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Field CollectingTexas Rock Collecting Sites
6th Apr 2010 20:08 UTCTanya Cole
Llano River Public Access Entry Point, near downtown Llano: lat=30.7503786438, lon=-98.6668755605
I thought this first place was well known...but, I didn't get any results when I did the search for it here. The Llano River has an amazing variety of rocks - many are creekworn but there are some decent size rocks on the banks. I found things like schist, gneiss, mica, quartz, granite and several other pretty specimens that I haven't identified yet. The water at this point of entry was about ankle deep in most places and there are several large boulders you can rest on while you pick through the endless cache of river rocks.
Pics attached are of river & bank, rocks on the bank and pebbles & rocks in the water (keep in mind that the appearance of the rocks under water is altered from shadows).
If anyone has any coordinates on other public access entry points, please share :)
6th Apr 2010 22:40 UTCDenise Bicknell
6th Apr 2010 23:53 UTCTanya Cole
I'll post info on another spot I ran across with public access where I found some pegmatite which contains some crystals - but, I'm not sure which mineral...maybe tourmaline. I'll include a picture...
7th Apr 2010 00:31 UTCTanya Cole
There are a couple of spots (public access/side of the road) in addition to this one along this road where you can find pegmatite bearing granite outcroppings. Attached is a picture of a chunk I got that has some nice crystals...of which mineral, I am uncertain. There's also a picture of one of the outcroppings.
5th Sep 2021 20:30 UTCKayla Hatch
7th Apr 2010 01:31 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
7th Apr 2010 01:50 UTCTanya Cole
About the public access areas - you are right! They are very difficult to find. Luckily, I enjoy searching for spots almost (at a different level) as much as looking for rocks. After spending a lot of time prospecting to find legal, public places to find rocks, I like sharing the spots with others...which is why I started this post. But, I can see how just one of two spots might not be worth the trip for someone unless they live close. Oh well...I'll still post the other spots I've found later when I have time. Maybe they'll be helpful to someone. :)
12th May 2010 07:34 UTCFranklin Roberts
For a real treat, might I suggest the Fly Gap Road? It's a dirt road that runs several miles south from highway 71, 10 miles northeast of Mason. There are dozens of pegmatite exposures on both sides of the road. Pay particular attention to the low water crossings and bar ditches, especially after a heavy rain. One day after a rain, I spotted what looked like black fingers sticking up from the roadbed. They turned out to be three perfect 5-7 cm dark smoky quartz crystals. You will find green epidote, black ilmenite crystals, orange spessartine garnets and beautiful silvery books of muscovite mica all along the road.
BTW, I'm familiar with the exposure on the Old Mason Road. The dark crystals are indeed greenish-black schorl tourmaline. You should also find nice crystalline magnetite specimens in the road at the same site. There is another site a mile or two north of that one with beautiful strawberry quartz crystals and bright gemmy green fluorite. PM me for details.
Frank
20th May 2010 20:28 UTCTanya Cole
Tanya
27th May 2010 18:09 UTCLori Simon
I understand that in March you arranged for the Fredericksburg Club to hunt on the Quarry at Willow City Loop. Is this something that you could do for other clubs.
I am the field trip coordinator for the Dallas Gem and Mineral Society and we would love to be able to come and hunt there.
My email is Lori.Ltr@gmail.com Could you email me. I would love to talk about places to take my group to hunt. I also have some questions about other places I have heard from but cannot find.
Thank you so much
Lori
11th Jun 2010 06:47 UTCFranklin Roberts
I sent you an e-mail, but so far, no response. I'll answer your questions here.
Yes, I take groups, mostly clubs and university geology students to many sites in the Llano Uplift. I also take individuals from time to time. I almost never charge for this because I enjoy the company. There is only one site, the White Eagle copper-silver mine where the land owner requests $10 (US) per person, per day to dig copper minerals. PM me if you are interested.
Frank
18th Aug 2010 02:24 UTCMark Stave
18th Aug 2010 06:27 UTCDavid Aldridge
--David Aldridge
20th Aug 2010 04:48 UTCTanya Cole
30th Aug 2010 17:33 UTCAmethyst Girl
30th Aug 2010 17:53 UTCAmethyst Girl
I read the tip you gave Tanya on May 12, 2010 and I have just discovered and was sooo excited that Mason County is known for the blue topaz and that it is found within the borders of the state only in Mason County and that it occurs in granite outcroppings principally in the Streeter, Grit, and Katemcy areas. That blue topaz is usually found in streambeds and ravines but occasionally can be located atop the ground. I want to go to these sites, but it is still soooo very hot here in Texas right now.
