Perfect Agatized Nautilus found while beachcombing in Newport

Found during a minus tide by Marcy of Newport

Is it a fulgurite?

Doreen of Roseburg, Oregon  found these interesting pieces June 18, while agate hunting on the Oregon coast.  The long sandy piece looks like either a fulgurite, meaning thunderbolt formed in sand.  If not maybe it could possibly be an Indian artifact as it has a hollow area on the small end for an arrow? The two specimens above are a couple of very interesting agates. The smallest one is an agatized snail.

Lucky Beachcomber finds Enhydro agatized Snail...

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.

Wonderful Agatized Fossils

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.

Fossil Field trips in the Newport Area

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...

John's Beachcombing Trophies Found at Newport

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.

Complete Agatized Clam

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.

Agatized Shell Found by Beachcombers

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.

More Treasures Found on the Central Coast...

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...

Nice Agatized Fossil Shells Found!

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!

Agate cast of a Razor Clam Shell

Upon first inspection this appeared to be a shell trapped in the sandstone. However upon a closer look it is actual agate. Another nice find by local beachcomber Frank of Newport.

Things are NOT always what they appear to be...

Our extreamly unseasonable warm January weather here on the Oregon coast has brought out the beachcombers from every where to go hunting for agates. Local resident Frank was out collecting last Friday and found this black beauty! Just looking at it in normal light you can't see the water bubble within the agate until you back light it with a strong beam of light and the black disappears to expose the trophy of the day.

Agatized Fossil Snail Shell with Water bubble!

Sue B. of Newport found this 2" wonderful agatized enhydro sea snail fossil specimen earlier this summer while beachcombing on the Oregon coast. This fossil would be about 15-20 million years old.

Photo has been enlarged to show the bubble encased within the agate.

Congratulations to Jeff Smith of Ashland!

Congratulations to Jeff Smith and his friend on their exceptional find of the largest complete agate enhydro Clam Bellie, we have ever seen! They were in at closing September 13th and we had the camera put away, hope they will stop in again and let us take a photo to show everyone this exceptional find.

Sorry we have been so busy this summer that we haven't had a chance to get the photos up that we have taken of other treasures. Hope to find some moments to get back to the photos. Happy hunting everyone.

Enhydro agate limb cast found at Newport

Congratulations to lucky Amy P. of Newport who just recently found these nice limb casts of agate, the clear one actually aprox. 2 inches long is an enhydro agate (water of 15 - 20 million years old within) with a large air bubble moving freely as in a carpenter's level.