Many people think that the terms “rock” and “geode” are synonymous, but there are two distinguishing characteristics. A geode will have a distinctive bumpy exterior, which sets them apart from a typical rock. Most geodes will also have a hollow center, where you can often find crystal formations. Geodes are found all over the world, but one of the premier locations in Keokuk, Iowa.
The area around Keokuk is known as the Warsaw Foundation, and geodes from here are referred as Keokuk geode. The Warsaw Foundation encompasses a 50-mile radius from Keokuk and enters into Missouri and Illinois, although all geodes mined from this area bear the Keokuk moniker. There have been several minerals found in these geodes, including quartz and pyrite.
After years spent collecting rocks, crystals and semiprecious stones, I relish the opportunity to revisit old pieces that I haven’t thought about in ages. One of the items that got me interested in the hobby originally still sits in a closet in the spare bedroom of our house. Even though I don’t display it anymore, I’m beginning to wonder why. After all, it’s just the sort of crystal that would pique a visitor’s interest.
There’s no mystery as to how the coconut got its name. Without knowing any better, one might suspect that it’s a genuine petrified coconut geode. These geodes are distinguished by three key characteristics: they’re hollow, they’re round, and they feature a “stem”-like structure on the outside. All of these physical attributes serve to make them resemble the tropical fruit even more.
Monday, June 22, 2009@ 1:57 PM
Geodes are a geological rock formation which occurs in sedimentary rocks. Geodes are essentially rock cavities with internal crystal formations. The exterior of the most common geodes is generally limestone or a related rock, while the interior contains quartz crystals deposits. Other geodes are completely filled with crystal, being solid all the way through. These types of geodes are called nodules.
The Keokuk geode is found around the town of Keokuk, Iowa, and is known as the geode capital of the world. Geodes from the Keokuk area contain a variety of minerals, but quartz is the most dominant. The Iowa General Assembly declared the geodes as the official “State Rock” in 1967.
