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Field CollectingTexas Rock Collecting Sites

6th Apr 2010 20:08 UTCTanya Cole

I've done a lot of exploring in my quests to find public access rockhounding sites and have started to save the GPS coordinates when I find some good stuff that I think others might be interested in. I've got coordinates for one right now and will add the others as time permits.

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

I've been there several times for rocks but mineral specimen public access sites are so limited in Texas. So sad.

6th Apr 2010 23:53 UTCTanya Cole

I know what you mean. I did find at least a couple of minerals there though: mica & quartz....albeit, not the most sought after :)

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

Old Mason Road Pegmatite, Mason County: N 30°49.538’, W 99°14.156’

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

Tanya Cole thank you so much for this coordinate. Me and my 2 sons were driving home from Austin and drove through Mason I had remembered seeing this and quickly found the coordinates you mention. And boy did we have some fun!! I was in complete amazement at how the dirt road is not dirt at all but rather crushed quartz. And we found loads of just top soil quartz!! Big small and everything in between the out cropping are absolutely amazing!! Thank you so much for this! I'm now taking my daughter and her friends as we speak!

7th Apr 2010 01:31 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

There are a lot of neat things out in the Hill Country to explore geologically, but as Denise says, finding public access out there is nearly impossible. We take a group of college students on a geologic field trip to the Austin/Inks Lake area and we even have to get special permission to go places. Your best bet for Texas collecting is out west near Big Bend, but I have heard of pet wood in the NE part of the state as well.

7th Apr 2010 01:50 UTCTanya Cole

I hear ya Paul! I have been really, really, really wanting to Big Bend! I've had a couple of opportunities and the timing wasn't right. I have my itinerary almost planned out - but, I need more than a long weekend for that trip. I'd like to go when I can stay for a whole week. It'd be different if flying was an option - but....hmmmm...I can imagine how much my airline baggage fees would be with all of the things I hope to find! I've got a few small petrified wood specimens - but, I do hope to checkout the Piney Woods area one day for a big piece for my collection.

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

Hi Tanya,

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

Frank - These are great tips! I'm going rock hunting in Mason county for my birthday at the end of the month - I'll have to check these out! Thank you so much :) !

Tanya

27th May 2010 18:09 UTCLori Simon

Hi Frank,

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

Hi Lori,

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

Coming to Texas for about a week just before Thanksgiving to do some rockhounding. Any suggestions? I have already ordered the Gem Trails of Texas book, is it worth following. Some of the other Gem Trail series are a bit off, sometimes

18th Aug 2010 06:27 UTCDavid Aldridge

The Gem Trails Of Texas book is a decent book, but, if you're like me and looking for mineral specimens, I think you'll find it a bit lacking. It's got some pretty good localities in it (including many classic ones for the state), but sadly, a good majority of the book focuses on agate and fossils. There are many localities in Texas, but the problem that you're going to run into is that a good number of them are either no longer accessible, or are now on private property, and unless you know the owners, or the right people (some of which post on these message-boards, actually), there's no real way to get on them (and this is not a state that you want to accidentally stumble onto somebody's private property in).

--David Aldridge

20th Aug 2010 04:48 UTCTanya Cole

Hey Mark - What part of Texas are you planning to visit?

30th Aug 2010 17:33 UTCAmethyst Girl

Hi Tanya and Frank --- have read both of your tips and suggestions for Texas Rock Collecting Sites, and they are a great help. I just started rockhounding this year. Have ran into some research about the Sequist Ranch and Lindsay ranch having some blue topaz, have any of you guys heard of this and if so, is it true?

30th Aug 2010 17:53 UTCAmethyst Girl

Hi Frank --- I just start with the wonderful hobby of rockhounding and am interested in getting lots and lots of help from the more experienced rockhounds.

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

Hi,

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

Thanks for your input about the Seaquist Ranch --- Right after lunch, I called and talked to Mike's son, Scott and he was very nice and told me to dig at least 3 feet deep, because topaz is buried down deep. Well, its not rare for us to see those animals any day when we are traveling from town to town here in Texas. Sometimes, you even see them when you go out at least 45 mins. away from the city and you visit some friends out in the country. We have some friends who have 13 acres close by the Brazos Bend State Park and they have a pond in the back of their property, and they encountered a baby alligator in their pond.

