People view the 12-foot tall amethyst geode from Uruguay hosted at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Thanks to geological surveys and detailed chemical analysis, a team of ...

Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz which has been used as a gemstone for many centuries and is a key economic resource in northern Uruguay. Geodes are hollow rock formations often with quartz ...

Amethyst geodes—some stretching 5 m long—dot the ancient lava flows of Uruguay’s Los Catalanes mining area. The geodes contain calcite, colorless quartz, and agate, another quartz mineral. Large ...

Lots of kids collect minerals, but Richard Berger wasn’t one of them. The Bronx native didn’t see his first chunk of quartz until he was in his 20s. Disillusioned with medical school, Berger was ...

When it comes to home accents that add character and color, crystals like geodes deliver the goods. These rock structures with internal cavities filled with minerals can be absolutely captivating.

Wear jeans and bring along a small pickax. Expect crowds, but don’t worry — crystal enthusiasts tend to be a genial, family-friendly lot. By Malia Wollan “If you’re looking for crystals, Arkansas is ...