What is a Thunder Egg rock?

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.

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.

What's the difference between a thunder egg 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.

Why is it called thunder egg?

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 do you do with thunder eggs?

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.

What the Heck is a Thunder Egg?

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.

What is the rarest geode color?

The rarest and most valuable geodes contain amethyst crystals and black calcite.

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 thunder eggs worth anything?

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

What is the difference between a thunder egg and agate?

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.

How big can thunder eggs get?

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.

What are thunder eggs made of?

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.

Where can I find thundereggs in Arizona?

Just to the northeast of Phoenix, the Cave Creek area offers some of the best rockhounding you can find in a small area in Arizona (and that's saying something). There is a great mix of rocks and minerals to find here, including agate, jasper, quartz, precious metals, and even thundereggs.

Are geodes worth money?

Geodes are highly valued for their content and appearance. The most valuable geodes are those that contain perfectly formed flawless crystals of amethyst, celestine, calcite, or other rare minerals. Geodes are worth from $2-5 for common specimens and up to several thousand for exceptional several meters.

How do you tell if a rock is a geode without breaking it?

Test whether the rock has a hollow interior.

If the rock feels lighter than that surrounding rocks, it may be a geode. 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.

Where in the US do you find geodes?

Geodes are found all over the world, though they are most concentrated in desert regions. Other places where geodes are common are volcanic ash beds and areas containing limestone. There are geode collecting sites all over the U.S. in California, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and Iowa.

Where do you cut thundereggs?

The goal of cutting a thunderegg is to reveal and highlight the inner geometry by cutting through any air pockets that exist and perpendicularly through the mineral layers. To accurately do this, one must estimate the inside layout based on how the egg formed.

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.

How do you tell if a rock is a geode?

How do you find a geode in your yard?

Look and see if your rock may be hollow, either by picking up another rock and comparing the weights, or by gently shaking your rock to see if anything (such as crystals) rattles around. Geodes tend to be lighter than most other rocks because their center is sometimes hollow.

Where is the best place to find geodes?

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 do you break a geode?

What is this? A very simple way to crack a geode is simply to place the geode inside of a sock or fabric bag to contain the soon to be broken pieces. With the geode in a bag, gently striking the geode with a rock-hammer, sledgehammer, or even a harder rock should facture the geode just enough to crack it open.

How do you open a geode without a chisel?