 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
. |
Torpedo Beds Thundereggs/Agates Baker Ranch, Hermanas, Luna CO., New Mexico |
. |  |
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
The name "Torpedo Beds" refers due
to the torpedo/cigar-like shape of the thundereggs as a result of being
stretched while molten as the lava flows at faster pace. The site is just
south of Baker Egg & Tavenier Mine and shares the same rhyolitic lava
beds as those mines. The site was originally opened by a mineral dealer
in search for scepter quartz crystals(I found one) but was abandoned due
to excess expense of running a mine on a state land.
The thundereggs from the Torpedo Beds are mostly quartz(sometimes amethyst) lined geodes while agate cores are quite small. A small percentage of thundereggs contain what may be most colorful agates ever found in New Mexico (if not North America), even rivaling those of Baker Eggs and Mexican agates. I was so impressed by those agates' wide range of colors that I am willing to spend a whole day digging just to find few colorful agates that can resemble Laguna, Union Road, Coyamito, Moctuzuma and Brazilian Agates. Many geodes and few solid agates can be found thru a patient digging and scraping the "dump piles" in search for small nodules and watch out for the little critters like giant centipedes, scorpions, millipedes and even tarantulas (I found those while digging) that make homes in the loose dirt. |
 |
 |
 |
|
of the thundereggs as a result of stretching while molten. March 2004 |
A typical geodic thunderegg found at Torpedo Beds,
March 2005 |
 |
 |
| Most agates cores are quite small like those above.
March 2005 |
This geode has few Scepter Quartz crystals,
a reason for the first mining attempt. |
 |
 |
 |
| First Agates found
March 2004 |
"Yellow Jacket" color, first agates found
March 2004. |
First agates found
March 2004 |
 |
 |
 |
| Amethyst geodes
March 2004 |
"Tillage Agate" March 2005
An evidence of tectonic activity |
Largest ever found so far
March 2007 |
 |
 |
 |
| Laguna-Like, March 2006 | Coyamito-like March 2006 | March 2006 |
 |
 |
 |
| USA Colors! March 2006 | March 2008 | March 2006 |
 |
 |
 |
| April 2006 | March 2007 | March 2006 |
 |
 |
 |
| March 2006 | March 2007 | Rare green & yellow, March 2009 |
 |
 |
|
| extreme shadowing effect, December 2009 | December 2009 |
You can see some Torpedo Bed Th-eggs/Agates for Sale at the Online Agate & Thunderegg Shop