Geodes: Nature's TreasuresTable of Contents | |
| Foreword | vii |
| Acknowledgements | ix |
| Introduction | xi |
| About the Authors | xii |
| PART I: Gifts from Ancient Volcanoes | 1 |
| Chapter 1: What are Geodes? | 3 |
| Chapter 2: The Mysterious Formation of Geodes in Igneous Rocks | 5 |
| Chapter 3: Inedible Coconuts: Mexican Coconut Geodes | 11 |
| Mineralogy 16 - How Are "Coconuts" Formed? 26 - Mining Operations 30 - Opening "Coconuts" 39 | |
| Chapter 4: When Geodes are Gems | 43 |
| Brazilian Amethyst Geodes 43 - Mineralogy 48 - Mining 49 - Opening Brazilian Geodes 53 - Heat Treatment 53 - Flowers 57 - Valuing 58 - Uruguayan Amethyst Geodes 58 - Mining 58 - "Stalactites" and "Bulbs" 59 | |
| Chapter 5: More Latin Surprises | 61 |
| Tabasco Geodes 61 - Trancas Geodes 63 - San Marcos Geodes 68 - The Geodes of Salto do Jacui 71 - Ocos 74 | |
| Chapter 6: Geode Curiosities | 77 |
| Polyhedroids 77 - Enhydros 79 | |
| PART II: Gifts from Prehistoric Seas | 83 |
| Chapter 7: From Sediments to Glamour | 85 |
| Some Definitions 87 - Theories of Origin 91 - Variations 92 | |
| Chapter 8: Wonderful Warsaw | 95 |
| Physical Characteristics and Inclusions 95 - Origins and Locations 98 - Types of Sedimentary Geodes 104 - Illinois Geodes 105 - Missouri Geodes 106 - Quartz in Geodes 108 - Calcite in Geodes 109 - Beautiful Common Inclusions 111 - Keokuk's Northern Cousins 116 - How to Find and Enjoy Geodes 117 - Opening, Preparing, and Showing Sedimentary Geodes 119 - My Thoughts About Midwest Geodes 121 | |
| Chapter 9: Strange Geodes of Indiana | 123 |
| Recognizing Geodized Fossils 134 | |
| Chapter 10: A Few Bonuses | 137 |
| Silicified Anhydrite's Fossil Family 140 - Tennessee 144 | |
| Chapter 11: Amethyst Surprises and Baby Rattle Rocks | 151 |
| Lapidary Treatment 156 - Baby Rattle Rocks 159 | |
| Chapter 12: Florida's Ocean Harvest | 167 |
| Florida's Ample Bonuses 181 | |
| Chapter 13: Not Always Quartz | 185 |
| South Dakota Barite 188 - From Celestite to Iron 190 | |
| Chapter 14: Strange, Stranger, Strangest | 197 |
| Bitumen 201 - Poison 204 | |
| PART III: Thundereggs and More | 205 |
| Chapter 15: Dozens of Eggs | 207 |
| United States 212 | |
| Oregon 212 - Idaho 217 - California 218 - Utah 218 - Nevada 221 - Arizona 221 - New Mexico 222 - Colorado 223 - Alaska 224 | |
| Mexico 225 | |
| "Galaxy Geodes" 225 - "Ocotillo Geodes" 225 - "Palomas Geodes" 229 - "Red Skin or New Chalce Geodes" 230 - "San Juan Geodes" 230 - "Tamaka Geodes" 230 - "Zacatecas Geodes" 231 - Blue Chalcedony 231 | |
| Canada 232 | |
| British Columbia 232 | |
| Opening Thundereggs 233 | |
| Chapter 16: Almost Geodes: Concretions and Septarians | 235 |
| Ammolite: Canada's Fossil Gem 237 - More Concretions 239 - Utah's Gem Concretions 240 - Illinois' Fossil Concretions 240 - Utah's Septarian Nodules 243 - South Dakota's Septaria 246 - Concretions of Oklahoma 249 - Other Septaria 249 | |
| Summary | 253 |
| Geologic Time Scale | 254 |
| Frequently Asked Questions About Geodes | 255 |
| Bibliography | 261 |
| Glossary | 273 |
| Index | 281 |
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