FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Bob Harman]

Bought at the 2007 Tucson Show is this pictured Mexican geode example plus its other half and several others of the same type. I also obtained the pictured poster with the marketing name of "Rock Candy Crystal Geodes".
Note that my example is the same example as pictured on the poster
These geodes are probably from Chihuahua State, but very different from the common Las Choyas "coconut" geodes and Trancas Estacion Mexican geodes.

These are quartz, var amethyst geodes with many many small, but well formed scepters, reverse scepters and small stellate amethyst crystal groupings.
Also some of the crystals show deep purple amethyst tips and/or bases.
The crystals are well formed and not a druze, as can easily be seen in the poster's inset pix. The groupings, when gently removed from the geode, make for nice small traditional amethyst scepter specimens.

At more recent shows, I have not seen any of this type Mexican geodes for sale.
Can anyone shed more light on this type Mexican geode including whether they continue to be mined. Thanks, Bob

[Peter Megaw]

These look like the geodes from Zacatecas and Aguascalientes...

Need an image of the rind and backside/outside though.

Love the little crystal groups

[Bob Harman]

Peter, Thanks for your expertise. Here are more pix of the rind and backside of another similar example.
I am most interested in knowing whether hi quality examples of these type geodes are still being mined. Bob

[Peter Megaw]

This helps...as do matrix shots for other "where is it from" posts

These don't show the ribs that characterize the Zacatecas geodes...not from there

The chloritic rind and quartz style is characteristic of the "other" style of geode from Estacion Trancas in Aldama, Chihuahua. This area produces some very cool chalcedony geodes as well as this style.

The area was quite productive in the late 90s to mid 2000s when the easy surface pickings were exhausted.

[Bob Harman]

Thanks Peter!

I find the "more usual" Estacion Trancas geodes also quite fascinating. Very interesting "twisted" quartz formations with fluorescent hyalite opal etc. These formations can also be culled out of the geodes to make very collectible small traditional specimens.

For those interested in reading more about these things, Jeffrey Smith, had an article in R&M vol 85 # 2 on the Mexican geode locality. He and his family visited the site, writing about it. At that time he also was a prolific collector and dealer in these specimens. We knew each other during that time, but I haven't heard of him or his website in recent years. Regards, Bob

[Peter Megaw]

To be clear...Estacion Trancas is 50 to 60km ESE of LaS Choyas...the classic "coconut" geode locality Jeff wrote about.

I don't think Trancas was really on anyone's radar back then. As I remember I started bringing large volumes of chalcedony geodes from Trancas out in the late 90s ...several tons worth, of which maybe 5% were really interesting.