Other Popular Michigan Stones

Leland Blue

Leland Blue or 'Blue Slag' is a man-made stone-like material found around the Great Lakes. It is derived from waste product of the iron smelting process common during the late 1800's. As the iron was smelted, the slag waste would be mixed with other chemicals and discharged into the lakes where it solidified as a porous blue stone. Because of the varying levels of iron and chemicals in each stone, Leland Blue can be anywhere from very light blue to dark green in color. Leland Blue is gradually become harder to find, making it a fun and exciting collectable while strolling the beaches of Northern Michigan.

Pudding Stone

Conglomerate stones made up of a bunch of distinct pebbles of varying colors. The majority make-up of the stone, which is white, is made of quartz sand that has cemented together after millions of years. The most noticeable pebble in a puddingstone is the red jasper. It got its name from British settlers who thought the stones looked like a boiled pudding with berries in it. The stones were not formed in Michigan, and only brought down from Canada by the melting glaciers. You might have seen these stones in tiny pebble form or large boulders!

Granite

Probably the most common stone you will find on Michigan beaches! You will find these black speckled stones in a large variety of colors from pink, to green, to grey. Most granite is made up of quartz, feldspar, and mica.

Charlevoix Stone

Charlevoix Stone, or, 'favosite' is another fossilized coral like the Petoskey Stone, but much much tinier! The rocks you find can be of a variety of sizes, but the pattern of the coral colony itself consists of small empty hexagons. Another difference between the Charlevoix and Petoskey Stones is that while the Petoskey is a rugosa coral, the Charlevoix is a tabulata coral. Find these in all the same places you will see Petoskey Stones.

Isle Royale Greenstone

Michigan's official gemstone! Also known officially as chlorastrolite. These gorgeous stones are incredibly rare and quite costly bought in jewelry or even alone and polished! If you happen to find one, it will most likely be in tiny pebble form. They are a lovely dark green with a turtle shell-like pattern in white. You can only find this beauty along the shores of Lake Superior. But be careful if you're looking around in Isle Royale National Park, as taking Greenstone from the park is now illegal.