Sam Lagor, MSc

Geologist

Sam Lagor is a Geologist with over eight years of experience. He specializes in engineering geology (dams, bridges, and tunnels) and mineral exploration (gold, lead/zinc, andindustrial minerals). Sam holds a BS in Geology from St. Lawrence University and an MS in Geology from The University of Vermont. He is also a member of the Geological Society of America and the American Institute of Professional Geologists.

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How can you tell if a rock is a geode?
To crack open a rock to see if it's a geode, I recommend getting a good quality rock hammer. Your typical carpenter's hammer is not the ideal tool for the job, so get a good rock hammer (an estwing hammer is probably the most common one that I see geologists work with). These hammers are different from regular hammers because they are reinforced steel, where the steel is made stronger by adding other metals into it. Make sure you wear safety goggles and gloves, too.

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Co-authored Articles (18)

How to

Identify Gold in Quartz

Real gold is a very rare and valuable metal. Because it's so rare, finding large pieces of gold in nature is unusual. However, you might be able to find smaller pieces of gold inside of rocks like quartz! If you have a p...

How to

Crack Open a Geode

If you've discovered a geode (a rounded rock formation with crystals or banding inside), you'll want to crack it open as safely and neatly as possible. Every geode is unique, and could hold anything from clear, pure quar...

7 Ways to Tell if Clear Quartz Is Real or Fake

Clear quartz can help you focus and clear your mind, but how can you tell if your crystal is the real deal? Unfortunately, there are many crystal scams out there, and some people may claim they’re selling you clear qua...

How to Tell If a Rock Is Kimberlite

Learn how to recognize kimberlite so you can search for diamondsKimberlite can be easy to identify if you know just what to look for. Kimberlite deposits are highly sought by geologists, miners, and rock hunters because ...

How to Engrave Stones & Rocks: Easy Steps (Plus FAQs)

Learn where to buy all the materials you need for engravingLearning to engrave stones provides you with a way to create decorative, artistic pieces that will last a lifetime from material you can find just about anywhere...

How to

Tell if a Crystal Is Real

You sense that a crystal in your collection isn’t working very well and you suspect it might be fake, but how can you tell? There are a lot of signs to look for, from the crystal shop itself to the way it feels in your...

How to

Tell if the Rock You Found Might Be a Meteorite

If you’ve come across a rock that looks positively out-of-this-world, there’s a possibility it may be a meteorite. Although meteorites are relatively rare on Earth, they’re not impossible to find in the wild. Howev...

How to

Break Big Rocks

Rocks are infamously durable and can be an eyesore in a garden, in a landscaping project or it may just be in the way. The problem usually is that the rock is too heavily embedded or it's simply too heavy to lift or roll...

How to

Find Geodes

Geodes may look like unexciting rocks on the surface, but hunting them down is worth it once you split one open to see the magical display that's inside. Whether you're going on a hiking trip or spending a day at the riv...

How to

Identify Agate

Agate, a variety of chalcedony, is a popular gemstone due to the characteristic bands that form inside of the stone and come in many colors, from deep reds and soft pinks to brilliant greens, deep blues, and everything i...

Rock or Artifact? A Guide to Ancient Stone Tool Identification

Spot the difference between Stone Age objects and regular rocks Have you found a rock that looks a little too sharp to be just any old stone? Well, it might not be! Our world is covered with rocks that date back million...

How to

Identify Tourmaline

Tourmaline is a type of mineral (a crystalline boron silicate, to be exact) formed by intense hydrothermal activity. Because it can be composed of so many different elements, tourmaline occurs in a wider variety of color...

How to

Identify Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic rocks are formed through immense pressure and heat below the surface of the earth. Many rocks used in architecture and design are metamorphic, like slate and marble. Determining whether a rock is metamorphic,...

How to

Identify Igneous Rocks

When you hold an igneous rock, the rock you hold in your hand is one of the oldest things in the world. Igneous rocks are formed from lava, magma or ash from a volcanic eruption or flow By becoming familiar with their d...

How to

Test Hardness of a Mineral

If you want to identify a mineral, a hardness test can give you valuable information. You'll probably need to do a scratch test to in order to find what minerals are harder than your sample. Then, you can refer to the Mo...

How to

Polish Pyrite Crystals

How to

Clean Geodes

A geode is a rock that contains crystals in a hollow cavity. When geodes are split open, you can see the crystals inside the rock. If you found a geode, you'll need to clean it so it shines. Cleaning a geode is easy and ...

A Beginner's Guide to Hag Stones & Their Spiritual Significance

Discover the folklore behind these magical holey stones A hag stone is any rock or mineral that has a natural hole in its center. Mainly based in British folklore, these stones are believed to have magical abilities that...