachcomber, Cliff of Florida found this large sugar agate a couple of weeks ago while vacationing here on the Oregon Coast. weighing in at a healthy 8¼ pounds and is 8½" long.
Added: November 1, Here is the new photo showing the before it was polished and now completed.
We are also working on two more pocket guides that I'm sure you are going to enjoy just as much. Be watching for our announcement early next year.

August - Agate Treasures

2010-08-17T18:31:00.001-07:00

Beachcombers Melissa & Randee of Eugene found these rather large trophies of 4" while vacationing here on the Oregon Coast: the white agate below weighed in at 1¼ pounds, the carnelian/sard agate with the crystalline center weighed 1 pound.

Nice finds!

What is this fossil?

2010-08-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

This fossil was found earlier this year in the area, by Newport resident Danny. It is 5½" long, and the lower image shows the side view nicely but what is it?

Danny also found some nice agates too!

Still Rock'n The Coast at Newport

2010-08-11T12:50:00.000-07:00

Breaking News from the Oregon Coast, Richard & I saw this gravel bed Sunday the 8th and it is still producing agates for our guest here on the Oregon Coast! Frank was nice enough to forward this photo from his phone to share with you.

This is definitely a rare treat for beach combers during the summer when it is normally sanded in by the winds from the north. There is no way of knowing if this will look like this tomorrow, many times it is just a fleeting chance of (6 hours) the changing of the tide.

Beautiful Black Agate Ring

2010-08-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

Spike of Seal Rock found this beautiful black agate earlier this year while agate hunting here on the Oregon Coast. The ring was created for him by FACETS Gem & Mineral Gallery of Newport. The ring was fabricated of Sterling Silver for him to give his lady Monica. We wish Monica many years of enjoyment from her new ring.

Spike was very pleased as the design allows the wearer to appreciate stone from the top or by the bottom through the open wire work design beneath the stone.

Summer Beachcombing Treasures

2010-08-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

Local 8 year old Savannah of Sam Case Elementary found these marine fossils while beach combing with her family yesterday. The fossils shown here were found just north of Newport and are approximately 15-20 million years old. Nice finds Savannah.

Notes: The white shell is filled with calcite crystals which appears to have been an enhydro (water filled) agate clam belly. The reddish clam is totally fossilized.

Agates to Zeolites on the Oregon Coast

2010-07-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

Tamie of Bend was just in with this very large zeolite she found while agate hunting on the Oregon Coast over the years. This is the largest one we have ever seen of these. Thank you for sharing this specimen with us.

Sorry my photography leaves something to be desired as I blurred this photo. Tamie if you are still in the area maybe I can re shoot this.

Another Fossilized Nautilus Found!

2010-07-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

Nice discovery made last week by local beachcomber Michele of Newport. Sorry I haven't been able to put up more photos lately on this blog but it has been a busy summer here in Newport. Just wish we had time to get out and find some of these nice pieces too, but one must work while there is work available.

Trophy agate

2010-07-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to agate collector James of South Beach who just recently found this beautiful agate weighing in at ¼ of a pound and 2¾" long. The stone appears black with white frosting, however when illuminated with a strong light source from the bottom you can see it is a lavender cloud agate. We were so worried that the frosting would disappear on this beauty but it came out well. This will make a nice addition to ones agate collection.

Your never too old!

2010-07-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

These two beach-combing seniors, Kay (in white shirt) of Newport and her guest Judy of Deming New Mexico were caught playing in the sand box just months before it became the blacktopped boat ramp parking lot for the marina at South Beach. NOAA the agatized clam belly on the lower right foreground was just found June 7, 2010 during Newport's NOAA party.

Agates still being found...

2010-07-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

Here are Scott's trophies from a week or so ago, with great color and patterns. The Oregon vacations have started! Lots of traffic her in Newport today with the Clam Bake, Saturday Market, and such a wonderful sunny and warm day for beachcombing at the Oregon Coast! A lady had two nice fist size agates to share with us today but I did not have the camera ready.

NOTES: Photo was taken with the specimens wet to better see their personality.

Present Day Great White Sharks Tooth

2010-06-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Ken of Neotsu Oregon, who just discovered this rare find of a present day 1¾" Great White Sharks Tooth, here on the Central Oregon Coast.

The serrations have been worn down indicating that it has been in the sand for quite some time, but still a spectacular find.

Fancy Jaspers and Agate

2010-06-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

It is getting rather late in the season but these beauties were just found in the last week or so. All of these are nice and sizable, the amber colored one on the lower left is a sard agate (that has been back lit to see the translucency of the stone) the others are all fancy jaspers. Congratulations to our Toledo resident beachcomber Scott on these beautiful finds.

