How and Where to Find Geodes in the Wild
Geodes are available at gift shops, but if you want to find one out in nature, here are some tips for finding and cracking open these rocks.
At first glance, an unbroken geode is not much to look at. They look like ordinary rocks, perhaps more rounded or oval in shape, but their dusty, tan exterior is nothing special. However, the inside of a geode is a different story. When you break open a geode, you’ll see the stunning purple, white, blue, black, or pink crystals shimmering inside.
Where Geodes Call Home
Lucky for you, no matter what state you live in, you have a chance of finding geodes. However, if you are looking for geodes in a state like Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Utah, states that have a desert climate and warmer weather, your chances are much higher. Even some midwestern states, like Iowa, are renowned for their geode supply.
Once you’ve chosen a general, broader area to search, it’s time to get more specific. State parks, creeks, rivers, and of
course, specifically designated geode beds, are excellent places to search. Anywhere with a large limestone reservoir, or a location with volcanic rocks, is likely to have lots of geodes, since the outside of geodes are limestone, and they can be formed in volcanic ash beds.
Dugway Geode Beds in Utah is a favorite, as is Hauser Geode Beds in California. Now that you have an idea of where you’re going to search, let’s look for the rocks themselves.
Physical Characteristics of Geodes
As mentioned, unbroken geodes look a lot like normal rocks. Telling them apart from rocks before breaking them relies mainly on the shape and the weight of the geode. Concerning shape, geodes are either very spherical or ovular and tend to have a very rocky surface. Because of the crystals inside, there are lumps pushing from the inside out, making bumps appear on the outside of geodes.
Another effect of the crystals is that they make geodes quite light. The rocks are fairly hollow, the space inside taken up by crystals instead of completely filled in by more rock. Once you find a potential geode, it’s time to break it open and see if you were correct.
The Treasure Inside
After you find a geode, you have to break it open to see the crystals inside. You can use a hammer, a chisel, a saw, or another rock, but be warned, no matter what method you use, you may not get a perfectly even break. There will likely be a couple of large pieces once you’re finished, and other small, crumbly pieces. It can be difficult to break the geodes, so make sure you are patient.
Additionally, make sure you are safe when you begin the process. Small pieces of the rock can fly up and get into your eyes, and so can the dust. Inside the rock, you’re most likely to find clear or white quartz crystals, but you can also find rose quartz, and amethyst, which is purple. Many of the geodes in gift stores are polished, shined, and very smooth. The crystals inside of your just-opened geode will be rough, and unpolished, but that doesn’t take
away from their beauty.
Geodes are beautiful pieces of nature, and looking for them is a great way to spend time outdoors on your own little treasure hunt. Be patient, and be smart. Make sure to choose a great place to hunt, keep your eyes peeled for the round, bumpy, exteriors, and then crack into the crystals.