Post by blacky on Feb 3, 2010 3:58:56 GMT 10
The Coso Geode
Geodes resemble ordinary stones from the outside, usually spherical, or elliptical in nature, and sometimes hollow, but their
cavities can contain a wonderful display of crystal structures and minerals. When sawn in half they reveal their wonderful displays,
and are highly sought after by rock collectors. I have about 40 of them, cut and uncut and I never tire of looking at the patterns within.
In 1961 a fossil encrusted geode (although this one was not hollow) was picked up in the Coso Mountains, six miles northeast
of Olancha, California, near the top of a 4300' peak overlooking the dry bed of Owens Lake by some rockhounds. What was
discovered after it had been cut in half, ruining a diamond saw blade in the process, is something that has caused much debate
over the years, and continues to this day.
The geode as it was found.
In the middle of the geode was a metal core approximately .08" in diameter. Encircling this was what appeared to be a ceramic
casing which was also surrounded by a hexagonal sleeve of wood, which had become petrified. This was encased by the outer
layer of the geode which was made up of hardened clay, pebbles, and bits of fossil shell, and two nonmagnetic metallic objects
resembling a nail and a washer. A fragment of copper still remaining between the ceramic material and the petrified wood
indicates that possibly the two may have been separated by a copper sleeve.
This what the rockhounds saw when they cut it in half.
X-rays of the objects were taken and examined by Paul Willis, then editor of INFO Journal who noticed a startling similarity
between it and a modern spark plug. An unnamed geologist in the original report of the find came up with an age estimate
of 500,000 years based on the fossils contained in the matrix (note-this would not indicate what date the accretion was formed).
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how can this be explained?
Geodes resemble ordinary stones from the outside, usually spherical, or elliptical in nature, and sometimes hollow, but their
cavities can contain a wonderful display of crystal structures and minerals. When sawn in half they reveal their wonderful displays,
and are highly sought after by rock collectors. I have about 40 of them, cut and uncut and I never tire of looking at the patterns within.
In 1961 a fossil encrusted geode (although this one was not hollow) was picked up in the Coso Mountains, six miles northeast
of Olancha, California, near the top of a 4300' peak overlooking the dry bed of Owens Lake by some rockhounds. What was
discovered after it had been cut in half, ruining a diamond saw blade in the process, is something that has caused much debate
over the years, and continues to this day.
The geode as it was found.
In the middle of the geode was a metal core approximately .08" in diameter. Encircling this was what appeared to be a ceramic
casing which was also surrounded by a hexagonal sleeve of wood, which had become petrified. This was encased by the outer
layer of the geode which was made up of hardened clay, pebbles, and bits of fossil shell, and two nonmagnetic metallic objects
resembling a nail and a washer. A fragment of copper still remaining between the ceramic material and the petrified wood
indicates that possibly the two may have been separated by a copper sleeve.
This what the rockhounds saw when they cut it in half.
X-rays of the objects were taken and examined by Paul Willis, then editor of INFO Journal who noticed a startling similarity
between it and a modern spark plug. An unnamed geologist in the original report of the find came up with an age estimate
of 500,000 years based on the fossils contained in the matrix (note-this would not indicate what date the accretion was formed).
how can this be explained?
Happy New Years Everybody!!!