This particular website mentions Sequist Ranch and Lindsay Ranch, have you been to either one of these places for topaz hunting, if so, did you find anything?
Also have in mind to go agate hunting at the Woodward Ranch in Oct. or Nov., but blue topaz hunting is more appealing to me before agate hunting.
30th Aug 2010 20:45 UTCAleš Tomek Expert
I was to Seaquist Ranch in november 2 years ago. Whole day working in the stream bed and doing some digging into the pegmatite rock (the place was shown to me by Mike Seaquist) - just one small (4mm) topas in the river bed (none at the pegmatite..) was the result! But the the nature was the biggest adventure - the first time I have seen alive armadillo...exciting for a guy from central Europe. At least I have seen (and hold) some big pieces of topas in jewellery shop in Mason.
Good luck on Your trip!
Aleš.
30th Aug 2010 21:54 UTCElizabeth Muniz
1st Sep 2010 05:43 UTCFranklin Roberts
I've heard that Delores Lindsey is no longer permitting rockhounds to hunt topaz on her ranch. Evidently one of the guests did something to ruin it for the rest of us. As far as I know, that leaves only the Seaquist Ranch open for collecting. I'll call D and find out what's going on. I've never hunted on the Seaquist, but have found small crystals of topaz in miarolytic cavities in a shallow pegmatite on the Lindsey Ranch. I also found two water-worn 1 cm pieces in a low water crossing on Blackjack Road, northeast of Mason. Strangely enough, the first blue topaz I ever found was taken from the Llano River at Kingsland, 40 miles east of Mason, in Llano County. No doubt it worked its way downstream from Mason County.
Earlier this month, I identified a couple of potential hot collecting spots in the Katemcy area that are on public right of way and therefore legal to access without permission. Until this brutal heat slacks off a bit however, they will have to wait. If either (or both) of you want to come along the next time I head to Mason County, you're more than welcome.
Frank
3rd Sep 2010 06:51 UTCTanya Cole
Anyway - in answer to your question, I've hunted on Lindsey Creek Ranch (didn't know it was closed to us now - that's too bad) and I've hunted at Seaquist Ranch. You can definitely find Topaz at Seaquist Ranch. I didn't find any myself - but, several people found some while we were there. There were a couple of guys that come to hunt fairly often that seem to have a lot of success finding Topaz. Mr. Seaquist said they usually overturn enough dirt/gravel to fill up the back of a dump truck. They were working the creek the day I was there (probably for the same reason I was digging in the creek - it was rather hot!). From what I could tell, their strategy seemed to involve picking a spot, taking turns shoveling and sifting (using an oversized screen box) and then moving on to a new spot. I’d like to go back again when it’s not as hot so I can do some exploring. They have a lot of land that you can access, including a lot with granite outcroppings. We tried banging on some when we were there – but, it was just too hot to be on those rocks!
Ahhh Big Bend – that is an excellent choice for rockhounding. I haven’t been there yet - but, I really, really want to plan a trip sometime soon. I just got an email with some information about some Big Bend rock hunting trips. I think Frank probably got the message too. So, if you send a private message to either me or Frank, one of us can forward the email to you.
Have fun enjoying your new hobby! :)
Tanya
3rd Sep 2010 06:54 UTCTanya Cole
3rd Sep 2010 15:58 UTCFranklin Roberts
Frank
7th Sep 2010 18:33 UTCDavid Oberle
21st Sep 2010 04:27 UTCmarilyn olson
25th Sep 2010 00:12 UTCFranklin Roberts
15th Oct 2010 21:35 UTCStephen C. Blyskal Expert
The Woodward Ranch is the only public place to hunt that I know of in the Davis mountains area. There are some places along the road to Ft Davis from Alpine, and from Ft Davis N, just outside Wild Rose Canyon where agate can be found if you are lucky. My wife and I have found some nice pieces of Balmorhea Blue agate and brown moss agate along the road in outcrops and gravel in stream crossings. We even found some pink opal at an outcrop N. of Alpine where there had been a rockfall last winter. The lady who runs the rock shop in Ft. Davis (n. of downtown, on the left) has information about collecting on the roads.