Agatized Marine Gastropods

2010-06-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

Would you have recognized the white specimen as being an agatized snail? Many folks do not look before tossing their finds into the rock polisher.

The top specimen was found by Frank and the white one was found by Scott both are beachcomber residents of Agate Beach.

Fossil...

2010-06-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

This fossil was found on Oregon's central coast. A. shows the side view to be about 5" long. The rear is 3" wide, with some really usual suture like or worm tracks. The rear view shows rarely seen turbinate bones that were preserved within the fossilized in the skull of a small porpoise or dolphin. Identified by Dr. William Orr 2-12-11.

Ted's 4" Oregon Agate Crafted into a Night Light

2010-06-22T16:59:00.000-07:00

47th Gem & Mineral Show in Newport

2010-06-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went out for the minus tides and found the gravel beds are still presenting a treasure trove of agates, jasper and more for us beachcombers. Came home and wrapped the 3 agate pendants in this photo that just came out of our tumbler collected just a few weeks ago.

Father’s Day weekend rock hunters, agate lovers and fossil collectors are coming together for the annual Oregon Coast Agate Club’s 47th Gem & Mineral Show here in Newport at the Yaquina View Elementary School -Multipurpose Room - 351 SE Harney Street. The show will be open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is only $2 for adults, $1 for youth, with children under 6 years of age free.

Minus Tides Reward Beachcombers

2010-05-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

Weather was great for a trip to the beach or fishing today. It was sprinkling as we left but once we got down to the beach it was dry and warm. There were so many fishing boats out today and people on the beach with their families and their dogs great fun for everyone.

We just got home from Seal Rock with this beautiful collection of stones for the kids. They are anxiously awaiting their new collection to get their rock polishers started again. The beaches were so busy with cars all over the place at all of the better known collecting spots. We spent about 4 hours actually laying in the gravel talking and just picking up sea (rarely seen intact on our rocky coastline) shells, sea glass plus many colorful jaspers and agates one after another as we visited together with our friend Scott. There must have been about 12 other folks getting down in the gravel too just sitting there with pebbles all around them. We found the biggest one in the photo as we were heading home in South Beach, it weighs in at over 1¼ pounds and 4 inches across - - >

Hope you and yours are having a safe and happy holiday this weekend!

Minus Tides On the Central Oregon Coast

2010-05-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

Wonderful morning minus tides are predicted for the Central Oregon coast to make for great fun family activities of tide pooling and beach combing for fossils and agates now through June 1st. Just remember to keep a watchful eye on the children and never turn your back on the ocean!

Editors notes: This is a live view looking south to the Yaquina, Head Lighthouse from the Moolack Beach area (Newport, Oregon). This location is well known as a scenic place to see that provides terrific shell fossils found among the cobbles exposed by the ocean. The image refreshs approximately every seven minutes. Click your refresh/reload button to be sure you are viewing the most recent images.

Complete Wolly Mammoth Tooth Found

2010-05-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

This is a very rare find for here on the Oregon Coast. This fossil tooth was actually found here on the central Oregon coast a couple of years ago and I finally had a chance to get a photo of Craig's wonderful beach combing find. It weighs close to 5 pounds, and appears to be that of an adult complete sixth tooth (due to the size of it). Congratulations to Craig on this magnificent find.

Through research it has been stated that elephants were plentiful in North America, and their fossils have been found in many states. However complete teeth are rarely found, more frequently would be individual plates or partial teeth.

Editors note: The top photo is the actual tooth showing the washboard effect. The lower image shows the bottom of the tooth that would have been below the gum.

Wonderful Agatized Fossils

2010-05-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a summary of some of the most recent agatized fossils found here on the Oregon Coast by local beachcombers. These are really beautiful specimens and hope these will help you improve your collecting ability to collect fewer but better specimens and leave those common "leaverites" (leave it right there) on the beach for some one else. We would also like to take this time to thank the many folks that have shared their trophies with us that many others will learn more about responsible collecting.

Editors Notes: Photos to the left showing 2 black limb cast with fortification banding, were found by Scott of Newport. Upper right an enhydro (water agate) "Clam-Belly" Agate, found by Mary Lou of Newport. Lower right photo taken wet of a complete agatized gastropod (snail-like), found by Frank of Agate Beach.

Most striking Lavender Blue Agate

2010-05-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

Over the years we have seen some agates from here on the coast resembling lavender-blue to a point but this one has them all beat. This just happens to be of the finest color wise comparable only to some of the best Holley Blue agate also found here in Oregon. Ken is one lucky dude that gets to spend his lunch hour beachcombing for agates on the Oregon Coast anywhere from Astoria to Brookings.

