How Can You Tell If a Rock is a Geode?

Geodes are one of the coolest natural occurences. The ordinary-looking rocks hide beautiful crystals inside when opened. Some have beautiful amethyst crystals, while some contain calcite or garnets. It's like opening a Kinderjoy egg!

The only problem is that it is not easy to identify geodes. For all you know, you might have walked passed so many geodes while hiking. So, how can you tell if a rock is a geode?

Luckily, there are a couple of ways you can identify a geode from normal rocks. You can either apply a few of these methods or go step-by-step to make sure the rock you have your sights on is actually a geode.

1. Location of the Rock

Geodes are common, but only if you are looking at the right spot. If you found a rock that seems like a geode while walking around the park, chances are it's just a rock. You see, geodes are only found in specific places.

Geodes are only formed under specific geological settings. They are mostly found near water beds, river gravels, and quarries.

2. Shape

The next best indicator is the shape of the rock. Geodes are mostly spheroidal in shape. They are oblong and slightly egg-shaped. Another hint is that geodes are rarely pointy on the outside. That is because there needs to be enough space inside for the crystals to form.

So, if you have found a skinny rock with edges, I'm afraid it's not a geode. Most geodes are the size of a baseball.

3. Texture

Next up we have the texture of the rock. Geodes typically have a bumpy, lumpy texture. They are never smooth from the outside. In short, geodes are pretty ugly from the outside but hide true beauty inside.

The bumpy and uneven texture of the geode is the best giveaway. Keep in mind that these bumps are fairly large, and not just a texture.

4. Shake the rock

Another thing you can do to identify a geode is to shake the rock. Yes, simply shake the rock you think is a geode and try to listen for any noise. If you hear any jostling inside, you have found a geode.

Because of the empty space inside, geodes are also lighter than ordinary rocks. So, you can hold one in each hand and compare the weight of the rock as well.

5. Break the Geode

The last and the surest way to identify a geode is to break it open. This is the only way to be 100% sure that you have found a geode. However, for this, you need to be very careful not to damage the crystals inside.

You can grab a large rock nearby and strike the geode to break it open. You can also break it open with a hammer and a chisel.

Once you have opened the geode, you can hopefully find rare and beautiful crystals inside. Some of the common crystals found inside a geode are:

• Quartz - white crystals
• Calcite - white crystals
• Amethyst - purple crystals
• Chalcedony - gray, or light blue crystals
• Pyrite - gold crystals

For more details, check out this guide on how to identify a geode.

There are a variety of minerals found in a geode. It mostly depends on the location of the geode. Geodes are semi-precious rocks with rare ones being sold for over $50,000 at auctions.

So next time you go for a hike through the mountains, keep an eye on the rocks, and who knows you might find treasure hidden inside one. Happy hunting!