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Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums _ Gem and Mineral Specimen Finds or Processes _ Geodes around Loveland

Posted by: moog24 Jan 12 2018, 01:35 PM

Good day everyone! i am hoping to find a few spots i can take my kid to find geodes near loveland. Any locations would be great! she is 5 and just loves to find geodes. We went about twice a month when i lived in the Black Hills. Thank you!

Posted by: Woody Jan 13 2018, 11:08 AM

I suggest you alter your expectancies if you plan to stay in the Loveland area.

I'm not familiar with any known collecting locations around Loveland that would include Geodes. The occurrence of Geodes in Colorado are limited. Several published documents detail collectable geodes occurring around Grand Junction and Wolf
Creek pass. Other locations have been identified but finding one is few and far in-between. You might have better success by researching what might be found in your location trying to find that. I know you are not too far from some Amethyst producing
areas. Who knows what you will turn up by just getting out there and kicking the ground? Good luck, Woody.

Posted by: Crusty Jan 13 2018, 11:51 AM

Woody knows his stuff, so you won't get a better answer than that!

Posted by: moog24 Jan 15 2018, 09:26 AM

Thank you, Woody!! And she loves any type of rock, just so long as its pretty lol!! I have about a 30 lbs rock (geode) but i have no idea how to break it or even try to break it. Do you guys have any ideas on how to work with it?

Posted by: Woody Jan 15 2018, 07:54 PM

A long time ago I had an extended "Stay & Play" in Kentucky. I haven't found a 30 lbs. Geode since those days! I was stationed there for about 7 years.

Here is what I would do on the big ones. I went to Harbor Freight and bout several of these 4" Diamond Blades for cutting Stone, Tile, and Marble. They are actually made for a 4" table saw, but they work with a hand drill if you use the correct size
Arbor, "1/2 inch". The blade is fairly cheap.... I think this one was 5 bucks.

Now you are not going to be able to cut through the geode, but you can "scribe" it all the way around. If I thought it was a real good geode, I'd scribe it to a depth of about 1/2. After I scribed it I used a chisel & hammer with the break following the
scribe line more often than not.

These blades are marked as a "Dry" blade so there is going to be a lot of dust. Don't forget breathing protecting especially for the kids.

Now days I use this same method to split Septerian Nodules, except I also carry a set of expanding wedges, "stone Splitting wedges".

Good luck, Woody.

Posted by: moog24 Jan 16 2018, 02:23 PM

Thanks Woody! you rock! pun intended lol

Posted by: Woody Feb 23 2018, 10:38 PM

Hey moog24 ,

Here is the other method I was referring to when attempting to split a large stone. This method results in edges that are for the most part, straight. 100 percent better than if you are just trying to go after it with a hammer.

Posted by: Woody Feb 23 2018, 10:41 PM

Here you see a Rock-splitting Wedge, or Expanding Wedge. It is paired with a Cement Drill bit of the same diameter.

I think they come in many sizes, I use 5/8s and got a seven pack at the time. I know they also come in three packs as well.

Posted by: Woody Feb 23 2018, 10:52 PM

I always start off by drilling a much smaller hole and then stepping it up to the correct size.

Small holes drill much easier and then stepping-up goes quick as well.

Posted by: Woody Feb 23 2018, 10:59 PM

For this size stone, one would probably suffice, but I you see the point. I’ve never had to use all seven.

Maybe this summer I will set out to find something on the scale of a Volkswagen, put them all to use at once.

Posted by: Woody Feb 23 2018, 11:13 PM

You see the fairly straight edge forming and the result. I got a little wild with my hammer and knocked a chunck out. Opps!

This looks like a good weekend to do some Nodule Splitting. High Country finally has a fair amount of snow and temps should be just perfect for a doing some work outside.

Enjoy the Weekend, Woody.

Posted by: rtomasi Jan 2 2019, 02:44 PM

Can anyone guide this very very newbie to areas near Highlands Ranch (within 100 or so miles) and what to look for? We are really "green" and need the help.