Description: Dugway GeodesCrystal Filled Volcanic Gas Bubbles from the West Desert of Utah What is a Dugway Geode? Dugway geodes are bubble-shaped rocks that have a hard outer shell composed of agate called a rind. Inside the agate shell is a hollow cavity filled with small quartz crystals. Geodes occur in deposits all over the world and each one has its own unique characteristics, colors and patterns depending on the geology of the area where it is found. As for Dugway geodes, the only place in the world where they can be found is in western Utah.Collecting Location: & Age These specimens come from the Dugway Geode Bed, which is located just north of the historic Pony Express trail in a small valley near the Dugway Mountains in Juab County, Utah. The geodes were formed during the Miocene Age, approximately 6 to 8 million years ago. How Are Dugway Geodes Formed?These geodes started out as gas bubbles trapped in ancient lava flows. To understand their origin you have to go back 6 to 8 million years when volcanos were very active in western Utah. During this time the Thomas Range and Dugway Mountains were formed as rhyolitic lava repeatedly erupted on to the surface of the earth. As the lava cooled, gas bubbles of all different sizes got trapped inside the lava.Now you have a bunch of bubbles trapped in your lava, what’s next? They slowly get filled with minerals. This happens when groundwater, saturated primarily with calcite and quartz, percolates down from the surface and is deposited in the cavitates. The term for this process is precipitation and the result is crystal-filled, volcanic gas bubbles or, more commonly, geodes. How Were the Dugway Geodes Beds Created?You now have bunch of beautiful geodes buried in the lava deposits on the sides of the mountains. The next question is, “How did they wind up on the valley floor?” Jump in your time machine and go back approximately 32,000 to 14,000 years. You will find that an ancient body of water, known today as Lake Bonneville, covered a good portion of western Utah. The wave activity in the lake eroded the geode-bearing rhyolite in the mountains, loosening the geodes from the rock. Once free from the rock, the geodes were washed downhill and redeposited several miles away with other lake bed sediments. You can see this first hand when you dig in the bed. You will find that there are several distinct layers of geodes present and each layer represents a different time in the history of Lake Bonneville. Geodes have been found as deep as 25 feet below the valley surface. Where Did the Name Come From?The name Dugway comes from the nearby Dugway Mountains, named by early pioneers. The absence of roads and passes through the mountains forced the trail blazers to dig a trench just wide enough for the wagon wheels to enter on the uphill side of the wagon to keep the wagon from tipping. Satisfaction GuaranteedWe strive to provide you with the highest quality material, timely service and polite customer service, regardless of whether we have finished our morning cup of coffee or not. If we have fallen short in any of these categories please contact us prior to providing feedback so that we may attempt to remedy any concerns you may have about the product or transaction. Thanks.
Price: 24 USD
Location: Sandy, Utah
End Time: 2025-01-20T01:05:32.000Z
Shipping Cost: 12.95 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Modification Description: Washed & Sized
Featured Refinements: Geode
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Modified Item: No
California Prop 65 Warning: n/a
