thunderegg

Agate-filled volcanic rock

A thunderegg is a round, rough-looking rock that reveals colorful crystalline patterns—usually agate or chalcedony—when cut open.

Found in volcanic ash deposits, the plain exterior conceals spectacular interior formations.

The name supposedly comes from Native American legend about thunder spirits hurling the stones.

We collected thundereggs in the Oregon desert.

composition

agate

Banded semiprecious stone

  • chalcedonyTranslucent microcrystalline silica variety
  • quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
  • opalHydrated silica gemstone

jasper · silica · crystal · druzy · geode · matrix · rind · cortex · shell · core

formation

rhyolite

Pale volcanic igneous rock

nodule · vesicle · cooling · precipitation · infilling · concentric · banding · cavity · void · pyroclastic

geology

Oregon

Northwestern U.S. state

Mexico · Argentina · Australia · lapidary · rockhound · specimen · locality · deposit · claim · excavation

collectible

specimen

Individual for examination

polished · cut · slab · bookend · sphere · tumbled · rockhound · trade · value · rare

Opposites
geological formation type

thundereggfossil

Preserved ancient organism

amber · petrified wood · coprolite · ammonite · sedimentary rock

Family

thundered

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Rated G