Fossil Field trips in the Newport Area

2010-04-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

Garrett's World of Geology 5 featuring: Fossils of the Central Oregon Coast at Newport. Astoria formation at Beverly Beach, Moolack, Jump Off Joe, Otter Rock... Fossils, Geology, Rock Hounding for agates, jasper, etc...

Another bag full of goodies

2010-04-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

We are now enjoying the rewards of the minus tides of spring here at the coast. Here is a photo of just a few of the treasures David of Salem found here in the Newport area beach combing with his family.

Editors Note: Upper left photo- possibly a blue agate, upper right possibly a lavender agate but all are beautiful pieces.

John's Beachcombing Trophies Found at Newport

2010-04-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

John one of our agate collectors from Stayton comes out a couple of times a year for beach combing here at coast and as you can see he had a great visit. These are just a few of his recent trophies he found this week here at Newport.

Editors Notes: Image lower right appears to possibly be a "Clam Belly Agate" (agatized fossil) the one above it is an extra fancy carnelian with a beautiful lacy coating. Sorry about the glare of the light, we wanted to share with you the beautiful red-orange hue.

More Treasures Of The Sea being found daily!

2010-04-14T09:56:00.001-07:00

Every day we are getting reports of more and more Japanese glass floats being found here on Oregon's central coast. All sizes, colors and shapes are found from the tide line to the cliffs. This has been like an Easter Egg hunt for our beach combers and yes they are also getting agates too!

Complete Agatized Clam

2010-04-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

The translucent clam (clam belly) to the left has to be one of the largest completely agatized specimens we have seen in quite awhile. It just had a small area of the outer shell remaining plus the agate was amazingly clear and pretty well defined. This just goes to show you how the agates were formed here on the Oregon Coast some 15 - 20 million years ago. Agate filled anything hollow and took on the shape of that mold.

This beauty was found yesterday here in Newport by Bruce a rockhound from Reedsport, OR sharing a couple of days at the beach with his lovely and talented wife Kathy. Nice find Bruce, another great beachcombing find on the Oregon Coast!

Editors Note: Sorry the photo came out so fuzzy, the clam to the right is a fossil used for comparison.

Spring Storms Bring Treasures to the Oregon Coast

2010-04-06T10:41:00.001-07:00

Beachcombers Rusty & Lesia, of Bozeman, Montana were fast on their feet to find this beautiful bright green 12 inch Japanese glass fishing float. They were one of two couples that discovered this rare treasure at the same time.

This float is still complete with the fisherman's net or rope still attached and covered with barnacles to boot. We tried to move the barnacles aside to see if the fisherman's stamped logo was visible but no luck, the barnacles were too tightly entwined.

More and more beach combers are finding these rare beauties daily now with the spring storms we have been experiencing here on the Oregon Coast, but you have to be out there early and be fast on your feet.

Editors Note: The small float image at the lower right just shows another angle of the glass float.

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False Brain Coral

2010-04-03T11:43:00.001-07:00

Thank you to beachcomber Sue of Lincoln County for submitting these nice sizable specimens for this entry. Sometimes known as False Brain Coral, this is home to a colony of worms known as Dedecaceria fewkesi, or a.k.a. Pacific Fission Worm Rock.

The close up shows the grains of sand wedged into the holes, kinda looks like tiny agates in there.

Spring break on the Oregon Coast

2010-03-30T15:05:00.000-07:00

The low tides of spring have blessed the beachcombers with many treasures this spring. We are in the midst of 6 weeks of spring break here on the Oregon Coast.

Local beachcomber Lisa, just found these beautiful trophies and a whole lot more than the camera could hold today. Upper left shows some of her fossils, the largest fossil is about 1/3 of a Musashia indurata shell, and various other shell fossils (I threw a quarter in the photo just for scale). The lower left shows some nice petrified wood scattered in among the agates.

Weather has been wild and wonderful for storm watching too!

Trophies abound at Newport!

2010-03-25T10:02:00.001-07:00

It has come to our attention that there is rock showing for good beach combing on many of the Lincoln county beaches. This is just a sample of a 43 pound multicolor jasper recently found by Brent, one of our local beachcombers. Boy that's a back breaker for you!

Please do not use private property to access the beach. We have just been notified that the land owners south of Newport known as the 'airport beach' are no longer tolerating trespassing and are starting to site folks. Previously these owners allowed/ignored access through their 'for sale' property, and now police are watching and siting. We don't want to loose our rights as rockhounds to hunt on the beach so please use common sense and respect others peoples property. It just takes a few to mess it up for the rest of us.

