Blue Marble NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Break Open 15 Premium Geodes - with Goggles, Detailed Learning Guide, 3 Display Stands, Great Stem Science Toy & Educational Kit

Bought this for my grandson and hubby to do as a project over the weekend. Not sure if I missed something in the write-up but I didn't realise that you need a chisel, luckily we have several at home.Some of the crystals are vastly more difficult than others and you can see from the pics that we had to upgrade the chisel to a brick bolster (big daddy chisel) to get some of them to open. It may have worked using the original chisel but after half an hour on one rock the replacement was recruited.Luckily most of the stones are easier to crack open and averaged 5 to 10 minutes with my 11-year-old grandson managing to do some on his own. He loved using the tools and this is a good way to start teaching them about handling tools.He was really excited with each one they opened and loved looking for the exact name of each in my crystal books. It was a shame that a lot of them were so similar - clear quartz, smokey quartz and pyrite being the bulk of them. There was no brightly coloured geode but still very nice.A couple were left whole simply because they looked so nice as they are. One is a naturally egg-shaped pyrite which looks like the golden egg of fairy tales. Its a pity that there aren't more display stands in the box and to be honest I am replacing those provided as they didn't seem suitable for any of the opened geodes (one was a nodule which is filled with crystal - one lesson we learned!)Overall I would definitely recommend this as a way of entertaining older children both whilst actually using and the interest it generates. You do need to use quite a bit of force so choose a dry day and work outside as you do get chips flying off - they do provide one set of goggles.Packaging was sturdy and protective without the extra packaging that you get with some products.please note that I received this item at a discount in order that I would provide my totally unbiased review. I base my reviews on personal experience of the product reflecting my genuine impressions.if you have found this review helpful please tick the yes box below

Be prepared to use your muscles. We purchased a large chisel with hand guard and used a small but weighty metal mallet. We positioned the rock in a towel nest on concrete in the garden, away from windows, and whacked away. These were purchased for a 8 year old who had great fun fitting them but just couldn't break some. All very exciting and all round a great gift. Everyone joined in and there were lots of oooooos and aaaaaahs.

Gift for my 9 year old. He loved using the hammer to break them and looking closely at the geodes. Due to the nature of the banging it really needs to be done outside so not the best time of year to do them but I know it will be great in warmer weather. Also quite tricky to do so definitely needs adult support.

Great gift

I was really looking forward to seeing what types of crystals i would get out of these but i was really disappointed when 3 rocks didn't have any crystals in and were just solid rock (i kept cracking them to see if there was a vain or anything but nothing). Also, we only got 2 type of crystals (clear quarts and calcite). Don't get me wrong they are all stunning in their own way but I was hoping for at least one other type so that everything wasn't just clear. Some of the stones were really hard to break so I wouldn't recommend kids to d this on their own.

Trying to find alternatives to video games? Think your kids will benefit from hitting things with a hammer? Then this gives you an afternoons worth of focus! Because there are 15 geodes and some are pretty tough, it gave the kids an activity for a good couple of hours. Each geode produces at least 3 sections, the larger ones many more. Some are a bit duff some are really beautiful. That’s part of the fun. Quite expensive, but good fun and a nice ornamental display

Waste of money, very disappointing. No colours at all, some different even have geo’s in!! 2 ok ones out of 15. Very disappointing for the money. Go to the shop and buy them instead.

Awesome geodes. Look amazing when cut, I would say don't smash them. Look way better cut or opened with a hammer and chisel. If you sand the outside a little makes it easier to break open into two halfs. Awesome value for money. Really enjoyed opening them. Some were thunder eggs more than Geodes, solid inside which I loved but some may not enjoy if they want it hollow with crystals. I think thunder eggs are way more beautiful when sanded so all good. Only 4 out of the 15. I got a good variety but not a fan of quartz geodes as I have lots. But the ones in the pack had larger clearly crystals which I loved. I break them up and make jewellery and keyrings off of them so amazing for me I sanded down one that broke into bits and it's turned purple. Which is awesome. Defo recommend If you like minerals, gems and rocks. 😁

Exitoso regalo de navidad

Good

Comprato per un regalo a mio figlio. Bello rompere col martello o col seghetto ed è una gioia immensa scoprire i cristalli all'interno, ogni pietra ha cristalli di diversi colori e forme. Una scoperta continua è come una ricerca del tesoro. Il prezzo ne vale veramente la pena.P.S.con un po' di voglia si possono fare anche dei piccoli gioielli.

Ich weiß wirklich nicht warum es so viele Beschwerden über blindgänger gibt, wir hatten keinen einzigen Stein wo wirklich kein "Glitzer" drin gewesen wäre. Wir hatten zwei richtig große schöne Steine, die wir mit einer Steinsäge geöffnet haben um eine schöne Schnittkante zu haben aber die kleinen waren für meinen Sohn viel spannender. Jeder stein ein Unikat, und selbst die kleinen Bruchstücke (siehe Video) könnten wir uns stundenlang anschauen. Und wenn man mal ne Niete dabei hat, darf man nicht vergessen, dass der Verkäufer vorher ja schlecht reinschauen kann. Mein Sohn, mein Vater und ich hatten sehr viel Spaß daran die Steine zu zersägen/ zerhämmern und danach die kleinen Wunder zu begutachten.

Son súperbonitas. Aunque no tan fácil de abrir siempre.Añadiría más soportes no solo 3, que vienen en el paquete.Me gustaría también saber que estos exactamente de donde proceden y cual es su sítio de origen. Quiénes los encuentran. Así sería más interesante y entera la experiencia.