Part of the reason Petoskey stone is so popular is because it’s accessible for almost everyone to find. Finding Petoskey stone does not require any special skills or equipment, simply the desire to venture to natural spaces and turn over every pebble at your feet.
Because it’s a variety of limestone, Petoskey stone can be tricky to spot among the multitude of other limestone and shale pebbles prevalent in the region, especially when the stones are dry. As weathering dulls the details of Petoskey stone, dry specimens are disguised as a chalky brown rock. For this reason, if you suspect a stone is a Petoskey stone, get it wet; water will help bring out the contrast in the fossil patterns, if present.
Petoskey stones are often found right on the beach, and nothing more than a sharp eye is needed to find them.
Little Traverse Bay
A small, nicely patterned Petoskey stone
