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Nikki Tundel
Moose Lake, Minn.

Scrambling down Main Street Moose Lake to find agates

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Bringing something to carry the agates
Moose Lake's Agate Days attendees compete to find agates, which are mixed with four tons of rocks and then spread down two blocks of the town's main street. Participants bring bags, boxes and pails to carry their finds. Some choose to wear their receptacles.
Nikki Tundel / MPR News

The Annual Agate Days Stampede took place in Moose Lake, Minn., on Saturday, July 19, 2014. An estimated 3,500 people converged on the northeastern part of the state to try their luck at uncovering agates. Trucks layered Moose Lake's main street with 400 pounds of agates, which were mixed in with 2,000 quarters and four tons of rock. Participants practically dived over one another to try to find as many agates as they could.

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Gallery
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Wrapping up the hunt
Ethan Bloom, right, heads home with a bag full of agates. The "plain old rocks" are left on the street for the street sweepers.
Nikki Tundel / MPR News
1 of 19
Bringing something to carry the agates
Moose Lake's Agate Days attendees compete to find agates, which are mixed with four tons of rocks and then spread down two blocks of the town's main street. Participants bring bags, boxes and pails to carry their finds. Some choose to wear their receptacles.
Nikki Tundel / MPR News
2 of 19
Prepped for the agate hunt
Ethan Pudil, 12, and Shawn Hess, 13, get ready for the start of the stampede. Gardening gloves will make it easier to dig through the rocks.
Nikki Tundel / MPR News