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Field CollectingU.S. Geode Sites

15th Dec 2005 21:50 UTCAndy

What are some good geodes sites accross the U.S. List as many as you can think of.

15th Dec 2005 22:57 UTCAndy

I already know about the Keokuk, Iowa/Missouri, Dugway, and Richardson's Ranch (Thundereggs) sites. These are the most famous in the U.S. What are some other geode collecting sites?

16th Dec 2005 17:49 UTCEverett Harrington Expert

Hall's Gap KY, King's Mt KY, Georgetown OH, South west lower MI gravel pits...to name a few, I'm pretty sure geodes are found in all but two or three states in one form or another...

Hope this helps

Everett

16th Dec 2005 19:34 UTCSteve Eshbaugh

The Hauser Geode Beds have produced a number of nice geodes. It's located west of Blythe off I-10 in Ca.

16th Dec 2005 23:01 UTCAndy

Also, heard of the Hauser Geode Beds, Hall's Gap,KY, Indiana, and Dale Hollow, Tennessee. Been looking all over the internet for Hauser Geodes that are for sale. Anybody know where you can buy them. If not, might have to get there sometime and collect.

17th Dec 2005 02:57 UTCPete Xander

To be honest, most Hauser Bed "geodes" are actually nodules. Since the site has had extensive digging for decades, it is not the best site, although the immediate region has a number of identified and not-so-identified locations -- the Straw Bed, the Cinnamon Bed, the Potato Patch to name a few. Checking the Yahoo Groups site "LA-Rocks" will result in extensive posts, as well as a couple with specific and better directions.

For looking for geode sites throughout the U. S., there is a web site that attempts to identify most of the major rock and mineral collecting areas. Again, local contacts/local info will reveal whether any of these sites are tapped out or are still worth the effort. The link is http://www.missourigeologists.org/Min-Loc1.pdf.

Happy hunting! In my opinion, even a somewhat fruitless rock or mineral search still gets you out in nature and into some great scenery. Then there's the exercise from digging . . . .

17th Dec 2005 02:59 UTCPete Xander

OK . . . let me see if I can translate the link so that one can access it. The link has the http thing, the www thing, then missourigeologists dot org, then slash, then finishes off with Min-Loc1 dot pdf.

Hope THAT makes it through the Mindat cyberspace innards. If not, then e-mail me at my e-mail address and I can send it to you.

17th Dec 2005 14:09 UTCAndy

Thanks for the link-

Do you know of any place where you can buy geodes from any of those geode beds in california? Have not seen michigan geodes nor ohio geodes for sale either. Seen the hall's gap and the illinois geodes for sale on ebay and maybe a couple websites. Also the Dale Hollow,TN geodes I have seen for sale.

26th Dec 2005 20:27 UTCDave Bese

Wow; that would make a heckova book. We have many sites here in WA with great quartz geodes; Walker Valley, Redtop Mt., Little Naches and on . . .

Might be easier to list the areas where you can't find them.

28th Dec 2005 20:22 UTCStephen Eshbaugh

Speaking of geodes- Does anyone know of an area where millerite was found in geodes? I heard they found an area where they were found but have yet to see a picture of these. If they DO exist- is the location on private property or Gov property?

Thanks

Steve

28th Dec 2005 20:46 UTCHarry

A good area for geodes is in the Rockhound State Park just south of Deming NM. The local chamber of commerce has maps, you can camp at the park. It is a long walk up to the geode area, but some beautys have been found. If you want geodes in the US from Mexico, and want to buy, Gem Center USA in El Paso owns many claims in Mexico and sells geodes in large quantity from all over Mexico at a reasonable price. They have a website and a toll free number, 877-533-7153

28th Dec 2005 21:13 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager

The Hall's Gap Kentucky locality is a classic one for millerite in geodes.

http://www.mindat.org/loc-16152.html

30th Dec 2005 18:15 UTCDave Bese

http://www.vasichkominerals.com/Georgetown.html

One of my favorite reads :~)

30th Dec 2005 22:39 UTCDenise Bicknell

Thanks for the link Dave. Love the strontianite!

2nd Jan 2006 23:04 UTCasdaven

Where can you find those geodized brachopoids for sale? Interesting!

Andy

21st Jan 2006 13:26 UTCasdaven

Are the geodes in the link the same as the "puff" geodes from Indiana?

21st Jan 2006 16:08 UTCHenry Barwood

Two comments about geodes. Responses have blurred the line between geodes that form in sedimentary formations, and geodes that form in volcanic terrains. The sediment hosted geodes are completely different, and contain a distinct suite of minerals. Geodes such as "coconut" type geodes have mineralization derived from igneous activity and would never be confused with typical midwestern geodes.

For those who are interested, my son has posted detailed field trip reports on several Indiana geode locations at his MineralCollecting web pages. Look under Locality References and you will find them. Sorry I can't post the URL, but I seem to be blocked on this site.

Henry

22nd Jan 2006 13:15 UTCasdaven

Does anybody know of collecting sites in the appalachian mountain region or in the eastern U.S? I have not heard of any geodes found in the eastern us. Just the midwestern geodes and the ones found in california, oregon, nevada, utah, new mexico, which are mostly thundereggs which have an volcanic origin. The dugway geodes of utah are actually both sedimentary and volcanic. Mexico also has the coconut geodes or also called las choyas geodes.

22nd Jan 2006 16:38 UTCHenry Barwood

Middle Missippian outcrops from Illinois to Alabama contain geodes. While the outcrop belt in Indiana is probably best known, notable locations exist in Kentucky, Tennessee and northern Alabama.