For getting into other ranches you need to contact Teri Smith at the Antelope Lodge in Alpine. She has agreements with several of the ranchers and leads field trips to the ranches for agate. If you PM me with your email address I will forward an email she sent out this fall advertising her services to lead trips. She knows where a lot of the good hunting places are on the ranches.
15th Oct 2010 21:39 UTCStephen C. Blyskal Expert
Check out the Houston Gem and Mineral Society website - www.hgms.org for information on field trips to various parts of the state. I have been collecting petrified wood on public lands in Texas for over 7 years, and know of several localities. Others are fee based, but not expensive. See my note to Dave about W. Texas agate hunting. Denise, another HGMS member, has been to a number of TX sites and is a good resource. Frank Roberts is the best for the Hill Country.
19th Oct 2010 04:50 UTCScott Galbraith
I started to catalog the GPS coordinates of those locations on my website findingrocks.com last year, but I realized that most spots weren't field collecting sites but just geological points of interest.
9th Feb 2011 04:00 UTCJennifer Pocurull Pocurull
I am new to serious rockhounding. As a kid I used to go with my grandmother but now would love to take my 10 year old son on a trip over spring break weekend to the Llano uplift. I've been following this post and made note of places suggested by Franklin and would also want to know if Franklin would be available as a guide and teacher. Just to recap the places mentioned here are some places I would love to get an assortment or rocks and minerals...
Kingsland
Katmay
Fly gap road and 1-2 miles north where there Is strawberry quartz and green florite.
Streeter, Grit and Katemcy
Sequist, Lindsey and Woodward Ranches
Blackjack road NE of Mason
Would love to hear from someone as soon as possible so we can begin planning our trip, where to stay etc. I've never been there so will need a lot of direction. Also tips on supplies and things we would need, where to get them and so on would be great. And if anyone happens to know of activities for the rest of the family we could use this too.
Thank
21st Sep 2011 20:54 UTCNick Spero
28th Oct 2012 02:09 UTCKen Goslee
30th Oct 2012 11:02 UTCkenny howell
15th Nov 2012 15:30 UTCalex
THANKS!!!
Alex Diner
Gainesville, FL
2nd Jan 2013 03:17 UTCFranklin Roberts
Frank
18th Jan 2013 18:17 UTCAmber
28th Feb 2013 06:08 UTCJacob Tanner
Thanks in advance for your time! I have huge respect for your guru status and geologic knowledge =)
8th Apr 2013 23:13 UTCFranklin Roberts
Guru, really?
Frank
22nd Apr 2013 18:00 UTCFranklin Roberts
This site was a private hard-rock topaz mine from the mid 1950's until the lease was terminated for non-performance in 1990. During that time it was only worked on weekends from about 1954 until 1968, when both lessees became too old to continue. Most of the gem bearing pegmatite is unexcavated. The pegmatite itself is composed of miarolytic granite studded with pockets of beautiful emerald-green fluorite and the occasional light blue euhedral topaz crystal. Next to the pegmatite is another composed of millions of small 1-5 cm quartz points, many colored pink with inclusions of hematite. They occur singly and in beautiful clusters. This pegmatite also contains many tons of perfect 3-6 cm crystals of pink microcline weathered from the granite.
The site is located in rolling ranch land with no undue hazards to collectors, other than the occasional cactus and rattlesnake, so the site is perfect for children. There are also several large tailings piles loaded with quartz and fluorite for those averse to heavy rock work. From time to time I will probably put in small low energy blasts across the pit to fracture the granite and expose fresh material for collection.
If you are interested in collecting at this new site, drop me a PM. Collecting will only be permitted on weekends as I do have a full time day job as a television engineer in Austin. In no circumstances will unescorted access be made available.
Fluorite from this site: http://www.mindat.org/photo-329611.html
Frank
22nd Apr 2013 18:49 UTCFranklin Roberts
2nd May 2013 00:30 UTCEric Clemons
27th Sep 2013 23:09 UTCDeborah Karen
28th Sep 2013 04:33 UTCFranklin Roberts
Frank
1st Oct 2013 17:46 UTCDeborah Karen
1st Oct 2013 18:36 UTCKelly Nash 🌟 Expert
1st Oct 2013 21:20 UTCFranklin Roberts
12th Nov 2013 17:07 UTCDoris Medd
16th Nov 2013 23:16 UTCLarry Becker
My wife and I are making our first trip south to Texas from Northern Minnesota. I have enjoyed agate picking on the shores of Lake Superior with my son and his family. We are heading for San Antonio the first week of December with our camper. I thought it would be fun to do some rock pickin' in Texas while we are there. We will stay in the Austin area on our way down and head to Corpus Christi and Houston as we head east. Do you have any ideas for finding fossils and cool rocks while I'm there?
