Indiana Geode Hunting

[Indiana Fisherman]

Indiana Geode Hunting.

Collecting Sites. State Route 37 Roadcut near Bedford, IndianaGeodes containing Barite, Calcite, Dolomite, Marcasite, Millerite, Pyrite, Quartz, and Sphalerite

Source: The Mineralogical Record v.22/#5 September-October 1991 ISSN 0026-4628 ©1991Geodes containing a large variety of minerals are to be found in a 15 foot thick chirty layer of limestone exposed by the roadcut along State Route 37, 10.5 miles north of Bedford. This collecting site is just south of the Monroe Lake exit.

Typical geode specimens contain quartz with either calcite, dolomite or barite. Less common are geodes containing marcasite, millerite tufts and sprays, pyrite or sphalerite. Specimens range in size from under 1" to over 36" in diameter. Care should be exercised in obtaining and opening any specimens found embedded in massive limestone as these are most the likely to contain the delicate millerite.

Other local outcrops in this area are reported to have yielded geodes containing ankerite, aragonite, goethite, siderite and honessite.

 Newton County Stone Quarry near Kentland, IndianaArenite Sandstone
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Kentland is a small northwestern Indiana town in which exists the only dome structure in the state. There is a quarry, the Newton County Stone Quarry, which extracts the exposed stone for a variety of purposes. The Quarry is phenomenal!! You know how most strata in Indiana only has around a 3 degree dip WELL here at the quarry the beds a tilted 90 degrees! Everytime I go I am amazed at the overall mess the beds are in but it is by far the most beautiful place in Indiana (my opinion). Fossils are plentiful but I have not collected extensively there. I mainly go there to see the only observable anticline in the state<-- what a sight! Also there are these neat shatter cones in many of the beds which attest to the violent history of this place. It is believed by many geologists, including myself, that this location was struck by a comet or comet like meteorite which exploded over the site and the impact caused the beds to be pushed downward and the Kentland dome was caused by the rebound of the layers of strata. I was there last year and the manager was very nice and you are able to go anywhere where they are not digging. You have to sign a waiver and wear a hard hat. The later is because this place HAS steep wall and the rocks are literally popping of the sides because of the pressure. Though I have never been hit (cross your fingers). Also if you are into rock collecting you will not find a better arenite sandstone than the rocks in the St. Peters formation. It is the cleanest sandstone I have ever seen.
 
Geodes: A Look at Iowa's State Rockby Brian J. Witzke
This is a good read for all Geode hunters.

 Crystals of quartz reflect from the partially hollow interior of this 8-inch diameter geode from the Warsaw Shale of southeastern Iowa. Photo by Tim Kemmis Iowa geodes have long been objects of curiosity, their sparkling interiors containing some of the most beautiful crystals to be found anywhere in the Midwest. Although geodes are known from many localities around the world, one of the most productive and famous collecting regions is encompassed within a 35-mile radius of Keokuk, Iowa. Rock collectors commonly refer to geodes from this region as "Keokuk geodes." In keeping with the world-renowned status of the Iowa geodes, the Iowa General Assembly declared the geodes as the official "State Rock" in 1967.The word "geode" is derived from Latin meaning "earthlike," a reference to their rounded shape. Most Iowa geodes are roughly spherical, often lumpy or cauliflower-like in external form, with diameters typically ranging between about two and six inches. However, specimens up to 30 inches are known. The most prized geodes have hollow interiors, although many geodes are solid objects in which crystal growth has filled most or all of the interior volume. Although the distinction may seem subtle, it is important to contrast geodes with other crystal-lined cavities or "vugs." Geodes differ from vugs in possessing an outer mineral layer which is more resistant to weathering than the host rock. As such, complete geodes commonly weather out of rock exposures and accumulate in stream bottoms. Crystal-lined vugs would not weather in such a manner.

Geodes from the Keokuk area contain a variety of minerals, but quartz is dominant in most. Quartz is silicon dioxide, the primary mineral in ordinary sand. Beautiful transparent to white quartz crystals cover the walls of many geode cavities. These crystals become larger and fewer in number towards the center of the geode, and terminate in characteristic pointed hexagonal pyramid shapes. Micro-crystalline quartz, or chalcedony, whose component crystals are too small to be seen with the naked eye, forms the outer shell in all "Keokuk geodes." Chalcedony layers also encrust the interior walls of many geode cavities, covering the surfaces of the earlier-generation quartz crystals in a variety of colors, including white, gray, blue, yellow and orange. Calcite is a common and attractive calcium carbonate mineral in many geodes, which occurs in a variety of crystal habits and colors. An additional 17 minerals have been identified in "Keokuk geodes." Some of the more noteworthy include: kaolinite, a white clay mineral; dolomite in saddle-shaped crystals; pyrite or fool's gold, an iron sulfide; and sphalerite, a blackish zinc sulfide.

