I enjoy agate hunting.
A veteran product development specialist at the 3M Company in St. Paul, Minnesota, Thomas Allen Disselkamp has been with 3M for more than 30 years, serving in his current role for the last 16. In his free time, Thomas Disselkamp stays active with a variety of activities, including agate hunting. Tom Disselkamp has accumulated a sizeable and unique collection of these beautiful stones, many of them having gone through the polishing process. Agates are semiprecious fine-grained gemstones that are known for their concentric bands of color. Found all over the world, agates are highly sought-after stones because they display a variety of patterns and colors and can be polished and shaped into a number of beautiful objects. Hunting for agates can be a very rewarding experience, and may be as easy as taking a walk or a hike—provided that one knows where to look, and what to look for. Agates can be found in all 50 states, in mountains, deserts, and along the shores of oceans and other waterways. If searching along beach areas, it is best to go early in the day or late in the evening because small agates are often washed up onshore and can be easily spotted in lower slopes of sunlight. Agates in mountains and deserts may be somewhat harder to find because they are often found in larger chunks that are harder to identify. However, keeping a keen eye out for bumpy rocks with banded areas will keep you on the right track. It is also a good idea to research the types of agates that exist where you live so that you have an idea of the colors and patterns that you should be looking for while searching.