Digging for Geodes – Where to find Nature’s Treasures

Keokuk Geodes

Keokuk Geodes are found in the region where Mississippi and Des Moines Rivers intersect. Southeastern Iowa is the prime keokuk hunting Area, but they can be found into Missouri and Illinois as well.

Quartz is the most common mineral found in these geodes, as well as a wide variety of colors of chalcedony, and calcite. You can also find trace amounts of other minerals inside Keokuk Geodes, including dolomite and pyrite.

Dugway Geodes

The Dugway Geode Beds are a Rockhounding hotspot. The most common mineral found within the geodes is quartz in various colors: clear (rock crystal), purple (amethyst), and pink (rose). Geodes are usually found below the ground surface. The best place to look for geodes is in areas that have been previously excavated. You will find geodes by digging in the mostly soft gray unconsolidated materials that underlie this area.

Trancas Geodes

First found in 1973, Trancas Geodes are most commonly found via surface mining in Chihuahua, Mexico. These amazing rocks are incredibly varied and you never know what ancient treasures you will uncover when you crack one open. Trancas may not be the most colorful geodes at first glance, but they flouresce wonderfully under short wave UV light due to trace uranium content, similar to Dugway Geodes from Utah. These wonderful rocks often feature stunning druzy crystalline centers.

Trancas Geodes range in size from under an inch to three inches and feature a thin skin.

Trancas Mines

Finding a location to hunt for your own Trancas Geodes has proven to be challenging. There are many private mines listed on mindat.org but as of right now none that advertise the mining of Trancas geodes. We will continue hunting for mines allowing the digging of Trancas Geodes, but in the meantime there are many places online that offer Trancas Geodes for sale.

Las Choyas Geodes

Las Choyas geodes, often referred to as coconut geodes are mined from 100 to 200 feet below the surface near Chihuahua, Mexico.

Moroccan Geodes

Moroccan Geodes don’t look like much from the outside, but the inside is full of magic! The inside of moroccan geodes feature sparkly, pure white quartz crystlas, often sugary in texture.