1st Sep 2010 05:43 UTCFranklin Roberts

Hi A.G., Hi Elizabeth,

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

Hi Amethyst Girl - welcome to the fun world of rockhounding....I'm somewhat new to it myself...only been at it about a year.

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

Frank - you know I've got an itch now to check out those spots you mentioned in the Katemcy area! Let me know next time you plan on heading that way :).

3rd Sep 2010 15:58 UTCFranklin Roberts

We've had a major cold front blow through just in time for the Labor Day weekend. The weatherman says it might go down as low as 90. Unfortunately, I've already committed to going to the Aggie football game in College Station on Saturday, but that does leave Sunday and Monday free. Now if I can only find my long johns.

Frank

7th Sep 2010 18:33 UTCDavid Oberle

I am curious about Big Bend rock hunting trips and any others in the Alpine area. Have been to the Woodward Ranch a number of times but understand there are other places to hunt.

21st Sep 2010 04:27 UTCmarilyn olson

hi Frank I am going to Texas in Oct. could you give me more information about collecting on or near the Fly Gap Rd. site? thanks Marilyn

25th Sep 2010 00:12 UTCFranklin Roberts

PM sent.

15th Oct 2010 21:35 UTCStephen C. Blyskal Expert

David,

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

Tanya,

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

Here is a good website about geology around Llano and Mason including specific places to observe the geology is found on this website: http://geology.uprm.edu/Morelock/thcgeol.htm

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

Hi,

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

I'll be in Big Bend National Park in February/March for about 4 days and would appreciate any information regarding mineral/fossil locations in the surrounding area.

28th Oct 2012 02:09 UTCKen Goslee

I am wanting to schedual a trip for a few members of my rock club (Spring River Gem and Mineral Club, Cherokee Village, AR) for March or April next year and am checking to see if this site is still an active site. I don't see any entries since Sep, 2011. Could use some help on avaialble collecting sites. Thanks for any help. Ken

30th Oct 2012 11:02 UTCkenny howell

would like to know who to contact about white eagle copper -silver mine. just starting and would like to find something.

15th Nov 2012 15:30 UTCalex

Hi......I will be travelling/rockhounding in Big Bend and other SW TX regions in December. Can you please advise me on sites??....contacts??....anything??

THANKS!!!

Alex Diner

Gainesville, FL

2nd Jan 2013 03:17 UTCFranklin Roberts

I would be the person to contact for access to the White Eagle copper-silver mine.

Frank

18th Jan 2013 18:17 UTCAmber

We'd be going to the Fredricksburg area for the rock show weekend. Would you have any suggestions for us? We have three little "rock houndlings" (one of which dreams of becoming a geologist one day) so we'd like to find one really good place to hunt that's easily accessible. Thanks for any suggestions.

28th Feb 2013 06:08 UTCJacob Tanner

hello, im a clueless amateur at this, really interested in finding some crystals though. Mr Roberts, any good sites near San Antonio? Ill drive out to Mason when I get the free time, but just wondering about anything more attainable? fee collecting sites, mine dumps, or just general areas to try? My girlfriend is madly in love with crystals and I know it would make her year to find a good one. =)

Thanks in advance for your time! I have huge respect for your guru status and geologic knowledge =)

8th Apr 2013 23:13 UTCFranklin Roberts

As you can tell, I don't log onto Mindat as often as I should. You're not going to find much around San Antonio other than fossils as it's all limestone thereabouts. Mason has a few fee access ranches for collecting topaz, but most people who go that route come home with quartz crystals and mica books instead. Unless you're just lucky, or prepared to do some serious digging, the chances of finding topaz are slim. These ranches have been picked over for decades and the easily found material is long gone. That's not to say that there isn't anything left to find, you're just going to have to work for it. I'm currently negotiating for access to a new site near Mason that is rich in quartz crystals, green fluorite and even topaz, but so far the landowner is not allowing collectors to access his property. I have a feeling that if I do get access, it will be by paying a relatively high annual lease, which means that I will have to pass that cost on to any collectors that I bring there. More news on that at it happens.