Japanese Glass Fishing Floats are Found

2010-03-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all three groups of guest this weekend reporting finding old Japanese glass floats from 3"-10" in the Newport area! Here is a picture of Lauri and her glass float that she found on Moolack Beach during the Oregon coast discovery season. The float is 3" in diameter and blue with a hint of green. Craig and Lauri of Albany decided to look in the rocks at the top of the beach like they were told to do by FACETS Gem & Mineral Gallery. Just as they were ready to head to the car from their fun activity, BAM, Lauri finds the glass float sitting right up on top of the rocks. Nice find there girlfriend!!!

Nature Abounds on the Central Oregon Coast

2010-03-18T15:09:00.000-07:00

Agate found on the central Oregon coast, this 3½ pound agate was just found by Newport residents Greg & Cheryl, it has yet to be cleaned more but upon close inspection it appears to be ice blue in color.

This is a rare treasure that was also found on the beach at Newport. This is a 3 pound piece of green basalt that has been worked with a drill appears to be Indian artifact, possibly a sinker for a fishing net?

Rock Candy? Butterscotch? Here is just a few of the Beach combing treats found last week by Tim, while he was collecting from Yachats to Lincoln City. They look good enough to eat.

< - - Editors Note: There is a quarter at the center bottom for scale.

Bloodstone still found on the Oregon Coast

2010-03-13T15:24:00.000-08:00

< - - Green stones shown are two nice specimens of bloodstone a.k.a. heliotrope, jasper found lately in the Newport area by the father & son team of Frank & Jeremiah. Good timing fellows bloodstone is also one of the March birthstones.

Photo: Great collecting done as a family activity shows their collection of two red Carnelian Sagenite Agates, two blue agates and a large blue-black agate.

Editors note: Photos were taken of the specimens wet to better show the exquisite colors.

Pleasures await you by the seashore!

2010-03-02T13:32:00.000-08:00

Sorry I had a shipment going out at the time a lady came in with a complete fossilized Nautilus that she had just found here in the Newport area. The nautilus was a little larger than a quarter and in very good condition, still had some matrix rock attached to it, but the iridescent shell was complete and spectacular in color and condition. Unfortunately I had to run and help with the freight, so no photo. Well that's another reason to go beach combing for those unexpected treasures from nature here on the Oregon Coast.

Spring Break things to do list: Spring Whale Watching week on the Oregon Coast starts soon March 20-27, 2010. Spring break will offer an active calendar of events for family fun activities, live entertainment, art festivals concerts, Oregon Coast Fishing and more...

Beachcombing On The Oregon Coast

2010-02-28T13:03:00.000-08:00

The agate beds have been shifting here in Lincoln County so much this year. We have been trying to explain this phenomena to our guest but they can't seem to understand it. We had a gentleman in earlier this month and he said "The first day I was here the beach outside my window was littered with gravel and I had a great time finding agates, jasper, fossils, etc. The next morning I looked out my window and it was all gone, nothing but sand!" This is what we mean by the change of the tide (every six hours) and the agate bed may disappear.

Obviously all of those cars parked at the beach during the winter can't be wrong. It does not mean the people are out there sun bathing, it just means the folks are having a great time finding treasures out there on the beach. You too will have to actually get out of the car, stand out there on the beach and look north and south maybe a 100 yards and possibly you will find a new gravel bed littered with agates, jaspers, and fossils.

Remember to - Seek, and Ye Shall Find.

Agate Hunting in Newport

2010-02-27T09:43:00.001-08:00

Two warm dry weekends at Newport!

2010-02-22T10:31:00.000-08:00

Wow not just one beautiful day but we had another full weekend of spectacular days here at Newport. We took in a great brunch at Izzy's yesterday, and enjoyed the breathtaking view over looking agate beach. The ocean was smooth rather than to be such a rolling sea for the boaters, the surfers were having a great day, many folks were strolling the beach and beachcombing. What more could you wish for? Oh yes, I would have loved to had time to go beachcombing too! But of course we had to get home for some repairs on the house but we so enjoyed savoring the wonderful brunch and the priceless view at Izzy's.

Last week, beachcomber and photographer Scott B. of Toledo brought in an impressive 2½" black agate, unfortunately my camera was not available. Maybe he will forward a photo for you to see.

Agatized Shell Found by Beachcombers

2010-02-15T16:19:00.000-08:00

Today this beauty was found just south of Newport by lucky guest Ross and his sons of Portland sharing a fun day together on the beach. This has to be one of the most complete agatized specimens we have ever seen of this variety, and showing such great detail as well. This was just one of their finds. They also had a more agates and an agatized limb cast and an other nice agatized marine gastropod (snail-like) shell. Nice finds guys!

