How do you open thundereggs?

Thundereggs are very dependent on gravity, and guessing what is on the inside is made much easier by knowing the orientation that they have formed in. So, when you pick the eggs out of the host rock, the best practice is to put an “x” on the horizontal position of the egg, and a “-“ on the vertical position.

What do I do with a thunder egg?

Thunder Egg is used in the spool of the Sewing Machine to create a Shirt. It can be used in dyeing, serving as a purple dye at the dye pots, located in Emily's and Haley's house, 2 Willow Lane.

How do you tell if a rock is a thunder egg?

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.

Are thundereggs the same as geodes?

A thunderegg may be referred to as a geode if it has a hollow in it, but not all geodes are thundereggs because there are many different ways for a hollow to form. Similarly, a thunderegg is just one of the forms that agate can assume.

What does a thunderegg look like?

Thundereggs are agate-filled nodules found in various parts of the Western United States. They range in size from 1/4 inch to as large as 5 feet in diameter. Generally, they are about the size of oranges. All are similar on the exterior, but no two are alike in pattern, design or color on the inside.

Cutting Thundereggs • What’s inside is anyone’s guess

Why are they called thunder eggs?

According to legend, thundereggs were named by the Native Americans of central Oregon, who are said to have believed that these strange, agate-filled stones were thrown by fighting "thunder spirits" who dwelt on Mount Jefferson and Mount Hood (two of several snow-capped peaks high in the Cascade Range).

What's inside a thunder egg?

Thundereggs are rough spheres, most about the size of a baseball—though they can range from a little more than a centimeter to over a meter across. They usually contain centres of chalcedony which may have been fractured followed by deposition of agate, jasper or opal, either uniquely or in combination.

What kind of saw do you use to cut geodes?

Use a rock or tile saw – something with a diamond blade – to create a clean cut down the center of the geode.

How do you cut open agate?

Agates can be cut using a slab saw, band saw, table saw, or Dremel tool. Use a vice grip to hold the rock in place and push it towards the blade as it is being cut. After cutting, agate can be polished using a rock tumbler and polishing powder, sandpaper, or a sanding wheel.

How do you make a thunder egg shiny?

For thundereggs, I recommend using cerium oxide. It's a great polish for agate, jasper, and other hard cryptocrystalline materials. What is this? For hand polishing, get your rag or chamois a bit wet, poke it in the powdered cerium oxide, and get to work on the surface.

What do you do with Orpiments?

Orpiment is used in the spool of the Sewing Machine to create the dyeable Shirt with Bow. It can be used in dyeing, serving as an orange dye at the dye pots, located in Emily's and Haley's house, 2 Willow Lane.

Are thunder eggs worth anything?

Thunder eggs may not be precious stones, but they are worth millions to generations of kids - ABC News.

How do you tell if a rock is a geode?

What are Oregon thundereggs?

The thunderegg became known as Oregon's state rock in 1965. No one knows for certain how thundereggs are formed, but it's thought that a gas bubble leaves a hollow space in the earth which is then filled up over the years with minerals. When you cut a thunderegg open, you have a chance of finding a colorful core.

Do all geodes have crystals inside?

Over thousands and millions of years, layers form inside of the space. These layers include both agate and quartz. Some geodes have tightly packed crystals inside of them, while others still have a cavity with crystals lining the interior surface.

Where can I find thunder rocks?

Thundereggs can be found in localized areas across the world where optimal conditions exist. Some of the best known thunderegg spots in the world are located in Germany and in Oregon. The thunderegg is even the state rock of Oregon!

Where do you find geodes at?

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.

How can you tell if a geode is hollow?

Geodes have a hollow space inside, which is what allows the crystals to form. You can also shake the rock next to your ear to test whether it is hollow. You may hear small pieces of rock or crystal rattling around inside if it is hollow.

What is the difference between a geode and an agate?

In a lot of ways, agates have inclusions, while geodes are inclusions in the host rock. It's an important distinction to make. But the biggest difference is the fact that geodes are a specific form of mineral, while agates are a specific type of mineral. Any comparison between them should take that into account.

What are thunderegg rocks?

Thunder eggs are spherical objects which form in some types of silica-rich volcanic rocks (e.g. rhyolites). As the volcanic lava cooled, trapped steam and other gases formed an expanding bubble.