18th Nov 2013 19:50 UTCFranklin Roberts
There isn't much in the way of collecting sites in the Corpus Christi or Houston areas since both cities are built on mud and silt. If you can arrange to be in the Austin area on the weekend of December 7th or 8th, I'm guiding a group each day to a different site. On Saturday, the 7th we will be going to my Emerald Ridge site in Mason County, about 100 miles west of Austin. On Sunday, we will be going to the Badu Hill Pegmatite in Llano County, about 68 miles west of Austin. For more info on the sites and to sign up, go to www.baringerhill.com.
Frank
19th Nov 2013 00:58 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
15th Feb 2015 03:13 UTCkent
16th Feb 2015 19:44 UTCFranklin Roberts
Frank
22nd Feb 2015 03:48 UTCAnonymous User
I would love to plan a trip with you sometime later this year. I'm going to be in Texas for most of this Spring and Summer while I settle some family business. I live about an hour north of Dallas, but could make a weekend trip down that way one of these days.
I only have a few trips planned for May and June but those will be taking me to Denver and Utah to visit family. Of course I will squeeze in some hounding while I'm up there when possible.
Just let me know of upcoming trips you have planned And I would love to try and make one of them!!
Thank You!
15th May 2015 00:49 UTCMike Backman
Is there any place in or near Houston that you can go to find rocks?
Thanks in Advance,
Mike
15th May 2015 08:53 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager
15th May 2015 17:01 UTCDoug Daniels
30th Jun 2015 17:08 UTCGustav
We would love visit sometime if you are willing to take us.
I just thought I would plant a seed.
You can reach me at galker@pmidpi.com
My number is 713-818-6077
We don't mind the hot weather and are ready to get dirty:)
Please let me know what you think.
Thank you!!
Gustav and Shyla
1st Sep 2015 20:09 UTCLamar
No injuries and only one out building destroyed. HATS OFF TO THOSE WHO DID A TREMENDOUS JOB EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE!!!
10th Sep 2015 16:36 UTCjuliette
Please email me at marvelousdanes@gmail.com
Juliettr
2nd Nov 2015 06:41 UTCIsrael Mendoza
Just discovered this site. Great forum!
I will be returning to the Big Bend to prospect for minerals.
I hope to meet up with a couple of rock hounds while I'm there.
If someone is interested, feel free to email: co.ilm@hotmail.com.
Thanks!
Israel
24th Nov 2015 03:25 UTCRob G
I have read through the posts and wanted to make sure I haven't missed anything. I am taking a group of budding geologists (5 kids, 9-11 in age) out to Enchanted rock over the christmas holiday. This group ("The Rock Hunters" - we have T-shirts ;-) ) is really interested in geology and collecting. I plan to take them to E-rock and the Llanite road cut along hwy 16 (I've done it before - I know you have to work for those samples). I was also thinking that while were were in the area we might check out the fossil road cuts north of bandera and potentially fly gap road. The blue topaz sounds fun but I doubt the digging will hold their interest for too long so I plan to skip it.
Any other thoughts for this crew?
Thanks in advance!
Rob
28th Nov 2015 05:23 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
1) If you have the time, contact Frank Roberts from Baringer Hill Minerals for guided collecting trips around the hill country. Depending on the trip, I guarantee your crew would not be disappointed.
2) If you live anywhere near the Houston area, I would highly recommend attending a Houston Gem & Mineral Society meeting and more specifically, a Mineral Section meeting to learn more about minerals, how they form, and where to collect them.
Good luck with your crew of budding geologists. :)-D
25th Feb 2016 18:00 UTCMarie Moore
Thank you,
Marie
18th Mar 2016 16:48 UTCMuckman
Hey everyone.
My wife and I followed some of the coordinates mentioned in this thread and had a great time hunting the Llano uplift. Thanks for the useful info. Fly gap rd was amazing, after the fire the crews tilled up the soil and it's hard not to look 2ft without finding Quartz so large you can't pick them up. It was so quiet, untouched, peaceful, and beautiful that you have a respect for the land and appreciate the fact that you can walk around and enjoy Mother Nature.
