I need help with these geode like rocks

Asked by: Dennis Hartung

What is the rarest type of geode?

The rarest and most valuable geodes contain amethyst crystals and black calcite.

How do I know what kind of geode I have?

Use a mineral identification key to determine what kind of mineral your geode contains. Match the descriptions in the key to the appearance of the crystals found inside of your geode in order to properly identify what kind you have unearthed.

Is it rare to find a geode?

Geodes are found throughout the world, but the most concentrated areas are located in the deserts. Volcanic ash beds, or regions containing limestone, are common geode locations. There are many easily accessible geode collecting sites in the western United States, including in California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada.

Where are geodes most commonly found?

desert regions

Geodes are found all over the world, though they are most concentrated in desert regions. Other places where geodes are common are volcanic ash beds and areas containing limestone. There are geode collecting sites all over the U.S. in California, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and Iowa.

What geodes are worth money?

Geodes are highly valued for their content and appearance. The most valuable geodes are those that contain perfectly formed flawless crystals of amethyst, celestine, calcite, or other rare minerals. Geodes are worth from $2-5 for common specimens and up to several thousand for exceptional several meters.

How much is a small geode worth?

A geode can be worth anywhere from $5 to more than $1000, depending on its type and location. The price will vary widely based on whether the rock has been cut open because geodes often contain crystals inside of them which make them more valuable when exposed correctly (e.g., cutting along an axis).

How do you know if a rock is valuable?

The harder a mineral is, the more likely it is to be valuable. If you can scratch the mineral with your fingernail, it has a hardness of 2.5 Mohs, which is very soft. If you can scratch it with a penny, its hardness is 3 Mohs, and if it takes a piece of glass to scratch it, the hardness is 5.5 Mohs.

How do you tell if a rock is a geode without breaking it?

Tell-Tale Signs of a Geode

1. Geodes are usually spherical, but they always have a bumpy surface.
2. Geodes will sometimes have loose material inside, which can be heard when shaking the rock. …
3. Geodes are usually lighter than their size would indicate since the interior doesn’t contain any material.

What do geodes look like from the outside?

On the outside, they look like plain, rough stones. But when you break them open, you can see concentric bands of color surrounding a hollow interior. Oftentimes, that interior is packed with miniature crystals. The dull, unexceptional outside surface of a geode is part of what makes discovering one such a thrill.

Are diamonds found in geodes?

Typically, geodes do not have gold or diamonds in them. The type of rock formations usually associated with gold is quartz, and with diamonds its kimberlite. Geodes are known to contain gems called Herkimer diamonds, Bristol Diamonds as well as Gold aura quartz, but they are not real gold or diamonds.

What gems are found in geodes?

Most geodes contain clear quartz crystals, while others have purple amethyst crystals. Still others can have agate, chalcedony, or jasper banding or crystals such as calcite, dolomite, celestite, etc. There is no easy way of telling what the inside of a geode holds until it is cut open or broken apart.

How do you identify Thundereggs?

Though thundereggs appear lke rocks, they can be easily identified by the abnormally round and bumpy brown-gray surface. Usually, thundereggs lie relatively close to the Earth’s surface, embedded in the clay of the tuff, where they were formed.

What can you do with geodes?

Uses of Geodes

• Decoration. The most common use for geodes is for decoration. …
• Jewelry. Small geodes can be made into jewelry. …
• Practical Uses. Geodes can serve a double purpose of being decorative and serving a practical use as well. …
• Metaphysical.

How do you clean geode rocks?

EASY METHOD: Simply wash the geodes in plain water with a bit of laundry detergent (or dish soap), then let them soak in a tub of water with 1/4 cup of ordinary household bleach for two days. This cleans most of the heavy grit off the geodes.

How old is a geode rock?

Although the geode is embedded in rocks that are about 250 million years old, the crystals themselves are much younger than that. Radioactive dating of some of the oldest suggests they formed less than 5.6 million years ago but probably no more than 2 million years ago, the researchers report this week in Geology .

How many different types of geodes are there?

Types of Geodes



These include pyrite, calcite, agate, kaolinite, sphalerite, barite, dolomite, celestite, limonite, opal, or smithsonite. While the color of the crystals is one clue to telling you what type of geode you have, it may not be enough to give you the answer.

What does an unopened geode look like?

Geodes will typically not present with a smooth outside surface. What you’ll typically find on a geode is a bumpy, uneven surface. Sometimes you can even find them with nodule like bumps on the outside surface. If it’s smooth, then most likely what you have is not a geode.

What gems are found in geodes?

Most geodes contain clear quartz crystals, while others have purple amethyst crystals. Still others can have agate, chalcedony, or jasper banding or crystals such as calcite, dolomite, celestite, etc. There is no easy way of telling what the inside of a geode holds until it is cut open or broken apart.

Why are geodes different colors?

The color of a geode depends on the agate layer and the type of crystal inside, both of which come in a variety of colors themselves. Most geodes are brown or white: geodes that are very brightly colored are likely artificially dyed.

Can diamonds be found in geodes?

Typically, geodes do not have gold or diamonds in them. The type of rock formations usually associated with gold is quartz, and with diamonds its kimberlite. Geodes are known to contain gems called Herkimer diamonds, Bristol Diamonds as well as Gold aura quartz, but they are not real gold or diamonds.

What do geodes symbolize?

Many see geodes as a feminine property due to the cavity which could represent the womb. Geodes can help communicate with divine beings and assist in creating better moods, balances, and energies that can help with meditation, stress, and decision-making.