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Geodes, nodules, vugs, concretions and thundereggs are all sites in the earth where substances dissolved in subsurface waters precipitate to form crystals or rounded objects. These objects share many common features and form by similar processes. They all also produce objects that attract attention and stimulate debate. These objects are often confused with one another,…

As with most popular or valuable objects, fake “geodes” have been manufactured by people and offered for sale as naturally-formed objects. If you are a collector paying serious money for a spectacular geode, you need to know enough about geodes and the mineral materials that occur in them to spot a fake. Expert gemologists, mineral…

Everyone expects to find bright, shiny, geometric crystals when they open a geode. But, sometimes there are other interesting landscapes inside. One of the most common finds when geometric crystals are not present is a geode lined with chalcedony, a microcrystalline variety of quartz. Chalcedony crystals as so small that they cannot be seen with…

Small, thin-walled geodes are often sold in kits by department, education, science, tourist and novelty stores. The vendor product descriptions encourage teachers, parents and students to purchase the kits and break the geodes open with a hammer. These geode kits are extremely popular. If you do a Google search for “geode kit” you will find…

Small geodes are often sliced and polished. Especially nice slices might be displayed “as is” in specially-made frames or stands. Some have their translucent beauty displayed in stained-glass panels or windows like the example photo shown at the top of this page. Less spectacular specimens might be dyed and used to make wind chimes, coasters,…

Large amethyst-lined geodes are often expertly cut to display their internal amethyst crystals. They are then sawn and fitted with a weighted base to enable them to be used as an item of home or office decor. Agate-lined sections of lava tube geodes have frequently been used to make “cathedral geodes” that are several feet…

Large agate geodes are often cut into blocky pieces with a flat base to make beautiful bookends, desk sets, clock faces or paperweights. Those with gray, white, or other less-interesting agate colors are often dyed bright blue, green, purple, red or other colors and then face polished to make them more appealing. These treatments make…

But, before we go any further, we want anyone who finds a really nice geode to know that museum-quality geodes are sold in the collector market for prices that will astound the average person. The Arkenstone, a business that specializes in museum-quality mineral specimens, usually has a few nice geodes for sale. At the time…

An unopened geode has the appearance of an uninteresting rock. They become much more interesting when they are opened and their internal crystals and agate bands become visible. And even though every crystal-lined geode is a wonder of nature, there are many things that can be done to make it into a more marketable product…