Thunder Egg Agate
What is a Thunder Egg?
Wikipedia says, "A thunderegg (or thunder egg) is a nodule-like geological structure, similar to a geode, that is formed within a rhyolitic lava flow."
Appearance & Composition
Thundereggs are rough spheres, most about the size of a baseball – though they can range from less than an inch to over a meter across. They usually contain centers of chalcedony in the form of agate, jasper or opal, either uniquely or in combination. Also frequently encountered are quartz and selenite crystals, as well as various other mineral growths and inclusions. Thundereggs usually look like ordinary rocks on the outside, but slicing them in half and polishing them may reveal intricate patterns and colors. A characteristic feature of thundereggs is that (like other agates) the individual beds they come from can vary in appearance, though they can maintain a certain specific identity within them.
History
According to ancient Native American legend, when the Thunder Spirits living in the highest recesses of snowcapped Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson became angry with one another, amid violent thunder and lightning storms they would hurl masses of these spherical rocks at each other. The hostile gods obtained these weapons by stealing eggs from the Thunderbirds’ nests, thus the source of the name "Thundereggs."
State Rock of Oregon
On March 30, 1965, the thunderegg was designated as the Oregon state rock by a joint resolution of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. While thundereggs can be collected all over Oregon, the largest deposits are found in Crook, Jefferson, Malheur, Wasco and Wheeler counties.
Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderegg
http://www.naturenw.org/rock-thundereggs.htm
Richardson’s Ranch
Richardson’s Ranch : Photo Gallery
Richardson’s Ranch Rockhounding
Tags: native american legend, oregon state rock, thunder agate, thunder egg, thunder spirits, thunderegg
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