Photo is of possibly a Bruclarkia oregonensis. Identification from (Fossil Shells From Western Oregon, page 77)

Editors Note: The photo was illuminated from below to better show the agate.

February Beachcombing at Newport

2010-02-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

Another day of trophies found by the father and son team Frank and Jeremiah sharing quality time on the beach together at Newport. The first two specimens to the left are agates, the pink/orange one is very unusual with a pattern we haven't seen before. The one next to it appears to be a blue-black fortification (band can be seen within in the sky-blue sunk in area) agate.

The two Sagenite agates are just beautiful specimens, the yellow sard is very compact and will make a beautiful piece of jewelry. The black one is rather coarse with the needles of sagenite right up at the surface (kinda looks like a face with the hair going straight up). It definitely has personality.

The enhydro agate is actually a cloud agate that also happens to have a water bubble trapped in it. The black cloud is a dark cloud like inclusion that just happens to look like a claw (no it is NOT a CLAW) just happens to be shaped like one.

Beautiful fortification agate found at Newport

2010-02-06T10:40:00.000-08:00

Roger and his wife were the lucky beachcombers from Dallas, OR that found this beeeauty Thursday while beachcombing on the Oregon coast just south of Newport. This is a very nice fancy agate: the top view shows the side cavity of fortification pattern (continuous locked banding like in a fort).

Oregon Carnelian Agate at it's very Best!

2010-01-21T15:15:00.000-08:00

Frank just found this beauty yesterday here on Oregon's Central Coast. It does not get any better than this. This beauty Pigeon blood RED agate measured 3'' long and weighed in at over 1/4 pound of the purest red you have ever seen.

He also had these other trophy pieces as well but this carnelian is beeeautiful!

I was invited out for a tour with a small group of folks yesterday morning for their TV film shoot of agate hunting at Newport. We were treated to an hour and 1/2 on the beach before the rain started. A good time was had by all finding a multitude of fossils, jasper, a piece of bloodstone, sea glass and agate. This 2 minute shot will appear the first week of February on FOX 12 Oregon Beach Vacations, February segment.

More Treasures Found on the Central Coast...

2010-01-15T14:11:00.000-08:00

Tim had quite a good time out beachcombing here on the Oregon coast last week. Translucent green agate to fancy jasper, sardonyx, banded, select fancies, agatized limb cast, fossilized mollusks shells and more... There are two shown as polished that he just took out of the tumbler to share with us.

It is nice to share in our guest treasures they find here on the coast it is like getting to go with them but we stay here warm and dry...

2" Agate Geode Found on the Beach.

2010-01-15T13:23:00.000-08:00

2 weeks ago, agate collectors Wes and Shanna of Seal Rock found this spectacular agate geode while beach combing on the Oregon coast. It appears that it might have been an enhydro agate with a thin shell of agate that broke against the extreme force of the Pacific Ocean and our extremely rough and rocky coastline. The crystalline structure is very unusual as the white crystals (possibly calcite or zeolites) are flat and round much like the flat fungus or mushrooms that grow on trees in the forest. As you see by the illuminated shot the quartz crystals are very clear.

Today a hazardous weather advisory has been issued: Expect high winds and periods of heavy rain over the next week as a series of storms will rotate into the central Oregon coast. Please be very careful out there on the beach, it would be advisable to watch the storm from a high vantage point, a look out or from the safety and warmth of your hotel room over looking the coast line!

Beachcombing trophys found for the New Year!

2010-01-04T16:47:00.000-08:00

< - - Jeremiah of Newport, found this beautiful sagenite carnelian agate Saturday beachcombing south of town while hunting for agates with his dad for New Years. It is about the size of the nickel beside it. He also found another beautiful trophy of carnelian (as shown below) weighing in at just under a pound and measuring 4 inches wide.

This is great fun as a family activity when done in pairs for safety sake. His dad also had some treasures as shown in the photo to the right above his large carnelian, the other agates were drying out in the photo but the color and sizes are impressive. The white agate laying on the large carnelian displays a nice white banded design throughout.

Storm Season brings with it warnings to be followed...

2009-12-30T10:54:00.000-08:00

We are expecting not one but two storms, Thursday - Saturday in combination with extremely high tides, and a second blue moon for the month of December. What more could we have to deal with for a new year? While storm watching, or beachcombing, please take care as to not jeopardize your life or the Coast Guard rescue teams by playing on the logs or get yourself caught in the surf by the tides. Please be aware this coastline can be very dangerous under normal circumstances but will be doubly dangerous this week.

