The Thunderegg is Oregon's Official Rock---Does Your State Have One?

My brother-in-law was an avid rock hound so I have seen quite a few Thundereggs in my day. These rocks, other than usually being round or oval shaped, are rather plain and even dull on the outside, but just wait until you see what is hiding inside that hard shell.

My favorite legend about Thundereggs comes from the Native Americans who claimed that Thunder Gods who lived in two of Oregon's highest mountains became angry with each other and stole eggs to use as weapons against each other from the nests of birds known as Thunderbirds. The eggs were the rocks we know today as Thundereggs.

No one knows for sure how Thundereggs, which come in a variety of sizes, are formed, except that they are a product of volcanic lava flow. They look like a geode with a rough, warty-looking outer shell, but once a rockhound cuts into the Thunderegg, he will see an interior lining of iron or other mineral substances.

Inside this lining is what the dissector of the rock is looking for. Occasionally, he or she will be disappointed and find a hollow interior, but Thundereggs are fairly common so a hollow one can be tossed aside and the rockhound can move on to his next specimen. This time the reward will likely be a gorgeous array of different minerals forming a one-of-a-kind pattern to delight all who observe it.

It is impossible to list all the ingredients one might find inside a Thunderegg. Some have opal, others an agate like material, some chalcedony, jasper, carnelian, or quartz crystals. And, best of all, most have unique bandings, layering, faults that make gorgeous designs running throughout the rock. When sawed in slabs, moss and fern-like patterns show up and some of the slabs look like artistic paintings.

To me, some of the prettiest Thundereggs are those that are partially hollow inside with white and purple crystal growths around all the edges.

Most Oregon Thundereggs are about 2 to 5 or 6 inches in size, but a few have been found that are huge in comparison. I actually heard of one that weighed a ton. I would like to have seen what was hidden inside that one.

Oregon is not the only place you can find Thundereggs, but it is the only state in the United States to designate the Thunderegg as its official state rock. They did this officially in 1965, although mining the rocks had been a profitable business long before that. Nyssa, a small town near the eastern border of Oregon calls itself the Thunderegg capitol of the world and has a Thunderegg festival every summer to celebrate. In truth, Thundereggs can be found in just about every country in the world, although Nyssa, Oregon does seem to have more than its share.

Visitors to Oregon and residents alike can set out to hunt for Thundereggs in Central and Eastern Oregon on their own, but should make sure they aren't trespassing on private land before hauling out the shovels. There are a number of well-known rockhound ranches in Oregon where you can also go to dig for the strange shaped rocks. A lot of people like the ranches best because the owners are usually generous about giving advice about the best spots for digging and about the rocks you actually come back with at the end of your dig. The larger ranches use heavy equipment to plow up new areas frequently so that your chances of finding plenty of rocks are increased. Since you only pay for the rocks you actually keep so this is a great option.

Other digging areas may, for a fee, slice your rock for you if you don't have rock cutting equipment of your own. They also, as do most tourist areas, usually have items made from Thundereggs which you can purchase if you are willing to meet their price. Lamps, bolero clips, paperweights and jewelry are some of the most common items sold.

At rock shows, I have seen single slices of Thundereggs sell for as low as one or two dollars each up to $35 for especially fine specimens. Huge, partially hollow Thundereggs with colored quartz inside often sell for much more.

If you are looking for something different to do with the kids this summer, why not search out a site near you and do some Thunderegg mining? The younger kids will end up with great items for "show-and-tell" after school starts in the fall, and the older ones with nice specimens to begin or continue a serious rock collection.

What about mom and dad? Trust me-you, as mom and dad, will have even more fun than the kids, and will start making plans for next year's trip as soon as you get home.

If you live in or near Oregon, the links listed below will direct you to some web-sites that will help you in your search for good Thunderegg hunting areas. If you live elsewhere, do a Google search to see what you can come up with for an area closer to home.

Places To Hunt Thundereggs:

1. http://www.orerockon.com/Richards.htm

2. http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/recreation/rockhounding/where-whis.shtml

3. http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/recreation/rockhounding/where-white.shtml