Guru, really?

Frank

22nd Apr 2013 18:00 UTCFranklin Roberts

Last weekend, I was successful at negotiating a one-year trial lease on the above mentioned topaz mine site in the Katemcy Batholith area of Mason County, although it cost me more than I had hoped. The lease covers an existing mine pit, three unexcavated pegmatites and three wet-weather creeks on the property. The landowner has imposed restrictions on the number of people I can bring in at one time and has asked that I impose a limit on the amount of material that can be removed per trip. Further, during deer season from September to January, only the mine pit and one quartz pegmatite will be open to collecting.

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

Post moved to Collecting forum

2nd May 2013 00:30 UTCEric Clemons

I read your recent posting about the mine site in Mason. I have had a long term interest in pegmatites ( I've read Sinkankas book on prospecting a couple times at least) and would be very interested in visiting that site. Thanks!

27th Sep 2013 23:09 UTCDeborah Karen

I am interested in visiting this mine site the weekend of Oct. 26th. Are you planning a trip then? Is Fly Gap Road still open to the public?

28th Sep 2013 04:33 UTCFranklin Roberts

Yes Deborah, we have a trip to Emerald Ridge scheduled for the 26th. Go to www.baringerhill.com for the schedule.

Frank

1st Oct 2013 17:46 UTCDeborah Karen

I can not open that link?

1st Oct 2013 18:36 UTCKelly Nash 🌟 Expert

baringerhill.com

1st Oct 2013 21:20 UTCFranklin Roberts

Thanks Kelly!

12th Nov 2013 17:07 UTCDoris Medd

I am interested in the Fly Gap Road site. Where is it gps or map? I am just a wannabe but love hunting for neat rocks. I will be in the area Dec 2013 anything going on then that might pick my interest?

16th Nov 2013 23:16 UTCLarry Becker

Hi,

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

Hi Larry,

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

I can safely vouch for both sites Larry; you won't be disappointed!!! :-)

15th Feb 2015 03:13 UTCkent

Flygap road is no longer accessible it is on private property

16th Feb 2015 19:44 UTCFranklin Roberts

Public roads in Texas do not become private property. As long as you stay between the fences, you are on public property, regardless of what the cowboy in the pickup truck tells you. If he motions toward the shotgun in his rear window, call the local Sheriff and ask him to either educate or arrest the idiot.

Frank

22nd Feb 2015 03:48 UTCAnonymous User

Greetings,

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

Hi Rockhounds,

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

One rare mineral, Chambersite, http://www.mindat.org/min-966.html - named after Chambers County, has its type locality (meaning the first locality it was described from) near Houston, but that was pumped up from a well, so no outcrops on the surface. Unless you happen to know someone with access to material from wells drilled for oil, sulphur or salt, there probably won't be anything interesting to find in the Houston area.

15th May 2015 17:01 UTCDoug Daniels

Are you a member of the Houston Gem & Mineral Society? They conduct field trips to various locations both near Houston and farther away. At least they did many years ago, but I'm sure they haven't changed much in regards to the field trips.

30th Jun 2015 17:08 UTCGustav

Hello Frank, my name is Gustav. My ten year old and I love to rockhound and I am fascinated by your knowledge.

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

Went back out to Fly Gap Road today. Seems there's been a fire a little over a week ago. I spoke with one of the firefighters who was there checking on hot spots still smoking. He said they got it under control last night. It started on a cemetery road about 4 miles south of the southern entrance to Fly Gap, a bird got in a transformer causing sparks. It burned the east side of Fly Gap Road 3/4 the way back to Highway 71 on the north. He said it burned a 9 mile path covering over 10,300 acres. The Fire Department(s) responding did an amazing job limiting the fire to only the east side of the road and I could see very few burned trees!

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

Id be interested in checking out the lease you managed to get n looking for topaz n florite

Please email me at marvelousdanes@gmail.com

Juliettr

2nd Nov 2015 06:41 UTCIsrael Mendoza

Hi Tanya,

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

This is a great forum. Thank you to all who have spent time posting their rock and mineral hunting spots on here.

