This article was originally published on Nature’s Rainbow in August 2017.

A major component of rock collecting (for me) is simply getting out in nature. A buddy dragged me out to a very remote area here in middle TN to hunt for agate. Since I’m a pure “Glow Hound” I wasn’t anticipating any glow rocks, just the beauty of the area, but I brought my light anyway. We first visited Lost Creek Falls (a setting for a couple of the scenes in the “Jungle Book” movie) then proceeded another 10 miles down a hundred year old wagon trail (banjos in the distance) and along a creek bed. Agates everywhere – and glad I brought my light. Many had a very strong green fluorescence – a real plus for us in middle TN. Most every fluorescent mineral in our area glows either white or yellow, so green was a pleasing find.

We found lots of individual pieces in and around the creek but they were on the small side. After about 4 hours of collecting we decided to head back to the jeep when my buddy whacked a largish rock to reveal wonderful agate inside – the find of the day….. Until we hopped in the jeep and started the torturous drive out. “Stop” I shouted. At the side of the creek bed road was a huge boulder of what looked like agate. I hopped out, whacked it once, and voila, solid chunk of agate. We attempted to trim it down to size with our puny crack hammers (who expected to need a sledge when hunting for Tennessee agate?). Finally we two old men summoned up the courage to lift it into the back of the jeep without smashing a toe or pulling out a back. A good 200 lbs of solid agate, all glowing a nice green… Glow rocks can be found anywhere. You just gotta hunt (and break a lot of rock).