29th Mar 2016 17:53 UTCVanessa
Traveling for work might be in the area. I was interested in checking out the sight!
30th Mar 2016 16:43 UTCAnonymous User
22nd May 2016 19:24 UTCRandy Acklin
most of the land private? Do you just look in the creeks? Public access? Thank you. BTW, I have a 3 and 5 year
old that love to look. Just wanting to find them something.
24th May 2016 18:07 UTCAnonymous User
24th May 2016 18:10 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager
24th May 2016 18:49 UTCDon Saathoff Expert
24th May 2016 19:09 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager
25th May 2016 00:32 UTCAnonymous User
17th Jun 2016 16:47 UTCAnonymous User
Glad to be here. Have to say to Don, right on man. I'm so sorry you had to be exposed to those limestone lickers like that. Talk about disenfranchised. Guess I'll simply be a pack dog and stick with the crowd, buy I normally go it myself out west where I'm from.
Well this is my very 1st post & I'm glad to be here. I even have the sensation of smelling kerosene from a rock saw for some reason?
May join up for some formal elbow rubbing at some point.
Couple of collecting areas out here that worked out.
Out here in College Station there is Lick Creek Park. Has some nice cab grade petrified translucent red-brown-black mesquite in 1 to 4 inch pieces.
Also in Bastrop, namely in the lower hilly 4wd "Tahitian Village" some nice cab grade banded "flint-chert" is what I believe the locals call it, I call them round creek rocks, but there up in the hilly section. Bring a hand sledge & safety glasses, of better yet a face shield. By "tacking a crack at these", when these 3 to 4 inch round creek rocks are opened up, lateral banding is exposed. The best I've seen has white and gray stripes surrounded by the typical translucent brown.
Go to any commercial rock supplier, you know the lots that sell garden gravel, soil, sod. Tell them that you want to collect. Park your vehicle close to where you will be walking. In the garden rock area, there is a bin with what they call "gemstone gravel". It's full of cab grade red jasper, & mesquite. The kids will love it!
This is really good. I've rarely passed up a new "caliche" road that has been repaved. Somewhere around these parts is where it's being dug. What I've found is many fossils, but the best part is that the gem grade calcite is very nice. I've found many perfect, clear square crystal sections. Double refracting. Also a yellow hundred caret piece that shows chatoyance, moonstone like.
I should post a picture of that piece.
Good hunting all. Doug
July 8th - 10th the Round Rock Club will be doing a collecting camp out at the Llano River. Here is there facebook page link....https://www.facebook.com/Round-Rock-Chapter-of-the-GPAA-182279968473253/
and the fredericksburg club.... http://www.fredericksburgrockhounds.org/
18th Jun 2016 07:52 UTCFranklin Roberts
Frank
(512) 848-8309
29th Jun 2016 18:31 UTCrhonda
2nd Jul 2016 04:20 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
One thing you may want to think about is joining one of the many mineral clubs in the area, especially if you're near College Station. Our club (Houston Gem & Mineral Society) coordinates a Fall collecting trip to the Hill Country with Frank Roberts where several of our members engage in a two day mineral hunting adventure in the Mason/Llano area. We always have a blast and are looking forward to hopefully planning another this year.
Rhonda: what are you looking for??
22nd Jul 2016 00:33 UTCTim Kruse
Where in the Katemcy area do you find any topaz type rocks? Thanks.
Tim
24th Dec 2016 01:34 UTCFranklin Roberts
I have a mineral lease on a private ranch that contains a former fluorite mine. Topaz of several colors can be found in pockets and in the spoil piles there.
Frank
25th Dec 2016 21:36 UTCleslee clements
When will you be going back out again? Or do you have a 2017 Schedule planned ?
My husband and I would love to go on 1 or any of the trips you have planned for 2017.