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

A couple thoughts for you Rob:

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

we are planning a trip to Canyon Lake around the third week in April to see the bluebonnets. Thought I would do both rock hunting and pic taking and just enjoying nature in one trip. Is there places near Canyon Lake that rocks topaz and other gems can be found?

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

Hi Franklin,

Traveling for work might be in the area. I was interested in checking out the sight!

30th Mar 2016 16:43 UTCAnonymous User

Glad to see some signs of life on this thread. From San Antonio here. I've been lurking for a while, but have seen this thread quite stale. I too have been looking for public access to check for topaz and sorts. I have read about about collecting on sides of roads but...eh. I took my 8 year old son last year in the middle of summer to hunt at the Seaquist ranch. Hard work, and no paydirt. We had fun, but he got a little bored and tired after about 4 hours in 100 degree weather. I could have been there all day. The thrill of finding something is worth the hard work. I know there is not much Gold here in Texas, but from my research you can find trace amounts of placer gold up in the creeks in Llano. I called up my buddy to see if he wanted to try his luck. We just love the outdoors and killing time on a perfect Saturday outside. We loaded up the cooler with beer, meat and marked our maps. We took some gold pans to Llano and were able locate Honey Creek and some others, but EVERYTHING is private property! We must have drove for hours trying to find public access to these creeks. Every time we stopped and walked down a creek, some car would stop to see what we were up to. Anyways we just ended up drinking some beers and BBQ-ing on the blanco river on the way back to SA. Anyways i'm always up for a good rock hounding adventure. who's down?? :)-D

22nd May 2016 19:24 UTCRandy Acklin

We are going to Lindsay Ranch this weekend but I see stuff on here about Fly Gap road. I see it's a dirt road but is

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

As for public access, from what I am reading here, you are basically just looking on the side of the road by the fence line. Better than nothing i guess, but not worth the 2 hour drive for me. Almost all creeks in the mineral region are on private land (I know from experience). I have have come to the conclusion that you either have to pay someone or know someone with land, or just go balls out and cross the fence and hope you don't get into a gun fight with a land owner. :)-D

24th May 2016 18:10 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

"Navigable" creeks are all public land in Texas. Use a very small boat.

24th May 2016 18:49 UTCDon Saathoff Expert

Alfredo, I spent an afternoon in the Sheriffs Office because of that assumption waiting for the landowner and a judge to either press charges or not. I was 'captured' by a shotgun wielding ranch hand on Honey Creek sitting on the dike below the Kiam Prospect. After a five hour wait I was informed that Honey Creek was not navigable and I was trespassing but, out of the kindness of their hearts, I was released with only a stern reprimand. My advice? Don't try it!!!

24th May 2016 19:09 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

Ah well, it was a nice dream while it lasted. ;-) I'll take my tourist dollars elsewhere.

25th May 2016 00:32 UTCAnonymous User

Yeah..I find it strange how texas is one of the biggest states, yet has absolutely no public land left unless its private property or a state or city park. A few years ago we drove up to Colorado to meet an old buddy, and he took us to multiple spots that were "nobody's" land to go pan for gold on the creeks and rivers, no one gave us a hard time...well because we weren't breaking any rules...Basically,it was that if you could drive your 4x4 up the terrain, then reap the rewards at the top.

17th Jun 2016 16:47 UTCAnonymous User

Hello everyone!

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

I'm still here! We moved to Dripping Springs in 2014, so now I'm a little closer to the Uplift. Come on down!

Frank

(512) 848-8309

29th Jun 2016 18:31 UTCrhonda

Hey rockhound here but getting older does anyone have rocks for sell?

2nd Jul 2016 04:20 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

A little late, but welcome to Mindat Doug! :)-D

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

Hey Frank,

Where in the Katemcy area do you find any topaz type rocks? Thanks.

Tim

24th Dec 2016 01:34 UTCFranklin Roberts

Hi Tim,

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

Frank

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

Hi Frank! Are you still offering to take people out with you? My husband and I will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary in a few weeks and love the idea over doing some rock hunting! Thanks in advance!

17th Jan 2017 23:40 UTCFranklin Roberts

I'm still out here! Drop me a line when you know when you'll be coming by and I'll see if we can make something happen. Happy anniversary!

