Lots of us enjoy looking for fossils along the shores of the Great Lakes when we go to northern Michigan, but have you ever been hunting for Michigan puddingstones? Beyond being popular to collect for their unique colors, they may, you never know, contain a little precious treasure.

Puddingstones get their name because of their resemblance to raisin or plum pudding. A Puddingstone is a conglomerate of pebbles and stones that vary in color, surrounded by white quartz that took millions – some say billions - of years to cement itself around these pebbles.

The pebbles and stones are colorful, usually brown, pink, purple, and red pieces of quartzite and jasper. On occasion, diamonds, gold, platinum, sapphire, and zircon have been found in Puddingstones.

According to the Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society, “During the Ice Age, they were pushed down through Eastern Michigan from Ontario Canada by the glaciers…..some may even contain fossils…..another name for puddingstone is quartz conglomerate”.

Next time you head north, you can look for Michigan Puddingstones by heading straight over the bridge to the east end of the U.P., especially on Drummond Island. If you wanna look in the mitten, the northeast part between Mackinaw City and Cheboygan is excellent as well. St. Josephs Island in Canada is another prime spot.

Puddingstones come in all sizes: from a small rock to a huge boulder, and they all make a great addition to a garden or lawn décor!

Yes, there are a few other states where you can find Puddingstones, but no place as beautiful as the shores of our Great Lakes. Check out the photos below.

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