If you choose to explore, do it as a team, never by your self. Always watching for sneaker waves, they never follow a pattern and can wipe you off your feet in seconds. Yes there will be treasures from the sea to be found but consider doing this after the sea calms down Sunday or so for the sake of your own safety.

Please be very careful and enjoy a safe and happy New Year.

Recent Beachcombing On The Oregon Coast

2009-12-24T15:43:00.000-08:00

< - - Lucky resident beachcomber Chelsea of Lincoln County found this 5 inch sard agate weighing at just under 2 pounds a couple of weeks ago. Her dad Tim also likes strolling along the beach finding agates.

Tim found these beautiful agates Monday. - - >
These are just a few of what Tim found. The largest one a fancy agate has a very thick skin covering what appears to be a light blue agate, the white agate to the right of the quarter is a clam bellie agate, the center red one is a very nice carnelian agate. Good hunting by these two agate collectors.

Agate Arrowhead found on the Oregon Coast

2009-12-19T16:53:00.000-08:00

This beauty of an agate Indian arrowhead 1½" long was found south of Newport last winter by Jerry D. a local resident, beachcombing here on the Oregon coast. It is in remarkable shape, the workmanship is incredible on this piece considering how hard agate would be to work by hand without the aid of modern lapidary equipment. It is one thing to work in obsidian which is volcanic glass and much easier to work with deer horn in those times.

Jerry brought this in a couple of weeks ago to share with you folks. He was such a nice fellow he gave it to his boss as a gift! That was beyond generous Jerry.

Editors Note: Check out another arrowhead found her on the Oregon coast, last year.

Busy Season here on the Oregon Coast...

2009-12-18T08:38:00.000-08:00

The storms have been numerous, delighting our seasoned beachcombers, tourists and novice agate hunters alike. The weather and the waves have caused a variety of changes on the beaches, as well as all sorts of stuff washing up or being exposed. This is a time of discovery with the uncovering oddities and good reports of treasures being found on the local beaches, one couple had even found an old glass fishing float with some fish net still attached. Our guest are really enjoying the hunt looking for agates and jaspers.

Sorry I haven't had a chance to keep up lately, work has been wild. This is the first photo I have been able to take in weeks. I haven't had time to take any photos of recent treasures that have been found. Plus on top of everything else, our updates are in the work for the new revised copy of the pocket guide Agates of the Oregon Coast that will be out next year. Hard to believe it is time for a reprint already. We thought the first printing would have lasted for two years or so.

Beautiful weekend beach combing for agates in Newport!

2009-11-30T14:45:00.000-08:00

Boy what a great weekend here on the coast, sunny, no wind or rain! Saturday a local couple had already found a couple of great fossil shells, one was a Musasha indurata (pictures to follow later after Christmas, due to no time for photos).

Parking for all the agate beds was scarce yesterday when we took our drive south. The beaches were still covered with sand yesterday but the beachcombers were getting their fill of collecting agates of the Oregon Coast. Today Cheryl a local beachcomber, brought in her beautiful black banded trophy agate weighing in at 1¼ pounds and just under 4 inches in length.

Blue Agates just found...

2009-11-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

These are two nice blue agates were just found by lucky Linda out beach combing Saturday. Good work Linda.

The agate hunt is on!

2009-11-16T14:35:00.000-08:00

Just in "It was FABULOUS this weekend. I made it to the beach Saturday afternoon low tide and the sand was negligible. There were actually big rocks, not just pea gravel, and it was a great day. Lots of petrified wood, bigger agates than usual, plenty of red jasper, and a fair amount of green jasper, too. Plus assorted oddball stuff." Garret - Author of Gem trails of Oregon

Attatched photo is of Jim & Kathy's beachcoming efforts from November 11. Nice sized agates with a banded one in the upper left corner, the smallest one is an agatized clam bellie.

Latest Word on Beachcombing...

2009-11-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday a lucky Springfield lady visiting the coast found a carnelian agate weighing possibly 9-11 pounds! One of our locals identified it for her and praised her on her beautiful find.

Guess that means beaches are beginning to show rock now, you will just have to look for yourself. But no the large gravel beds are not showing yet but yes there are treasures out there. Photos of more agates that have been found lately to follow soon. Happy hunting folks!

Beachcombing On The Oregon Coast!

2009-11-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

I would imagine after the weather we have had this past week the beaches may be scrubbed clean by next week. The storm watchers have really had an eye full this week watching Mother Nature at her best. With the high surf it has been too rough for anyone to go out beachcombing this week as the water has been covering the shoreline up to the cliffs!