Leslee
3rd Jan 2017 19:38 UTCTabitha Hudson
17th Jan 2017 23:40 UTCFranklin Roberts
26th Jan 2017 20:39 UTCWill Cain
16th Feb 2017 22:27 UTCFranklin Roberts
20th Feb 2017 23:19 UTCRachael Stephenson
20th Feb 2017 23:25 UTCRachael Stephenson
9th Mar 2017 22:12 UTCPatricia Gibson Williams
10th Mar 2017 21:38 UTCFranklin Roberts
12th Mar 2017 00:12 UTCRachael Stephenson
28th Mar 2017 16:25 UTCJeremy Mazuca
12th May 2017 23:56 UTCAllen Morris
12th May 2017 23:58 UTCAllen Morris
12th May 2017 23:59 UTCAllen Morris
16th Jun 2017 22:54 UTCTammy Samuelson
29th Oct 2017 12:20 UTCJ L Hamilton
29th Oct 2017 22:36 UTCDoug Daniels
14th Dec 2017 20:08 UTCQuentin Boyer
31st Jan 2018 17:50 UTCJohn Daharsh
I read the (somewhat) recent post about Tessman Ranch collecting for wood. Is there anyone who knows of ranches that allow collecting and how to contact them? For instance, I can't find any listing for a Tessman Ranch, or any name or contact info for any such ranch.
My daughter and I are going to look at Baylor this weekend, and we will have a free 1.5 days and wanted to drive somewhere to collect, but finding listings is not easy.
Thanks for any help!
14th Mar 2018 18:22 UTCRichard Haley
14th Mar 2018 18:40 UTCKevin Conroy Manager
If you're looking for agate: http://wheretofindrocks.com/rock-hounding-west-texas/
Another link: http://terismithrockhunts.com/locations-2/
15th Mar 2018 00:24 UTCKevin Conroy Manager
I heard that the Woodward Ranch may have been sold, so it may no longer be open to collecting.
15th Mar 2018 01:26 UTCFranklin Roberts
17th Mar 2018 23:31 UTCRichard Haley
24th Mar 2018 20:05 UTCJeremy Mazuca
31st Mar 2018 05:56 UTCLyman Howard
I recently moved to Rockwall, Texas from Florida and I am looking forward to rock hunting here during my free time. Over many years and vacations I have collected rocks, minerals, and fossils and I am always looking to add more to my collection. Until now, I have not had the opportunity to do any collecting west of the Mississippi. That said, I was hoping someone could direct me to a location within the state where I could possibly find something like Autunite, Uraninite, Carnotite etc. From the information I have found so far, there is little public land, and accessing many locations can be quite a challenge. I would love to add a few of these “hot” rock specimens to my collection. I have the required gear and knowledge with which to collect the materials. I have not had the opportunity to familiarize myself with the geological locations and strata of Texas, so any directions, GPS coordinates, road markers, and access restrictions to any location would be helpful.
Thanks in advance for information you could provide, it is greatly appreciated.
31st Mar 2018 06:29 UTCKeith Compton 🌟 Manager
You probably should at least get the book: The Mineralogy of Texas, by Arthur Edward Smith Jnr
It may not have current accessible collecting spots but it will provide some clues as to the types of minerals found and where they have been in the past.
Certainly a good reference and worthwhile background material.
Cheers
31st Mar 2018 11:54 UTCKevin Conroy Manager
31st Mar 2018 16:11 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
A couple suggestions:
1) Lyman: Get in contact with either the Dallas Gem & Mineral Society, the Arlington Gem & Mineral Club, or the Mineralogical Association of Dallas. All three are great groups in the Dallas area to assist you in finding collecting areas within Texas or to put you on collecting field trips. Jeremy: you'll want to contact the Southwest Gem & Mineral Society in San Antonio for the same reasons as above.
2) You also may want to contact Frank Roberts in Austin. He often leads trips to selected pegmatite locations in the Hill Country. He occasionally pops in here from time to time so hopefully he sees this and will respond with some information.
Hope this helps.....
31st Mar 2018 18:56 UTCLyman Howard
Thank you Keith, Kevin and Paul, for the quick response and warm welcome.
That is all good information, and I will definitely follow it up.
Thank again!
Lyman
23rd Apr 2018 01:00 UTCBrian Dryer
-Brian
4th Jun 2018 14:37 UTCPerry Lopez
4th Jun 2018 16:56 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
If you're from the Houston area, might I suggest visiting (and joining) the Houston Gem & Mineral Society. Every year, we coordinate a two day mineral collecting trip to the Mason/Llano area where several of our members attend and find some very nice specimens. We just had one this past spring, but are looking to plan another this fall when the temperatures cooperate. In the meantime, I invite you to our General Meeting on Tuesday, June 26 at 7:30pm to see what we're all about.
6th Jun 2018 03:48 UTCDean Allum Expert
That area is all limestone sedimentary, so there won't be many rocks to collect.
