Geodes
Hollow, crystal-lined nodules — distinct from the solid thunder eggs covered separately on this site — documented at four BLM sites across Arizona, California, and Utah, with Dugway Geode Beds in Utah standing out for a genuine range of interior crystal types in one deposit.
A geode is a hollow nodule lined with crystal on the inside — the exterior is often an unremarkable, clay-coated rounded rock that gives no hint of what's inside until it's cut or cracked open. That's a genuinely different structure from a thunder egg, which is solid all the way through; this site tracks them as separate materials, matching the distinction the source Site pages themselves draw.
Dugway Geode Beds in Utah is the standout documented locality, not just for volume but for variety — quartz, calcite, selenite, and pale amethyst linings have all been reported from the same general deposit, which is unusual range for one site.
Sites where geodes are documented
| Site | State | Verdict | What's notable there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dugway Geode Beds (BLM) | Utah | Allowed | Quartz, calcite, selenite, and pale amethyst linings all documented from the same deposit — genuine variety in one place |
| Wiley Well (BLM) | California | Allowed | The site's primary target; golf-ball to softball size, clear quartz or chalcedony crystal linings |
| Black Hills Rockhound Area | Arizona | Allowed | Hollow nodules with quartz crystal interiors, sizes vary |
| Quartzsite (BLM) | Arizona | Allowed | Geodes and thunder eggs concentrated in specific volcanic zones in the Plomosa and Dome Rock Mountains |
Verdicts and notes reflect each site's own published page as of this writing. Confirm current land status and any digging restrictions on the specific Site page — Dugway, for example, prohibits tunneling.
Geode or thunder egg?
A geode is hollow, typically crystal-lined inside. A thunder egg is solid rhyolite with an agate, chalcedony, or jasper-filled interior. See this site's separate Thunder Eggs page for the solid-nodule version — the two are easy to confuse from the outside but are genuinely different finds.
Where Geodes Is Documented
Dugway Geode Beds
UtahAllowedQuartz, calcite, selenite, and pale amethyst linings all documented from the same deposit.
Wiley Well District / Hauser Geode Beds
CaliforniaAllowedThe site's primary target; golf-ball to softball size, quartz or chalcedony linings.
Black Hills Rockhound Area (BLM Yuma Field Office)
ArizonaAllowedHollow nodules with quartz crystal interiors.
Quartzsite BLM Open Desert
ArizonaAllowedConcentrated in specific volcanic zones in the Plomosa and Dome Rock Mountains.
Each site’s own page is the source of truth on current rules and limits — this page only gathers what’s already documented there. Verdicts shown reflect that site as a whole, not this material specifically, since a single site can allow one material while restricting another.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a geode and a thunder egg?
A geode is hollow with a crystal-lined interior. A thunder egg is solid, with an agate, chalcedony, or jasper filling rather than an open crystal cavity. Both can look like plain rounded rocks from the outside.
Is digging for geodes allowed at these sites?
Surface and hand-tool collecting is generally allowed under each site's personal-use rules, but Dugway Geode Beds specifically prohibits tunneling per its BLM site page — check the specific Site page for any digging restriction before you go.
Related Materials
Disclaimer
Information is provided for general guidance only. Regulations change frequently. Always verify current rules with the official jurisdiction before relying on this information for legal decisions. Permitted Pursuits is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Report an error.
Last updated: 2026-08-20