Geode Prospecting in Missouri
Geodes are ordinary-looking rocks formed
by organic deposits within 300 million-year-old mud which, when split apart,
reveal a gem-like treasure of sparkling quartz hidden inside. 
Geodes occur naturally in Iowa, Missouri, and Kentucky and one of the best geode
areas is located near Keokuk, Iowa, just north of the Missouri
border. Up until the spring of 2006, you could even "dig your
own" geodes at the Sheffler Rock Shop property along Highway 61 in
Alexandria, Missouri (just south of Keokuk, IA).
In the Spring of 2006, Construction of an expanded Highway 61 thru the Sheffler property forced closure of both the rock shop and the digging mines. In case you missed it, there was a good article about this in the St. Louis Post Dispatch on March 27, 2006.
Two years ago (about 2009) Betty's son Tim reopened both the rock shop and digging area for geode prospectors. You may call Tim at (660) 754-1134 for hours and more information about the digging mine.
During our normal berry hours of operation at Lakeview Farms, children are given the opportunity to prospect for rough geodes in our creek as a part of the Gold Prospecting Activity -- there has been only two local geodes found in our creek in over 10 years, however. Those wishing to improve their odds of finding geodes at Lakeview Farms would be better advised to try our mining activity and concentrate digging in the black mine. There are no guarantees as to the origin of the very pretty polished geodes that you will usually find, however.