How old are Oregon thundereggs?

Thundereggs are found in the rhyolite lava flows which spread over Oregon an estimated 60 million years ago during the Eocene Age. Geologists believe the round-shaped thundereggs were formed in gas pockets (bubbles) within the lava, which served as molds.

How old is a thunder egg?

“Thunder eggs are gas bubbles that formed in a rhyolite formation between thirty and forty million years ago,” noted Casey.

Are thundereggs worth anything?

How Much Are Thundereggs Worth? A value of a cut in half and polished thunderegg depends on the size and its fillings and range from a few to a hundred dollars. Specimens with scenic moss or plumes looking like plants or flowers are among the most valuable eggs and can cost up to $200.

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

Thunder eggs are red, light-pink, pinkish-red, reddish-brown, and brown from the outside because of the color of rhyolites. Thunder eggs are not perfectly round from inside. Chalcedony or agate can form star-like figures. Geodes are hollow inside.

What is 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.

Thunder Eggs

Are there diamonds in Oregon?

Because of their rarity and uniqueness to Oregon, sunstones were named the state's gemstone in 1987. They're literally diamonds in the rough because they're found in a region about 25 miles north of Plush, a Lake County ranching community.

What is the difference between a thunderegg and a geode?

Thunder eggs, which are technically known as lithophysae are typically found with solid or near-solid cores of chalcedony or agate, whereas geodes are relatively hollow inside with thinner layers of quartz crystals.

How do you polish thundereggs?

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.

Where can I find garnets in Oregon?

Elliot Creek Ridge: Nice outcrops of garnet schist exist just west of the Squaw Lakes campgrounds. Search for soapstone and garnet in the cuts along the north road. You never know what you'll find due to a history of heavy metamorphosis.

How do you break open a thunder egg?

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.

Where can you find amethyst in Oregon?

Amethyst. The Shellrock Mountain and Western Vein in the Bohemia Mining District is known to have Amethyst deposits. The Bohemia area is best known for gold mining, but other minerals can also be found in this area.

Where can you find geodes in Oregon?

You can find geodes in the high desert near Prineville and Mandras and the great forests of Central Oregon, such as the Ochoco National Forest. Another great place to find geodes is in the Eastern Succor Creek Canyon of Oregon. The Calapooia River in the county of Linn is also noted for its geodes.

What are thunder eggs used for?

Thunder Egg is used in the spool of the Sewing Machine to create a Shirt.

How did the thunderegg get its name?

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).

Why are geodes round?

A geode is formed as a hollow bubble inside burning hot lava. These bubbles can occur within the lava as travels across tree roots or animal burrows, creating the approximately spherical shape of the geode.

How do you keep geodes shiny?

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.

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.

What creates a thunder egg?

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.

What is thunder egg agate?

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.

Are there thundereggs in Washington state?

Despite Oregon being the hot spot of the western U.S. to find thundereggs, other states, including Washington, contain concentrations of thundereggs. Like Oregon, in the state of Washington you also may find a mixture of pay- to-dig sites along with sites located on public lands free and open to responsible collection.

Is there opal in Oregon?

There is a mine in the West Coast Mining Company, marketing opals through its outlets. Klamath County, Oregon hosts Opal Creekand Klamath Falls, where opals have been found. The Favell museum in Klamath falls actually boasts an arrowhead made of fire opal!

Is it illegal to take rocks from a river in Oregon?

Oregon State Parks allow rockhounding of small amounts of rocks, minerals, and fossils for personal collection. However, digging or otherwise disrupting park property is strictly prohibited. Larger collecting might be allowed upon approval of the park manager at some State Park locations.

Can you find jade in Oregon?

Also, Oregon Jade, red jasper, serpentine, and gold can be found along Althouse Creek. The best time for rockhounding is summer and fall when the water level is low. There are some private and public lands along the creek's bank.