Are Creeks A Good Place To Find Geodes?

Asked by: Ms. Robert Miller Ph.D. | Last update: March 27, 2022
star rating: 4.1/5 (78 ratings)

They are commonly found in rock geodes in creeks and streams. Geodes are rounded-looking stones with a hollow interior in which the crystals form. From the outside, they don't look like much, but they can be full of beautiful purple and violet sparkles when you break them open.

Where do you find geodes in a creek?

Hauser Geode Beds The finest concentration of geode sites in Southern California is in Riverside and Imperial counties. The most famous of these sites is called the Hauser Geode Beds, which are located at Wiley Well in the northern region of Imperial Valley, CA.

Can you find geodes near water?

There are geodes throughout the world, but they are most commonly located in deserts, volcanic ash beds, and areas rich in limestone. It is also common to find them in lake and river beds.

Where are geodes most likely found?

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 find crystals in a stream?

To find gemstones in creeks and along riverbeds, one should carefully search near eroded stream banks, in shallow, flowing water, and old, dried creek beds. Alluvial gemstones can usually be found a few days after heavy rainfall. At night, use a black light to search for fluorescent gemstones.

Geode Hunting - Treasures In the Creek Bed! - YouTube

20 related questions found

Can you find gemstones in creeks?

Common types of rocks found in creeks are quartz crystals, chert, agate, jasper, petrified wood, amethyst, and garnet, depending on the geology of the area. Many commercial gemstones are found in streams and rivers, but even ordinary rocks, worn smooth by tumbling water, have an appeal of their own.

How do you tell if a rock is a geode?

Tell-Tale Signs of a Geode Geodes are usually spherical, but they always have a bumpy surface. Geodes will sometimes have loose material inside, which can be heard when shaking the rock. Geodes are usually lighter than their size would indicate since the interior doesn't contain any material. .

What to look for when looking for geodes?

When you are hunting for geodes in nature, look for limestone and basalt rocks. These rocks are often key to the formation of geodes. Geodes are also commonly found in lake or river beds. Geodes are often formed in stratified sedimentary carbonate deposits such as limestones and dolomites.

How common are geodes?

Geodes are common in some formations in the United States (mainly in Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, western Illinois, Kentucky, and Utah). In Oregon they are referred to as thundereggs (which are normally completely filled solid) and are the Oregon State Rock. They also are common in Brazil, Namibia, and Mexico.

How do you identify thundereggs?

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 is the largest geode ever found?

The Crystal Cave In Ohio A massive, celestite crystal lined geode located near Put-in-Bay, Ohio also is said to be the largest geode ever found. It measures a staggering 30 feet (10 meters) long but was larger when it was first discovered.

Are geodes rare?

Prevalence. Geodes may be found all over, but they tend to be most prevalent in desert regions. Anywhere volcanic ash is a part of the landscape and places containing large amounts of limestone are ideal places to hunt for geodes.

How long does it take for geodes to form?

How long does it take for a geode to form? Over thousands of years, these layers of minerals build crystals that eventually fill the cavity. How long this takes depends on the size of the geode. The largest crystals can take a million years to grow.

What can you find in a creek?

Fish and other water-dwelling animals depend for food on insect larvae, worms, snails, and other small invertebrates found on the bottom, sheltering in plants, burrowing, or clinging to rocks. The number and type of these organisms are a useful gauge of health of a creek.

What rocks do you look for in a river?

Sedimentary rock such as limestone, dolomite, and siltstone is commonly formed in or near water. Metamorphic rocks, like marble and schist, are also found in rivers. Granite, basalt, schist, limestone, shale, Jasper, agates, white or pink feldspar, and clear quartz are commonly found in rivers.

Where can I find gemstones in nature?

Top Spots for Gem Hunting in the US Crater of Diamonds State Park. Gem sluice, Hiddenite, NC. Crater of Diamonds State Park. Rutile find. Gem Mountain, Philipsburg, MT. Topaz in situ. Three pieces of opal from Virgin Valley, Nevada. .

What is the easiest gemstone to find?

Quartz is one of the easiest materials to find. Amethyst, agate, carnelian, and citrine are some gemstone varieties of quartz. Pure quartz is colourless, and impurities in the quartz are what can give it the vibrant colours you find in gemstones.

What should I look for in crystal hunting?

Areas on the planet's surface that show clear evidence of fault lines and uplifts offer an ideal location to hunt for crystals. Check the area for ribbons of white quartz, which can also be found near known granite and gold deposits.

What does a geode look like from the outside?

Look for a bumpy textured surface If you've found a geode it will usually have a lumpy, bumpy sort of texture on the outside. It is very rare for a geode to have a smooth exterior, so if your rock feels smooth to the touch then I'd bet against it being a geode.

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 what color a geode will be?

Iron will give crystals a red or purple color, titanium will create blue, nickel or chromium leads to green, and manganese produces pink crystals. While geodes can be naturally colorful some are artificially dyed. These dyed stones often have a brighter, more intense color than what appears naturally.

Where can I find crystals in my yard?

Crystals can pretty much be found anywhere on your lawn. Besides soil, crystals could be mixed in with gravel or within a rocky area.

Where are amethyst geodes found in the US?

The USA has a great diversity of amethyst deposits that can be found in Maine, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Montana and Colorado. The color range of American amethyst is generally from medium to high in saturation and may include smoky or translucent crystals.