These might be too far out of the way for you but please consider:
Natural Bridge Caverns north of San Antonio off Hwy35.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area about 15 miles north of Fredericksburg.
Both are kid friendly amazing natural phenomena.
-Dean
11th Jun 2018 14:49 UTCrichard comer
new rock hound here i was wondering if anyone could so me some good spots around the mason area to hunt and also llano area
11th Jun 2018 20:07 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
Since the vast majority of the property out there is private, your best bet is to contact Frank Roberts and get on one of his collecting trips. His contact information is above, or I know sometimes he haunts this thread and may respond with additional information.
20th Aug 2018 05:09 UTCCraig tallant
10th Oct 2018 01:06 UTCDoug Daniels
10th Oct 2018 02:08 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
The Mineralogy of Texas
21st Oct 2018 05:00 UTCKyle Bayliff
I ran across a couple Texas locations that hadn't been discussed and I thought I'd share:
The first is a celestine deposit on the Lampasas river just west of Kempner, Texas. There's a pull-off area as you head west on Hwy 190 and a trail that leads down to the river. Follow the river upstream (east). The celestine is colorless to pale blue and embedded in the cliffs along the river. The hike is short but pretty rough and the rock was pretty tough. A set of rock chisels and a heavy crack hammer are a must. I've been to this one personally and managed to free about a quarter of a 5 gal. bucket worth of rock and managed to get quite a few crystals (though they cleave easily, so be careful).
38.080000 N 98.014722 W
The second site I haven't been to yet and only saw it reported in one place online with no corroborating photos, etc., so if anyone can confirm that there is, in fact, any decent material there please let us know! According to the source, County Road 313 south of Three Rivers, Texas is abundant with chalcedony and pet wood. To get there, turn off Hwy 281 as you head south from Three Rivers on the first road after crossing the Neuces River.
28.424967 N 98.174283 W
If anyone has any knowledge of any other roadcuts in central or south central Texas worth visiting, I'd love to hear. After all the rain and flooding along the Llano river, there's bound to be some new material to find. I'm sure the communities in the area will be glad to have people coming back to visit once they've had a little time to recover, too, so it'll be time for another rockhunting trip soon!
29th Oct 2018 00:31 UTCMark Andrews
My wife and I took a trip up there today, 28 October, 2018.
Location is on the east bank of the Lampasas river 150 meters north of the highway 190 bridge, just west of Kempner, TX.
Take a 5 gallon bucket, wrapping paper, chisel and appropriate hammer.
The celestine occurs as crystallized masses up to ~100mm across with individual crystals to about 50mm. There is little to no expression of the crystal faces as they are almost all completely intergrown. The host rock is tan limestone that yields easily to a chisel.
As an aside, if anyone has a lead on a location in central Texas to collect well formed micro minerals for micromounting please let me know!
29th Oct 2018 01:01 UTCJennifer Cindrich
I know of a good Central Texas micromounting location in Johnson City. Although the property is very private and constantly monitored for trespassers, the lady that owns the place is very nice and could possibly be persuaded to let you dig. There is some very nice micromounts of chalcopyrite, malachite, marcasite, etc., embedded in calcite.
See here— https://www.mindat.org/loc-304867.html
Jennifer Cindrich
29th Oct 2018 14:58 UTCMark Andrews
Thank you for responding. I've sent you a PM.
-Mark
31st Dec 2018 04:03 UTCIsrael Mendiola
8th Apr 2019 23:09 UTCJames Boyer
21st Apr 2019 22:53 UTCLee Beesley
I just found this site. I grew up here in Llano. There are several places you can get access to the river bed. We had massive flooding this year, there might be some wonderful finds.
A little driving required though. There 3 slab roads. We call them such because patch work concrete to each pile of granite. There are 2 slabs near Castell, on is called Synider and the other is Scott's. Access above and below the slab are easy. Don't be surprised if you see families. It is not deep. If you go to the Castell store 1 is there and they will give directions.
The 3rd slab is in Kingsland. Same as Sorts and Synider there will be people possibly. Easy access and parking for all 3.
Might suggest looking into Big Sandy, a massive pink granite Creek that cross hwy 71 between Llano and Hwy 281 and hwy 16 towards Enchanted Rock.
If you are anyone else get this good hunting.
21st Apr 2019 22:59 UTCWayne Corwin
What have you found in those 3 places?
