lookatthat
Cave Dweller 
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360 
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Post by lookatthat on Aug 24, 2020 21:35:58 GMT -5
I recently split some Mexican geodes I have had around for a few years. The last one I picked up was a small one, shaped like an egg. Inside were some crystals that looked like narrow quartz crystals covered with a thin druzy layer. Unfortunately the largest crystal within was broken during the cracking process. I did find it, and discovered that it is completely hollow! The only thing holding it together is an incredibly thin outer layer. Has anyone ever heard of or seen anything like that?
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Aug 24, 2020 22:03:38 GMT -5
I recently split some Mexican geodes I have had around for a few years. The last one I picked up was a small one, shaped like an egg. Inside were some crystals that looked like narrow quartz crystals covered with a thin druzy layer. Unfortunately the largest crystal within was broken during the cracking process. I did find it, and discovered that it is completely hollow! The only thing holding it together is an incredibly thin outer layer. Has anyone ever heard of or seen anything like that? Yes.....geodes I've collected in Utah occasionally have that inner appearance.........curious why you're cracking rather than cutting......saves the loss of fragile crystal spikes by at least 60%.......! |
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Post by Pat on Aug 24, 2020 22:55:54 GMT -5
New to me! Can you post a photo or two? Thanks.
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Post by pauls on Aug 25, 2020 1:55:08 GMT -5
Some Geodes I have collected have Quartz crystals which were deposited around Calcite or Aragonite crystals, Calcite has long since been dissolved away leaving just a hollow crust. I have a really beautiful smokey Quartz cluster that was originally deposited around a stalactite, sadly not quite complete but still beautiful.
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on Aug 25, 2020 11:06:06 GMT -5
I recently split some Mexican geodes I have had around for a few years. The last one I picked up was a small one, shaped like an egg. Inside were some crystals that looked like narrow quartz crystals covered with a thin druzy layer. Unfortunately the largest crystal within was broken during the cracking process. I did find it, and discovered that it is completely hollow! The only thing holding it together is an incredibly thin outer layer. Has anyone ever heard of or seen anything like that? Yes.....geodes I've collected in Utah occasionally have that inner appearance.........curious why you're cracking rather than cutting......saves the loss of fragile crystal spikes by at least 60%.......! I have a geode splitter (old clay pipe cutter), and if I am carefully (and lucky) I can preserve tiny, very delicate crystals that project into the space between the two halves. If you find the thread I started a while back called "Small World" (I think) you will see the kind of fragile crystals I mean.
Pretty sure this hollow one would have been broken regardless of opening method -- at least, I certainly do not have the skills to use a cutter that well. Also, I do not have my own workshop and would have to use my father's tools, and I am not very comfortable around spinning blades. Using the grinder to round edges on tumbling rocks is bad enough. And that stuff is so noisy.
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