Give it a few days and it should provide good treasures of agate, fossils, petrified wood and more for all, but please do NOT turn your back on that ocean, it is really wild and dangerous. Don't call for a beach report I can't see it from here, just take a chance and check it out for yourself.

After these storms, I figure by now that there should even be a few of the old fishing floats on the shore too.

Jasper Arrowhead Found!

2009-11-01T10:37:00.001-08:00

Another great find.,,3" Jasper Indian Arrowhead, artifact found on the Oregon Coast!

Beachcombers Paul and his wife found this Indian arrowhead over a year ago during a very windy day at the beach as Susan was trying to drag him home. He thought he saw an arrowhead and went back to retrieve it. The arrowhead features such an interesting pattern to the jasper color wise too. The photo shows the knapped detail on this piece as seen front and back in the photo very nicely.

Tomorrow we are anticipating quite a windy and rainy day for the coast, maybe that will remove some of that sand to expose the gravel beds. We are getting reports of agate being found to a limited extent daily now. No certain areas to report as it changes by the tide.

Nice Agatized Fossil Shells Found!

2009-10-31T14:27:00.000-07:00

Susan of Florence did it again two weeks ago beachcombing on the Oregon coast. The discovery season uncovered a very bright and colorful, patterned, sard colored agatized bivalve (clam) bellie, the size of a quarter.

Her good eyes also brought Susan another incredible find...this beautiful icy clear agatized gastropod (sea snail). To see this piece in person the close-up details on this piece are incredible. When held to a bright light, it appears to be a light lavender color, with what appears to be finely cut crystal detailing within in the agate. Usually these snails appear to be white smooth cloudy agate. 2 more great finds Susan!

Trophy Sized Petrified Wood Found on the Oregon Coast

2009-10-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

Just in yesterday: this trophy sized petrified wood was found by Dane, a north county resident earlier this year, here on the Central Oregon Coast. This is the biggest piece we have seen so far weighing in at just under 72¼ pounds, looks to be part of a very large limb or a part of the tree trunk. The color is actually blue grey measureing 11" x 12" and wet as you see it (as seen for scale over a large full size 22 ounce geologist pick for scale) it takes on a black with beige wood grain pattern running through it. It looks like it might be Spalted Myrtle an Oregon Myrtlewood.

This was found by lucky beachcomber Dane, a north county resident. It took him three hours to carry it home from the beach. What a determined guy he is.

Storms have started!

2009-10-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

Have you read the latest Rock & Gem (October issue) magazine yet? They have a wonderful article on the Origin of Agate, written by Steve Voynick a mineral collector and former hardrock miner. For all of you that want to know more on the formation of agate this is an article you won't want to miss.

Here on the Oregon coast the rockhounds are all anxiously awaiting the scouring of the beaches for the agates and the fossils to reappear for all of our beachcombers to experience treasure hunting during the discovery season now through May.

Oregon Fall Beach Cleanup a Success!

2009-09-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

Facing the threat of cloudy skies and rainy conditions on much of the coast, more than 3,700 beachcombers volunteered for the 25th anniversary of the SOLV Great Oregon Fall Beach Cleanup on Saturday. The entire Oregon coast, over 362 miles, was cleaned of debris that had accumulated since last spring. Volunteers removed an estimated 54,460 pounds of trash from Oregon’s beaches.

The SOLV Great Oregon Beach Cleanups occur twice a year when thousands of volunteers head to their favorite spots on the coast. Every beach is cleaned up of litter and marine debris, from the California border to the Columbia River.

Founded in 1969 by Oregon Governor Tom McCall to address litter and vandalism problems, SOLV’s mission has expanded to reach every county in the state and brings together government agencies, businesses and individuals in projects to enhance the livability of Oregon. Governor McCall also signed the 1967 Beach Bill into law, creating the Ocean Shore Recreation Area, managed by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for the benefit of all Oregonians.

Naturally the weather was picture perfect for sunday, monday & tuesday with a high of 90 degrees Monday here in Newport. September and October kicks off the lower rates at the coast and generally offers our guest to the coast better weather than June - Labor Day. Now we are all waiting for the great storm watching weather to start the beachcombing season for the agates to be exposed (removal of the sand by the storms to expose the gravel beds).

Oregon Shores Vacation

2009-09-12T21:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you to local beachcombers Linda and Mike for sharing your photo with all of us that others too may see what our Oregon shores looked like a few weeks ago. This was not the norm for the summer time but an exception!

