Media Reviews: The River Runs North

The River Runs North
by Cheryl and Tom Harmon
Crane, MT, 2000
Softcover, color, 8-1/2" x 11", 104 pages, $49.95 + S&H.
Box 94, Crane, MT 59217

Reviewed by June Culp Zeitner

Subtitled “A story of Montana Moss Agate,” this book is full of delightful pictures of Montana's prize agate, as well as agate jewelry, carvings, cabs, and collectors. The cover shows a typical rock hunter's paradise along the Yellowstone River in eastern Montana. And yes, it's true that the river runs north — one of 10 rivers in the world does this, the author says.

Starting with the history and discovery of this treasured agate variety, the book credits the American Indians as being the first users. The agate country was explored by Lewis and Clark in the early 19th century. The first cutters started making slabs and cabs in the early part of the 20th century. Harmon lists some of the early agate shops, several of which I well remember. Several shops specialized in Montana agate jewelry. The biggest supplier nationwide was Wheelers of Lemmon, South Dakota. Ed Klapmeier of Miles City made exceptional engraved, hand-wrought jewelry with the most stunning cabs of scenic agate.

The agates were formed in the volcanic rock of the Tertiary, but most were released from their matrix during the Quaternary. Harmon reports that very rarely an agate is found with a little matrix still attached.

After the discussion of the geology of the area, Harmon gives a useful commentary on the collecting of Montana agates in the field. Many collectors prefer collecting on gravel bars in fall, when the water is low. A telltale crust identifies most agates. Walking toward the sun often reveals the agate's glowing translucency. Hunting in the rain is also helpful in finding agates. Although the area has been heavily hunted for about 70 years, there are still plenty of agates to be found.

The author next classifies and pictures in detail the major forms of Yellowstone River agate. The basic types are nodules, geodes, and limb casts. He tells how to handle and cut the nodules, how to get the maximum beauty from the limb casts, how to treat the various kinds of dendrites, and how to discover and polish the rainbows of iris agate.
Among the rare finds in Montana are blue agates, green lace agate, and Fairburn-type fortification agate. (I have found some of the green agate with small dots and lines of red, which I would call high-grade bloodstone.)

There is an extensive section on lapidary treatment of Montana moss agate, including carving. There are some sensational pictures in this part as well as others. There are two divisions of jewelry: fabricated and cast — both of which show excellent examples.

Harmon is a collector, a lapidary, a skilled jewelry craftsman, and a writer. He has written several articles for Lapidary Journal about collecting, jewelry making, and carving. This book will be enjoyed by all agate enthusiasts — especially those of us who have had the fun of collecting and/or cutting these well-known agates.

For information on how to order The River Runs North, visit the author's web page

June Culp Zeitner, who has been writing for the Lapidary Journal since 1956 and joined the editorial staff in 1967, is the author of nine gem and mineral books, and helped start the National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame.