There's something distinctly mysterious and cool about geodes... rocks hidden in plain sight that contain a astonishing array of crystals within, just waiting to be discovered. There are a lot of ...

Gabriela Farfan, the Smithsonian's curator of gems and minerals, answers the internet's burning questions about gemstones. Are all minerals crystals? How are diamonds cut? How do geodes form? Is the ...

Imagine walking through a dusty, arid landscape when you stumble upon a seemingly ordinary rock. Its rough exterior might not catch the eye, but what lies within surely will. Geodes are one of ...