Henry Barwood

22nd Jan 2006 20:04 UTCasdaven

Are there any places farther east to collect geodes? Like in the appalachian mountains? I know about those localities and they are more in the midwest than the east, and I think the tennessee and kentucky ones are just like the indiana ones.

22nd Jan 2006 20:26 UTCHenry Barwood

To my knowledge, once you leave the shelf limestone/shale facies of the Mississippian, you do not find significant geodes. As you move east, you move into the sandstone/shale facies and are no longer in the zone of active deposition of anhydrite nodules. I think some of the older (Ordovician/Silurian) formations may have occasional geodes, but can't recall a reference right now. After you pass the Appalachian Mountains, nothing.

Henry Barwood

28th Feb 2006 02:52 UTCBruce Osborne

Henry, that is not exactly true about east into North Carolina. I had one that came at of the Yadkin river in Wilkes Co. But, I have never found another either. So it is very rare to run across one. Bruce Osborne

28th Feb 2006 15:44 UTCThomas Henderson

How about Rucks Pit in Ft Drum, Florida, with the calcite-lined fossil shells? And hollow agatized coral from Tampa Bay and Withlacoochee River? These would seem to me to qualify as geodes.

28th Feb 2006 17:15 UTCHenry Barwood

The discussion, and my comment, was about a specific type of geode found in (typically) Mississippian limestones. They form from silicification of anhydrite nodules and contain quite a lrge number of mineral species. While things like the Ruck's Pit clams and "geodized" corals are "geodes", they are not the type of geode I was discussing. The clams and corals form from removal of calcite/aragonite and are usually quite simple mineralogically (calcite or quartz/chalcedony). Didn't mean to imply that there are no other types of geodes east of the Appalachians.

Henry

28th Feb 2006 18:38 UTCEverett Harrington Expert

I Have a list of locations a mile long form all over the US, almost every state has some sort of geode found in it....some are just fossil replacment type some are anhydrite, gas bubbles, and other forms. Geodes are one of the most wide spread areas of collecting there is....the abundance of minerals found in them almost exceeds any list of minerals found at one site....with very few exceptions. For example in the Mexican geodes found at Las Choyas there are 17 different Mn oxides found..that doesn't include all of the other types of minerals just Mn minerals....

KOR

Everett

6th Oct 2006 16:56 UTCBerni A

Please mail me at my personal e mail addy regarding: geode sites in SE Tennessee. I would like to try to find one or two on my own. I live between Knoxville and Chattanooga...are there any sites at all in the area (not too far away) where this might be possible?

Thank you for your advice. New hobby.....? Maybe..!!

6th Oct 2006 18:56 UTCAnonymous User

Here is a map and directions with information to the Dugway Geode Beds.

6th Oct 2006 18:57 UTCAnonymous User

Sorry, I forgot to put the link in...

http://rocktumblers.blogspot.com/2005/10/dugway-geode-beds-maps-and-directions.html

7th Oct 2006 18:08 UTCJohn D. Stillinger

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-121713309.html This was an intersting link that I found regarding the geodes in the Wolf Creek pass/ Treasure falls area of Colorado. It is about 120 miles from home here. I have had some luck there. The host rock is very tough.

9th Nov 2006 14:49 UTCAnonymous User

regarding post by Everett Harrington,

Is there any chance of geting a copy of you collecting sites list?

5th Jun 2013 18:30 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

Test

5th Jun 2013 19:29 UTCelmwood minerals

Hill Creek, Woodbury, TN is one of the most well known for geodes in this area.

Berni A Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Please mail me at my personal e mail addy

> regarding: geode sites in SE Tennessee. I would

> like to try to find one or two on my own. I live

> between Knoxville and Chattanooga...are there any

> sites at all in the area (not too far away) where

> this might be possible?

> Thank you for your advice. New hobby.....?

> Maybe..!!

5th Jun 2013 20:53 UTCBob Harman

For resurrecting this thread....... THANKS ROB !!!!!!!!........,I might post a bit in the coming weeks. CHEERS.........BOB

6th Jun 2013 00:06 UTCD Mike Reinke

I've found a few small ones in decorative gravel; Any truckload of river gravel could have some, at least around the mid-west, or hide some other interesting pieces. You don't know till you look!

6th Jun 2013 00:35 UTCBob Harman

This map of geode sites in the continental U.S. has appeared on another thread, but it seems appropriate to post it here as well. I don't pretend that it is 100% accurate or 100% complete, but it does show most of the important sites where, with a bit of searching and luck, quality geodes or their cousins can be expected to be found. It also includes some sites for nodules, agates, concretions and similar cousins of true geodes. It is important to note that many geode sites are on private land or on land where collecting is prohibited or now extinct sites. Note that the Midwest sedimentary geode area is, by far, the largest in the U.S, stretching from SE Iowa thru Eastern Missouri, West Central Illinois thru South Central Indiana thru Central Kentucky into Central Tennessee and a small area of North Alabama. Also note areas where no really collectible geodes are found. These include most of the U.S. East of the Appalachians, most of the South and most of the Rocky Mountains. While many small sites do exist throughout the West, good quality collectible examples of igneous geodes are few and far between. The Dugway Utah geode beds is an exception. Agate sites are much more common thruought the West. I hope this map helps, should you want to hunt the geodes. CHEERS............BOB

6th Jun 2013 03:31 UTCDean Allum Expert

Andy,

I know about 5 productive geode sites, send me a PM and I will let you know

-Dean Allum

17th Jun 2013 04:31 UTCWilliam W. Besse Expert

Bob thought you might like to see this map I uploaded today. - Bill

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