26th Jan 2017 20:39 UTCWill Cain

Hi Frank. Thanks for all the useful posts here! I'm coming out the Lindsay Ranch in April, any chance you'll be giving tours at Emerald Ridge that time of year? I want to make sure the folks I'm bringing have a good and educated time! We are already "gearing" up and I'm even trying to finagle a scintillation counter from my old grad school (A&M) to use as a lark. Happy hunting all!

16th Feb 2017 22:27 UTCFranklin Roberts

As it looks now, There will be a trip to the Emerald Ridge site on the weekend of April 8-9, 2017. I'm also trying to schedule a trip in March.

20th Feb 2017 23:19 UTCRachael Stephenson

I would be interested in participating in a March trip. Our family will be visiting the Fredericksburg area March 16-18, 4 adults and 2 children (ages 11 and 15).

20th Feb 2017 23:25 UTCRachael Stephenson

Our family, 4 adults and 2 children (ages 11 and 15), is planning a rock hunting trip to the Fredericksburg, Tx, area March 15-19, and would love any recommendations on places to hunt for anything interesting! Thanks for all the great suggestions so far!! It would be great if we can hook up with someone to guide us around the area.

9th Mar 2017 22:12 UTCPatricia Gibson Williams

I would love to do this sometime. Sent you a PM. Not holding out much hope that you have something between Sunday & Tuesday. & I doubt that we can make it back as soon as April... But we want to go in the future. It would be my 9 year old & me. Too bad Rachael wasn't coming in a few days earlier. :)

10th Mar 2017 21:38 UTCFranklin Roberts

There will be a collecting trip on Saturday, the 18th of March to the Emerald Ridge site in Mason County. Meetup is at the Dairy Queen in Mason at 9am.

12th Mar 2017 00:12 UTCRachael Stephenson

We will be there! My husband called last week to schedule our group of 6.

28th Mar 2017 16:25 UTCJeremy Mazuca

I am from San Antonio. I am a disabled veteran. I rarely have chance to go rockhounding. I do have friends that would like to go but as people mentioned above, most is on private property. We haven't really found any luck anywhere. We'd love to go this weekend. We've been to seaquist four times and found nothing. We found 2 weathered pieces of topaz in kingsland. Where would you recommend. We were thinking along the San Jacinto River because we've never been there.

12th May 2017 23:56 UTCAllen Morris

anybody collect Pet wood ? if so I am going to Tessman ranch soon its 8.00 (bring correct change ) she doesnt give change lol I have found gold pet wood there

12th May 2017 23:58 UTCAllen Morris

email me at tomhorn99@aol.com put rock hound in heading or I will not open it I am always looking for a place to look for pet wood

12th May 2017 23:59 UTCAllen Morris

tessman ranch is 60 miles from SAN Antonio tx (falls city )

16th Jun 2017 22:54 UTCTammy Samuelson

I'm so interested in going on a rockhunting trip. Are there any scheduled in the near future? I'm new to this but have a love of nature and beautiful rocks and minerals. Is Franklin still doing trips? I live in Harker Heights and am going to check out the Round Rock group. I have some other ladies that might be interested in going as well. Thanks so much!

29th Oct 2017 12:20 UTCJ L Hamilton

These threads are extremely helpful. We are complete newbies! I just want to make sure of places that we can currently and legal rock hunt on. I will be taking my geology loving 11 year old son so I want safe places for him to hunt until his heart's desire. Can anyone point us in a good direction please? Thanks so much!

29th Oct 2017 22:36 UTCDoug Daniels

Have you guys checked for nearby rock, gem & mineral, or lapidary clubs? They often are able to arrange field/collecting trips that non-affiliated collectors can't. Could be worth you while.

14th Dec 2017 20:08 UTCQuentin Boyer

Houston Gem and Mineral Society is the one I'm a part of. They have regular trips throughout the year for members. $40 for annual membership with access to their workshop is not bad at all. their weekly meetings are open to the public though!

31st Jan 2018 17:50 UTCJohn Daharsh

I've spent a fair amount of time lurking over the years. We don't go to Texas often and I've never rockhounded there because I'm afraid of trespassing.