Today and for the weekend we are having more minus tides again. Maybe some of us will be lucky and find some treasure in the tide pools again. However we are all anxiously awaiting to see what the winter storms will uncover.

Not a Turtle Fossil found on the Oregon Coast

2009-09-12T20:56:00.000-07:00

Updated from: Lori Tobias of The Oregonian Latest info on this is that it is NOT a turtle after all as it was thought to be in the story below!

William Orr, state paleontologist; Bill Hanshumaker, marine education specialist at the Hatfield Marine Science Center; and Guy DiTorrice, an avocational paleontologist, visited the site Tuesday the 15th together at low tide. They wanted to more closely study what local beach walker Carol Ritzert reported finding about a month ago. Ritzert had watched erosion reveal the rounded formation for about one year.

Scientists think this fossilized tortoise found along the beach in Lincoln County may be 20 million years old. The domed back of the stone, which measures roughly 30 inches long by 24 inches wide, suggests it was a land turtle.

"Oregon's Fossil Guy" Guy DiTorrice says the last time a discovery of this significance was made was in the 1970s, when Guy Pierson, also an avocational paleontologist, found a seal or sea lion of similar age near Newport. Parts of that fossil are at the University of Oregon museum and the Smithsonian.

"This is big," says Bill Hanshumaker, marine education specialist at the Hatfield Marine Science Center. "I've never seen anything like it before."

Time is of the essence to preserve this fossil in order to save it before it is lost by nature and erosion or destroyed by humans, DiTorrice and Hanshumaker hope to see it displayed at the Hatfield Marine Science Center at Newport.

Editors Note: by Lori Tobias, The Oregonian Saturday September 05, 8:05 PM and Tuesday September 15, 2009, 8:35 PM.

11 pound jasp-agate found!

2009-08-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

Nice 11 pound sard or butterscotch jasp-agate found Wednesday by local resident Patrick on the beach south of Newport!

Prospecting & Tidepool Discovery...

2009-08-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

Thank you Larry for sharing your copy and making us aware that there is a new issue of Gold Prospectors The Magazine for Gold, Gem & Treasure Hunters, featuring a good article Newport's local Moolack Beach fossils by Garth Rimble. Another feature article is on the the Oregon State Gemstone Oregon Sunstone by Carrie Milanoski. Great reading for our rock hound friends and beachcombers alike!

Now regarding local info: last week we had folks coming in with agates that they had found. A couple of ladies had found some black agates (first one over a quarter of a pound and her second one was over one pound). Another gentleman also reported having had good luck that day also. More often than not the norm has been sparse collecting for very very small pea sized agate and some small jaspers!

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area ~ Events: We are having some very early minus tides so Tidepool Discovery Day - will be Saturday, August 22 from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. Naturalists will be stationed at the tide pools from 7 to 9 a.m. to share the wonders of the tidepools and the life forms that inhabit them.

Films and hikes highlighting the entire Scenic Area will also be available at the Visitor Center Theater from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Henry Fonda filled his spare time collecting agates too!

2009-08-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

During his time spent in Lincoln County, to film the movie Sometimes a Great Notion, Henry Fonda filled his spare time as he sketched watercolors and collecting agates. He bought himself a tumbler to polish his rocks.

EDITORS NOTE: The photograph accompanying this article is courtesy of photographer Gerry Lewin. Lewin was a staff photographer for the Salem Statesman in 1970 and covered the event for the paper.

Third Blue Agate Found on the Oregon Coast!

2009-08-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

Not bad, this makes the third blue agate that has been brought in this summer! Notice the concentric banding of white around the blue bubbly orbs (this is a botryoidal form of agate). Lucky beach comber Eileen from California found this agate beauty north of Newport.

Ernest Block, Also An Early Agate Hunter!

2009-08-01T13:25:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago an entire week here in Newport, Oregon was a celebration of Ernest Block, the composer who also was a photographer, an agate and a mushroom hunter. He lived here in Agate Beach from 1941 until his death from cancer in 1959.

According to his grandson Ernie, "He would go down to the beach hunting for agates, then he would polish the agates that he found on the beach, one at a time. Bloch apparently believed in a theory that keeping the hands busy allowed musical ideas to germinate and mature."

It must have worked. He wrote about one-quarter of his works at Agate Beach, including by some accounts some of his best pieces, such as the Jewish-themed Suite Hébraïque in 1950 and the second Concerto Grosso in 1952.

Bloch relished the beach. He used to read Walt Whitman there. Which is why, on the Ernest Bloch Memorial at the Newport Performing Arts Center are lines from Whitman saying, "Give me solitude, give me Nature ... "