23rd Jun 2019 23:08 UTCKayla Hatch
Kayla hatch
23rd Jun 2019 23:46 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
From the photo, those look like nice specimens. Thanks for sharing....
23rd Jun 2019 23:54 UTCWayne Corwin
FYI.... Mindat doesn't allow selling or advertisement of any kind in these message boards.
9th Aug 2019 22:55 UTCFranklin Roberts
Frank
16th Aug 2019 19:44 UTCDavid Farhie
Frank:
Chip Burnette says hey. I am President of the Tri-City Gem and Mineral Society based here in Temple, Texas and was wondering if you still conduct tours to the localities in the Lake Buchannan, and Llano area? I would love to talk to you and maybe arrange something for the fall. You can call me at 512-826-2754, and if I'm not answering, leave a message please. Take care
24th Sep 2019 21:03 UTCShelby
I'm fairly new to rockhounding, just got back home to North TX from a trip to Arkansas where I found a bunch of quartz, and last month I checked out the Salt Plains in Oklahoma. Does anyone have any tips for finding minerals and the like in North Texas? From what I'm seeing on the web there's not a whole lot to be found other than fossils.
29th Sep 2019 22:48 UTCMark Barber
27th Dec 2019 05:41 UTCStacey Tucker
I have read most of this thread and it is amazing at the knowledge base here. I will be travelling to the Llano area next week (January 1-3 2020) with my two daughters who have taken an interest in rocks and minerals. I am thankful for that as I am a geologist and hopefully they will continue to maintain their interest. Any recommendations of places for us to go during our visit? They are ok with getting wet/muddy. They were troopers - a couple months ago as we visited the quartz mines in Arkansas. Thank you in advance.
30th Dec 2019 02:34 UTCDean Allum Expert
Stacy,
Since you aren't getting any replies, I will chime in.
Franklin Roberts used to arrange rock-hunting trips in the Llano area, but not lately. These were on private property, and are not readily available.
While not as good as your Arkansas collecting, I can only recommend 2 public places.
The first is Fly Gap Road in Mason, Tx. Pieces of quartz crystals can be found in the ditches of this gravel road, south of Hwy 71.
The second is the "Llanite" containing road cut (blue quartz in rhyolite) 10.5 miles north of Llano on hwy 16.
Also, I seem to remember that there is a Rock shop in downtown Llano.
Happy Hunting and Happy New Year!
6th Jan 2020 16:55 UTCStacey Tucker
14th Jan 2020 17:37 UTCKayla Andrews
I am quite new to learning about all these kinds of rocks and crystals and was wondering where I could possibly find some around my area. I live in the North East part of Texas specifically Greenville and was wondering where I could go hunting for some rocks myself.
31st Jul 2020 00:47 UTCKimberly Beard
31st Jul 2020 01:08 UTCJohn Christian
31st Jul 2020 01:40 UTCJennifer Cindrich
Kimberly,
I can help if you’d like. PM me.
2nd Sep 2020 23:12 UTCNathan A. Miller
- Nathan Miller
3rd Sep 2020 01:06 UTCKevin Conroy Manager
Thank you for sharing!
14th Sep 2020 22:50 UTCNathan A. Miller
14th Sep 2020 22:52 UTCNathan A. Miller
14th Sep 2020 22:53 UTCNathan A. Miller
15th Sep 2020 12:13 UTCFrank Mersch
Nathan A. Miller ✉️
Some appear to have a cubic shape to the crystals while others or more blade-like, so there may be both pyrite and marcasite coming from the same limestone formation. Yes, I think you are right. I found a piece of pyrite and marcasite together in an agglomerate. They even got different colors after acid cleaning.
Please use a weak acid, otherwise you get sometimes matt gloss. I used 10% HCl, that was to much.
have fun
Frank
12th Oct 2023 04:28 UTCJoseph Vohs
I realize I'm replying to a message that is 3 years old but felt like I'd give it a shot.
I'm wondering if you know if the marcasite nodule locality in San Antonio is still accessible, will be there in a week or so and cant go out of San Antonio.
Thanks,
Joe
9th Feb 2021 15:13 UTCMichael Czawlytko
I don't know if anyone is still checking this board, but I've taken the coordinates and am building a Texas rockhounding map. Here is a link: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1pFXHQ5mGn1YUdvIEDbb9PiTYFef8rBEU&usp=sharing
If you want anything added you can reply or PM me.
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Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 19, 2024 11:28:00