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

Howdy folks! Im heading down to the Alpine area the end of this month and the first week of april. Hoping to explore some backroads and cuts on the way back towards Arkansas from Alpine. Any suggestions on places to stip and look?

14th Mar 2018 18:40 UTCKevin Conroy Manager

MANY years ago I took my summer field camp at Sul Ross State University. I'm not sure if they would share any collecting sites, but here's some contact info: http://www.sulross.edu/BGPS

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

Follow up...

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

You are correct sir, Trey Woodward passed away a few years ago and his widow was unable to keep the place open. It has since sold and is off limits to collectors.

17th Mar 2018 23:31 UTCRichard Haley

Thanks for the input guys. I will be in the Alpine/Big Bend area at the end of the month. Going to join a couple of Teri Smith’s expeditions to the Stillwell Ranch and another ranch called East Needle Peak. Also going to spend a day or so poking around Toyah and Lake Balmorhea.

24th Mar 2018 20:05 UTCJeremy Mazuca

I’m from San Antonio Texas but live in stockdale currently. I always want to go rockhounding but no one ever wanted to take me. I’m a disabled vet with Parkinson’s so I’m unable to drive. I looked into mineral clubs but they are nonexistent around my area. I have been dying to go. If I had a vehicle, I’d be doing it daily. I also am promised by people in Facebook groups but no one is ever honest or pulls through. I’ve been to seaquist , llano, and kingsland but didn’t find anything. I had a geologist friend but he moved out of state. I really wish I could find people nearby who’d enjoy my company. Rockhounding is my 2nd greatest passion .

31st Mar 2018 05:56 UTCLyman Howard

New to Texas

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

Lyman

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

If you go to the page for the state of Texas ( https://www.mindat.org/loc-4126.html ), scroll down to the mineral list. Click on the "ⓘ" next to a mineral of interest. You'll see all of the locations reported for that mineral in the state.

31st Mar 2018 16:11 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Welcome to Mindat, Jeremy and Lyman!

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

Wow, did I find the right group of people!

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

Hello everyone! I just stumbled a crossed this message board as I was searching the internet, and it looks like I found my crowd! My name is Brian, I am a disabled USMC Vet living near Helotes. I don’t get out to much, but hoping that might change with my new found interest of rock hunting. If anyone is around the area and wanting to get out for some day trips give me a holler. I’d love to go out on some adventures before it gets too hot out. I look forward to talking with you all, take care and have a great Earth Day.

-Brian

4th Jun 2018 14:37 UTCPerry Lopez

Hey Brian my name is Perry. My family an I are near the Sea World area travelling to Kerville via highway 16 this week are there any stops you know of that would be a good place for the kids and I to explore? We are from Houston and don't know the area very well.

4th Jun 2018 16:56 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Welcome to Mindat, Perry!

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

Hi Perry,

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

hello peeps,

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

Welcome to Mindat, Richard!

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

Just became interested in hunting rocks after a road trip that included a quick stop at Crater of Diamonds. Does anyone know much about the Jourdanton area and what can been collected in this area? I live on 14 acres which is covered in a red stone that from what I have researched is simply a red sandstone ( but some of this stuff is much deeper in color and smoother that the pics I have seen) and was curious if it is worth my time digging in this area? As a matter of fact I cannot find much information on Atascosa County as a whole so any help would be great.

10th Oct 2018 01:06 UTCDoug Daniels

How can one get a copy of Art's book?

10th Oct 2018 02:08 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Try here, Doug.

The Mineralogy of Texas

21st Oct 2018 05:00 UTCKyle Bayliff

Hello everyone,

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

I can confirm the celestine locality mentioned in the above post.

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

Mark,

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

Hi Jennifer!

Thank you for responding. I've sent you a PM.

-Mark

31st Dec 2018 04:03 UTCIsrael Mendiola

Hi we were just there a few days ago and found some great finds

8th Apr 2019 23:09 UTCJames Boyer

Just went to Fly Gap Rd. That place is awesome. Any other recommendations

21st Apr 2019 22:53 UTCLee Beesley

Hi Everyone,

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

Welcome to Mindat Lee !

What have you found in those 3 places?

