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How to Identify a Geode

Geodes are one of the exciting secrets of nature: a round rock that looks ordinary until it is split open to reveal beautiful quartz crystals in a cavity within. Because geodes look ordinary from the outside, a seeker needs to know what to look for while the crystals are still hidden. The only way to be absolutely certain that a rock is a geode is to open it up, but there are signs that help identify whole geodes.

Things You'll Need

Map or guide
Rocks
Safety glasses
Geode cracker, rock saw or hammer

Instructions

- 1
  Consult a reliable geode map or guide. Geodes can be found in many places, but there are places that it's much more likely. Expert geode hunters can provide guidance. One of the richest areas is a 70-mile area covering eastern Iowa, western Illinois, and northeastern Missouri. Desert areas also tend to have a higher number of geodes. As an alternative to finding geodes on your own, you can visit a geode collecting site. (Reference 3)
- 2
  Look for small rocks that are unusually round. Although geodes can be smaller than 1 inch or larger than 2 feet, the average size is between 2 and 6 inches in diameter. The round shape can be a clue about the inner cavity that allows the crystals to form.
- 3
  Look for a lumpy surface that somewhat resembles cauliflower.
- 4
  Shake the rock. Sometimes crystals within the geode break loose and rattle when shaken.
- 5
  Break open the geode using a hammer, geode cracker or rock saw, or take it to a rock shop to be cut open. To get the smallest chance of damage to the geode, use a geode cracker, which has a greater degree of operator control. If using a hammer, smash the geode carefully to reduce the chances of damage to the interior chamber and the crystals it holds. If using a rock saw, be alert for pieces of crystal coming loose that can damage the saw blade.

Rock Collecting