Iowa's renowned "Keokuk geodes" can be found in specific stream drainages and excavations in parts of southeastern Iowa (especially in Lee, Henry, and Van Buren Counties), including the area near Geode State Park. Most geodes are derived from strata of the lower Warsaw Formation, a widespread rock unit of Mississippian age. Muds deposited in a shallow sea about 340 million years ago were primarily calcium carbonate and clay, and were subsequently lithified to form the shales, shaley dolomites, and limestone's that we see today. Fresh geodes can be dug out of exposures of the lower Warsaw Formation, where they are concentrated in certain layers. Where water and streamflow have eroded these strata, concentrations of geodes may accumulate in stream channels. Although the bulk of Iowa's geodes are derived from the Warsaw Formation, geodes also are known from other formations of Devonian and Mississippian age at scattered localities in eastern and central Iowa.

The origins of geodes have vexed geologists for a considerable time, and many hypotheses have been put forward. The most recent geologic research, however, agrees on three general points: 1) Geode precursors were concretions (nodules formed by outward growth around some nucleus) which grew within soft, unlithified sediment. 2) The outer shells of these concretions were replaced subsequently by chalcedony. 3) The interiors of the concretions were dissolved, leaving a hollow space into which quartz crystals could grow. The composition of the original concretions is unclear, though geologists propose they were either limestone or anhydrite, a fairly soluble calcium sulfate mineral related to gypsum.

The minerals now seen inside geodes were transported in groundwater solutions and then precipitated as replacements of the geode walls or as crystalline growths within their hollow interiors. The ultimate source of the mineralizing waters remains speculative. Many common geode mineral, especially quartz, are only weakly soluble. Therefore, substantial volumes of water had to migrate through the lower Warsaw strata to precipitate the observed minerals.

Collecting geodes can be both fun and educational. Once you've located exposures of lower Warsaw strata or a geode-bearing stream course, all that's required is a little patience and a good bricklayer's or rock hammer. A sharp blow with a hammer is usually sufficient to crack open individual geodes, exposing their crystalline interiors to daylight for the first time. Remember that most geode-collecting localities are on private land, and permission must be secured before entering.

 Additional information is found in Horick, P.J., 1974, The Minerals of Iowa: Iowa Geol. Survey, Educ. Series 2, 88 p.; Sinotte, S.R., 1969, The Fabulous Keokuk Geodes: Wallace-Homestead Co., Des Moines, 292 p.Reprinted from Iowa Geology 1987 No. 12, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Indiana Geode Hunting, Indiana Geodes, Hunting Indiana Geodes, Indiana rocks, Indiana Minerals, fossils.
  I did find this article from an outside source. I did not see any copyrights on it. Thought it is a very good article that lots or most of it applies to Indiana geodes also. Hope you geode hunters have fun and find a big one!

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Treasure Hunting For Geodes
By David CowleyThunder eggs, or geodes, are geological rock formations which occur in sedimentary and certain volcanic rocks. They look like regular rocks from the outside, the exterior typically made up of limestone, but then have crystal formations of quartz on the inside. They're referred to as thunder eggs by treasure hunters because they do resemble very large eggs because of their smooth exterior and round shape. If you're interested in any type of treasure hunting you may want to start out with these thunder eggs, or geodes.
The real value of the geodes is their appearance when they are halved and polished. Their crystal formations typically come in a wide variety of colors, from deep purple to pink, blue, and even a silvery crystal color. The formations of the rock itself leave a wavy design in the color, and the crystals on the inside emit a fiery glow. Some thunder eggs that have been found are so large that they have been made into furniture, such as coffee or side tables. Adding a base and a glass top makes the rock into a very interesting and sturdy piece of furniture.
It's often difficult to tell what's going to be inside those geodes until you actually split it open, and usually they require some polishing in order for them to be at their full potential when it comes to shine and brilliance.
If you're interested in finding some geodes you need to know where to look or them. Chances are you won't find them in your backyard, unless you live in Utah or Mexico. Other area where Thunder Eggs have been found is Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and the Geode State Park in Henry County, Iowa. Iowa designated the geode as the official state rock in 1967.
Rock Hound State Park in Deming New Mexico is open to the public for Rock Hounds of all ages. It is known for its wide variety of mineral specimens due to ancient volcanic activity in the area. Geodes can be found littering the valley floor. Look for round or oval shaped rocks with a lumpy surface similar to the look of a cauliflower. Use your rock hammer and break open the rock. There is no easy way to determine what you have until you break the rock open. Thunder Eggs are also found in the rocky crags of the desert walls. Watch out for snakes and scorpions when reaching into any rocky outcropping.
According to Wikipedia, a large geode the size of a minivan was discovered in Ohio in the early 1900's in an area now known as Crystal Cave. You can actually take tours of this area during the summer. While it's unlikely that you'll find any geodes as large as your vehicle, the point is that they are obviously out there and can be quite valuable.
When searching for thunder eggs it's best to have with you a reliable guide that maps out areas of the dessert or certain cave formations where you may find them. It's also imperative that you pay close attention to your own personal safety and never go spelunking or exploring in the dessert alone and without proper precautions. There are no geodes that you may find that are worth your own personal life and safety.
Happy Treasure Hunting.
David Cowley has created numerous articles on Treasure Hunting. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to Treasure Hunting. Visit Treasure Hunting
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