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).

Why are thunder eggs called thunder eggs?

Native American legend reportedly considers the rocks to be the eggs of the thunderbirds which occupied Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson. Thunder Spirits on the mountains hurled the "eggs" at each other.

What is another name for thunder eggs?

OTHER NAMES: According to Zeitner (1979, p. 1260), thunder eggs "have been called nodules, agate filled nodules, eggs, [and] agate eggs" as well as thunder eggs.

What's the difference between a geode and a thunder egg?

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.

What are thundereggs worth?

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.

What the Heck is a Thunder Egg?

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.

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.

What do thundereggs look like?

Thundereggs are rough spheres, most about the size of a baseball—though they can range from less than an inch 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.

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.

Are there 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.

Where do you find thundereggs in Australia?

Well-known localities for Australian thunder eggs are Mt Hay, Eumundi, Agate Creek and Mt Tamborine, in Queensland, and Boggabri, Barrington Tops and Murwillumbah in New South Wales.

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.

What is a solid geode called?

Dianne Dotson. Geodes and nodules may look like they're simple rocks at first glance. But cutting them open reveals interesting insides. Geodes are hollow within, while nodules are solid.

What are thunder eggs used for?

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.

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 are rock eggs?

Egg rocks are smooth, naturally round stones approximately a 3/4" to 2 1/2" in size. Not only will these rocks add an attractive touch to your outdoor space, but they are also good in controlling erosion.

What do you cut thundereggs with?

Thundereggs 1” or under can be cut with diamond cut-off wheels in a Dremel or flex-shaft but the cut will be rough. What is this? Use the best tools possible. You can create a great specimen with just a wide tile saw blade and sandpaper, but you'll also spend several hours longer than necessary.

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.

Where can u 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.

Is a thunder egg igneous?

A thunderegg is a geologic structure that forms specifically in rhyolite, an igneous type of rock that comes from volcanic activity.

How are geodes formed?

Geodes are formed when there are pockets of air within rocks. This often happens after volcanic eruptions when lava cools around air bubbles. These pockets leave space for groundwater to seep in. But the water itself doesn't produce geodes–it brings along minerals which stay in the rock even after the water evaporates.

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.

What are geodes made of?

The crystals are of quartz, less often of calcite or dolomite, and sometimes of aragonite, ankerite, hematite, magnetite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite. Most often the metal sulfides are innermost, and a layer of calcite is next to the outer chalcedonic layer; a second layer of chalcedony sometimes is present.