Lake Huron Puddingstones

Puddingstone, also known as Jasper Conglomerate, Pudding Stone, Lorrain Conglomerate, Quartz Conglomerate, Plum Puddingstone is a rare conglomerate found in only a few places in the world. Puddingstone was named by Cornish miners who thought the stone resembled their traditional Christmas pudding made with raisins, cherries, currents and nuts.
In Michigan, in Lake Huron, St. Joseph and Drummond Islands produce a distinct Puddingstone. This stone forms in a semi-transparent quartzite, sandstone matrix. The matrix, background, main rock is usually white, cream, sandy but can be a wide variety of colors with pinks, greys and browns included.
The inclusions, pieces of imbedded pebbles & stones, can vary as well. Jasper, from bright, lipstick red to browns, purples, oranges and pinks, is the main inclusion. Other minerals could be quartz, chert, hematite, black flint, green quartz, and even fossils.
This journal is my research into the wonders of Lake Huron Puddingstone.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Where to find Michigan Puddingstones

In Michigan, Puddingstones can be found in the majority of counties, in quarries, farmers freshly turned fields or decades old rock piles, in decorative stone around office buildings and private homes,  inland lakes and rivers, but the most prolific area to find them is the north eastern part of Lake Huron from Alpena to Cheboygen and on Drummond and St. Joseph Islands.
 Driving along US 31, there are numerous deserted beaches where you can simply pull your car off the road and walk to the waters edge.
 Rogers City and north to Cheboygen is a popular Pudding area. The first place I stopped was Hammond Bay Harbor. The harbor looks fairly new with retaining walls, a rest area and marina. The two times I was there I encountered only one other vehicle.
 The water to the south of the breakwall was fairly shallow. I'd stand in the water, wait for the gentle waves to slow and look for the telltale glint of bright, red jasper on a light colored rock. Then I'd have to wager how many feet I was willing to go in:)
 The general size of the rocks was about hand size to a few inches, with some smaller stones. It was a relatively small area with a rocky shore, maybe 20-30 feet or so. Scattered all over the area, however, were numerous rocks in large numbers. Almost too much to search without a watering can or the dampness of rain to help locate Puddings.
 I did clean out the lake Puddings, but there may still be some higher up on the beach. Here is a picture of the ones I found my first trip to Hammond Harbor.
This photo, like the majority of Puddings I will post, are wet to show off the colors.
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1 comment:

  1. DRYSIDECOUGSeptember 17, 2021 at 9:27 AM

    Simply beautiful puddingstones. I hope to make it to Northeast Michigan someday to find my own. Thanks for the posts.

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