23rd Jun 2019 23:08 UTCKayla Hatch

I was born in junction Texas. Grew up there and in de leon tx. I have a buddy interested in letting people on his property to dig and hunt petrified wood. Groups would get better prices but Now this isn't just any old pieces of petrified wood, I've never seen anything like it. Crystalized petrified wood.For a fee of course. I'll link some photos of some of the pieces. And guys the picture does ni justice what is ever.i can load more or send you some pic. I have also been making some really pretty pieces of jewelry with the crystalized peteified wood. So if your Interested in either. Just let me know you can shoot me a PM

Kayla hatch

23rd Jun 2019 23:46 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Welcome to Mindat, Kayla!

From the photo, those look like nice specimens. Thanks for sharing....

23rd Jun 2019 23:54 UTCWayne Corwin

Welcome to Mindat Kayla!

FYI.... Mindat doesn't allow selling or advertisement of any kind in these message boards.

9th Aug 2019 22:55 UTCFranklin Roberts

Just dropped by to let everybody know that I no longer own the Baringerhill.com domain name. I have no idea what happened, but one day my website just disappeared from Yahoo and while I was trying to figure out what happened, another bogus site popped up using the URL. The only thing I can point to was a challenge to my use of www.baringerhill.com from some scammers in China, which I promptly ignored. I have managed to secure www.franklin-roberts.com and hope to transfer a cached copy of my web site to it as soon as I have the time.

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

Hi everyone,

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

I have heard of folks finding really nice septarian nodules in the Dallas area. Here's a link here on Mindat about it:

https://www.mindat.org/loc-211236.html

27th Dec 2019 05:41 UTCStacey Tucker

Hello

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.

https://www.mindat.org/loc-223196.html

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

Thank you so much Dean for the information. Fly Gap Rd was nothing short of a treasure trove. Even saw a couple 10-point bucks to boot. We never found the road cut off Baby Head road but found quite a few interesting rocks in the stream beds. Thanks again.

14th Jan 2020 17:37 UTCKayla Andrews

Hello everyone,

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

Hello! Is anyone still posting on this site for this discussion? Would love to meet up with someone ghat can show us the ropes of the Llano area rocks and minerals. I am pretty sure we have found a ton of rocks and minerals that might be misidentified with our limited skills and knowledge!

31st Jul 2020 01:08 UTCJohn Christian

Greetings. I used to be in Texas and found some Llanite. Have you found any? If you like fossils, Texas is ground zero.

31st Jul 2020 01:40 UTCJennifer Cindrich

I wish people would stop taking so much llanite from that road cut. it is sad how badly it gets cut on.

Kimberly,

I can help if you’d like. PM me.

2nd Sep 2020 23:12 UTCNathan A. Miller

In case there is someone still haunting this thread, there is a spot here in San Antonio to collect what I believe are marcasite nodules, some of which can weigh half a pound or more. Some are spiked little spheres while others are strange shapes. Some have degraded into a crumbly rusted mess, but many, many others are intact, oxidized into red, gold, green, and purple hues, and can be picked up or chipped out of the soft sedimentary rock. The coordinates are 29.494199, -98.700720, in the Helotes Creek drainage area. There are steps cut into the bedrock and you'll find the nodules there. My son even found a single fossilized shark tooth, probably a sand shark, about an inch long. In the picture I uploaded, you can see the areas in red, which are the steps I described. A hammer and chisel (or a screwdriver) and you can collect some beautiful specimens!

- Nathan Miller

3rd Sep 2020 01:06 UTCKevin Conroy Manager

Thank you for sharing!

14th Sep 2020 22:50 UTCNathan A. Miller

Here are a few examples from our most recent trip to the spot I mentioned in San Antonio. 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. Both appear to have the iridescent oxidation as well.

14th Sep 2020 22:52 UTCNathan A. Miller

Sample plus some shoes. The shoes did not come from the limestone.

14th Sep 2020 22:53 UTCNathan A. Miller

The most common coloration is this metallic red and gold sheen.

14th Sep 2020 22:54 UTCNathan A. Miller

But my favorite of the day was this rainbow-colored nodule!

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

Hey Nathan,

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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