The Easiest Way to Find Geodes

If you are interested in collecting rocks and minerals, geodes are likely on your list.  Many find it quite satisfying to open up a geode to discover its contents for the first time.

When collecting geodes you can of course purchase them at a rock and mineral shop or even a rock and mineral show.  However, one the funniest ways to collect geodes is to actually go and find them in your area.

The best way you can find geodes is by looking for them in areas that are known to have geodes.  Finding geodes where others have found them is your best approach to you finding them.

Geodes will commonly be found all around the earth.  Many state geodes are found around volcanic ash beds, around limestone rock, or even river beds.  This is true, but how do you know what to look for and where to find it?  It is best to do some kind of research of your area first before you go out to look for geodes.

Doing an internet search for phrases such as “Rockhounding <your location> Geodes” can bring up some good resources you can search through.  Additionally, purchasing rock and mineral collecting books can yield some results about geodes in your area. 

Don’t forget to look for rock and mineral shops or even rock and mineral clubs in your area.  Just talking to someone may yield some good directions to places to find geodes.

Some people wonder if they can just find geodes nearby or even in their own backyard.

Yes, it is possible to find geodes in your backyard if you are one of the luckiest people on the earth!  More likely though, you will not be one of those people that can find a geode in their backyard.  You will need to venture forth from home to find those geode locations.

Geodes Look Different than Other Rocks

Geodes can look like a rock with a possible bubble on it.  It can also look like a rough roundish rock that appears like a milky shinny rock on its outside.  Geodes do not look like your common stones that have been rolled around in a river.

One location where I have found geodes, the rocks would look like common rock, however there would be roundish inclusions like bubbles in the rock.  Sometimes the geode would just be a bubble looking rock on its own.  It was easy to know you may have a geode if you saw some sort of a bubble surface on the rock.

Another location I have found geodes was in a dried up river bed.  Often the geodes could already be broken open showing off some of its wonderful contents.  Other times the geode would appear roundish and rough on the outside.  It would look more like milky quartz or chalcedony on the outside of the geode.

The main picture is a great example of this type of geode.

What Kinds of Geodes Can I Find?

There are several types of geodes you can find.  Some great types of geodes are agate geodes, amethyst geodes, calcite geodes, and the ever popular quartz geodes.  If it is a mineral that can crystalize you might just be able to find it geode form.

Agate Geode – An agate geode is just agate that contains an open space for geode crystals to form.  The mineral agate is really just silica contents, chalcedony, that fill up an open space in host rock.  At times though, as the agate forms it will leave an open space in the center allowing for crystallization.

If I am not mistaken, agate can be manufactured and dyed various different colors.  Sometimes they contain that crystalized center and they will be polished and also cut into slices for sale.  From my experience finding agate with a geode like center is far more fun than purchasing it.

For some further information on the mineral agate, I have written an article “All About Agate” that explains more about the mineral.

Amethyst Geode – Amethyst geodes are not really common in many areas and you might be hard pressed to find them.  Being common in Brazil, many times you don’t really get that nice round shape but more of a roundish shape formation.  These roundish shapes can get quite large at times.

Did you know that when purchasing a half slice of an amethyst geode in Brazil it can be quite cheap?  Bring it to the United States and you can easily pay 10 to 20 times more for it.

For some further information on the mineral amethyst, I have written an article “All About Amethyst” that explains more about the mineral.

Calcite Geode – Calcite is one of those minerals that can form in a geode.  Calcite geodes are quite common and can be easily mistaken for quartz type geodes.  These types of geodes are not only fun to find, but can be common enough to find in many areas

Easily one of my most favorite types of calcite geodes is in the form septarian.  Septarian stone will have cracks and openings that allow for calcite contents to enter in.  It will then crystalize to form some very nice looking calcite crystals forming septarian rock.

One of the cool things about this rock is that they are often in nodule form, so they actually look like a geode as well.

For some more information and pictures on septarian rock, you can visit my article “All About Septarian”.  Not many people know about septarian and it may be worth a look.

Quartz Geode – Perhaps one of the more common types of geodes, quartz geodes are a big collector’s item for rock and mineral collectors.  Quartz geodes can be more identifiable on the outside, as it can look like a roundish quartz rock.

Quartz can form in other host rock that has cracks and open spaces so it does not have to look like a geode to contain crystals.

Why Should I go and Find Geodes?

Geodes don’t do anything other than look pretty.  They make great decoration pieces around your home and other areas.  Geodes do give you a sense of pride when you find them, cut them open, and display them.

In all, if you think you will have fun finding geodes, then go give it a try.  Displaying them is really just a secondary bonus.  You might also have some great stories to tell about your trip to find them.

Conclusion

Remember, finding geodes is really about researching where to find them then going to collect them.  You can also go out and explore any area you like and it might be possible to stumble onto some.  Though that may not yield much. 

I hope I have also given you a little help on how to spot a geode.  They do not look like your common smooth and roundish rock you might find.  They will typically stand out from those.  At times research may also tell you what to look for as well in a certain area.

If you are looking for some reading sources, books, on finding geodes, I have found that searching for Rockhounding books on Amazon or other stores can yield some good results.

Once you find those geodes you may be interested in actually opening them.  I have written a pretty good article on that.  “How to Crack Open a Geode With and Without Tools”.