{"id":22018,"date":"2023-09-11T03:00:52","date_gmt":"2023-09-11T10:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/?p=22018"},"modified":"2023-09-10T13:34:52","modified_gmt":"2023-09-10T20:34:52","slug":"las-choyas-geodes-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rockngem.com\/las-choyas-geodes-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Las Choyas Geodes 101"},"content":{"rendered":"

Geodes are popular no matter what the type. It\u2019s hard to resist the mystery and challenge of what\u2019s inside these rather plain-looking round rocks. Arguably though, Las Choyas Geodes<\/a> are the most popular, attainable, and collectible geodes available to geode enthusiasts.<\/p>\n

These Mexican geodes are different than their cousins, Trancas geodes<\/a>. They are found in one small area just slightly north and east of Chihuahua City and are known in the trade as \u201cMexican Coconuts.\u201d Collectible in this case does not mean field collectible as production is pretty much confined to one area owned by one family.<\/p>\n

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Pin this post to save this information for later.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unlike giant geodes<\/a>, Las Choyas geodes for sale in rock shops and gem and mineral shows are between 2.5 and 3.5 inches in diameter although they can range up to six inches in diameter. Almost all are spherical in shape thus affirming our concept of what shape a geode should have.<\/p>\n

Because the opportunity for field collecting is not available to the general public, most hobbyists will usually only have a few Las Choyas geodes in their collection.<\/p>\n

The word geode comes from Ancient Greek and means \u201cearthlike.\u201d For the metaphysical believer, geodes, like Las Choyas geodes, are said to bring flow, harmony and resilience to the bearer.<\/p>\n

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The interior of this geode has a combination of white quartz and the popular amethyst quartz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How They Are Formed<\/h2>\n

Unlike the famous Keokuk geodes that form in a sedimentary environment, Las Choyas geodes form in an igneous environment. This environment comes about as a result of a volcanic eruption producing an ash flow that contains bubbles that are trapped in the rhyolitic tuff rock formation when it solidifies.<\/p>\n

These hollows in the rock provide the chamber where the mineral-rich fluids flow to start the process of geode formation. The total process may take millions of years and involves a complex series of geological events that ultimately yield these spectacular geodes.<\/p>\n

The actual process of growth and development of these Las Choyas geodes is complex. Chalcedony<\/a> rind formation is common, but it is not unique. In some of these geodes, siderite (FeCO3<\/sub>) forms the rind.<\/p>\n

While quartz (SiO2<\/sub>)<\/a> and calcite (CaCO3<\/sub>)<\/a> are the most common minerals, 18 different minerals have been identified in Las Choyas geodes. Most of these minerals are very rare with a few only found using a scanning electron microscope!<\/p>\n

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Light amethyst provides a pleasing backdrop for the dog tooth calcite crystals in this geode.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minerals Commonly Found in Las Choyas Geodes<\/h2>\n

This list contains the minerals that the geode hobbyist might visibly encounter in their Las Choyas collection. The remaining minerals found in the Las Choyas geodes are either too small or rare that they will not be encountered by the geode hobbyist.<\/p>\n

Las Choyas geodes can be hollow, semi-hollow, or completely filled and solid.<\/p>\n