Hamilton, IL – Rock-hounds from across the United States will meet in Hamilton to take part in the fifth annual Geode-Fest.
Organizer Mike Shumate expects more than 500 people to attend the event Sept. 25-27. He says as many as 40 states could be represented.
Shumate says the type of geodes they will find cannot be found anywhere else in the world. "These are anywhere from 300-million to 500-million years old," says Shumate, "they are sedimentary geodes as opposed to being volcanic."
Shumate says 5 guided hunts will be held with each lasting 4-hours. They will run at 8:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. on Friday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, Sept. 26 and at 9:00 A.M. on Sunday, Sept. 27.
Shumate says more than a dozen landowners in Illinois and Missouri are opening up their properties for the rock-hounds. He says there are no tours scheduled for Iowa, despite the fact that the landowners are paid for all of the geodes removed.
Shumate says there will be contests for largest, smallest, and ugliest geodes. He says there are also contests for the kids.
Registration will take place at the Great Lakes Boat Access Area parking lot along Illinois Route 96. Shumate says there will also be opportunities for people to buy, sell, and trade their geodes.