Currently, the cave isn’t open to tourists. To protect the cave from robberies, its entrance has been blocked by police using 5 tons of rocks. The enormous geode measures 8 meters in length with a cavity of 1.8 x 1.7 meters. The cave contains loads of giant gypsum crystals. It was discovered by a team of geologists in an abandoned silver mine in the year 2000. Geodes are also common in other countries like Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and Namibia.įor instance, the largest geode ever found exists in Almeria, Spain. In the early twentieth century, a large geode, known as Crystal Cave, was discovered in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, which is open for tourists during the summer. Some of the states where they’re widely located are Ohio, Missouri, Utah, Iowa, Kentucky, and Indiana. Geodes are found in multiple locations across the US. Source: Our Pastimes Where Are Geodes Located? We’ll talk about this process in detail when we study geode classification by formation.

Nevertheless, there is yet another process that leads to the formation of geodes, and that is by volcanic activity. This is a gradual process that occurs over millions of years. The minerals keep on piling up from time to time until cracks are completely filled, forming a crystal lining. In this process, the minerals are deposited by water directly into the cavities in the rocks. The second method of geode formation is associated with limestone caves surrounded by subterranean rivers. As water deposits minerals, they seep through the tiny cavities of porous rocks and transform into crystals as the water dries out. The first process is similar to fossilization.

Source: How Are Geodes Formed?Īccording to Roddy Sue Behmer, a retired earth science teacher, geodes are formed through two main processes. They appear as ordinary rocks from the outside, but the crystals in the interiors of these rocks make them a sight to behold. They range in length from less than 1 centimeter to several meters. See my Affiliate Disclosure for more details. If you click on one and buy something, I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links which will take you to online retailers that sell products and services. While it’s very common to find them in deserts, geodes are also found in different places around the globe. Many geode localities are alluvial, especially the desert ones, meaning they haven’t been eroded by water. It is common for complete geodes to weather out of rock exposures and pile up in canyons, rock detritus, talus, etc. Their outer mineral layer is more resistant to weathering than the host rock. Since the walls of geodes are strong enough to maintain the integrity of their initial shape, they can be separated from any matrix. Sometimes, their dense filling makes them ‘solid.’ Such densely filled geodes are referred to as nodules. Geodes are thought to possess superior strength, connecting with the gravity, earth, and water around you.Īs far as their appearance is concerned, geodes are hollow spherical masses of mineral matter. Often considered as treasure houses of energy, geodes appear like druzy stones. Geode is a Greek word that means ‘earth-like’ or the shape of the earth.

Types of amethyst