Need Texas Mineral Localities

I am currently trying to write a book about places you can find minerals in Texas. So many of the rockhounding books out there focus in on fossils and massive rocks. This is a real pain, as I am a mineral collector. For this book, I am trying to include localities that include minerals or unique rocks, such as llanite. Please no fossils (minerals found in areas with fossils are ok however). I would apprecieate anybodies help, and will be sure to mention them in the book when it is finished. On a side note, please make sure that you state if the locality is public or private, and who to contact if it is private (I believe in keeping rockhounding legal). Thank-You very much!

David,
What part of Texas are you in? I live in Austin and can take you to some places in Texas that'll knock your socks off.

Frank
(512) 848-8309

Hi David,
Just so your aware Brad Cross has a book already published on collecting sites of TX, its quite nice and worth a look before you finish.

Enjoy!
Everett

I know. I have that book and i really enjoy it. Franklin, i will be up in Fredricksburg on the week of May 28. I revieced some samples of minerals from the Badu Hill and Petrick pegmatites. I really would like to visit areas like that. Just send me an e-mail at lmpiad@earthlink.net">olmpiad@earthlink.net

Yes I know, I'm the one who sent the rare-earth specimens to you. I was just about to drop you a line to see if you received them and if they met with your approval. I would be happy to show you around the Llano Uplift and do a little "peggin". I don't know how much time you have available on the weekend of the 28th, but I guarantee I can keep you busy both days. Fredericksburg is actually closer to the uplift than Austin is, so maybe we could arrange to meet in Llano that weekend. I have several scintillators and geiger counters, so I can provide you with one of each while you're here. You picked an opportune time to visit. We've really been hammered with hard rains for the last two weeks, so I'll be pumping water out of my collecting sites for at least the next week. Barring any more "gully washers", the pegmatites should be nice and dry by the time you get here. In the meantime, you can reach me on my cell phone at (512) 848-8309, or contact me at the e-mail address we used to correspond with a few weeks ago.

Frank

Frank,
I am an aspiring geologist living in Houston and would love to check out the central texas area. Early June good for you, or would you be interested. Locations would be almost as good as a daytrip. Thanks for any info.
Larry

Hi My name is Melissa and I did a search for texas minerals and found this site with corespondance from you. My family and I are traveling down to the Brownsville area of Texas and will be in town this weekend February 10th. We are just getting started as "rock hounds" (in fact I hesitate to use that expression as we have only had a couple of experiences looking for different rocks/minerals) We have had such a great time experiencing the copper mines in the UP of Michigan and looking for agates that I thought I would explore what is in Texas. What would you suggest? We also are taking a trip into Mexico and would love any suggestions across the border as well. Thanks!! Melissa from Minnesota.

There are a lot of places in Texas that are great for rockhounding. If you go into my photo gallery, look for the strontianite from Mt. Bonnell. It is easy to find there, and it is in good amounts too. I also have pictures of what to look for at Mt. Bonnell to find the strontianite. So far, I havn't made it down to the very lower parts of Texas, but I hope to soon. There are many places around the border to look for agates and petrified wood.

Hi! I want to go rock hounding - I really don't care whether or not I take anything home, I am so new to this that just the exploration is exciting. BUt I have no idea where to go. I am in Austin and wnat to go somewhere not too far away and definitely where a fit lady can go by herself and not get messed with. Any advice?

Thank you very much.

I was recently in Georgetown, which is just out of Austin, and there are some roadcuts there from recent excavation in which I was able to find Chalcedony, Strontianite, Celestite, Quartz, Flint, Calcite, and Gypsum. The cuts are pretty much impossible to miss as you drive through Georgetown.

Regards,
David Aldridge



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2008 05:32AM by David Aldridge.

I am new to Texas and pretty new to rockhounding as well and would like to go rockhunding in the Austin area with my 5 yr old nephew. can anyone recommend a good area to start out with. the laws here seem stricter than in california regarding collecting

David,
Have you communicated with Art Smith of the Houston Gem and Mineral Society? He is at artsmithite@msn.com. He is the authority on Texas minerals for all of the mineral collectors in the HGMS. I'm pretty sure he has done a bibliography of books and articles on Texas minerals and localities. Our club library is another great resource, since he has stocked it with every book he can find on Texas minerals. Are you going to include agate and petrified wood localities in your book? Most of South Texas and West Texas are agate and cutting wood country, with only scattered mineral localities, since there is so little "hard" rock. I've taken up collecting petrified wood myself, just so I have something to go collect that isn't 5 - 8 hours away. I have 40+ years with minerals, so you know I didn't do this lightly.

Steve

hi my name is dillon hunter villanueva i am doing massive reaserch on site location of minerals and rare deposits so far i am trying to get maps of early mesozoic period and other time period my reaserch i hope will help prospectors and my self to put a little money in the pocket becouse that is my point, im comparing the maps of early volcanic activity to now ive found a couple of spots but i can use you guys help im a begginer but very intreseted i need to know what minerals that are here in texas and which ones i dont have to hope to find lol...... but i think we can all help each other here.

David,
I am a 6th grade science teacher and live on the west side of San Antonio. I would like to know where I can take my family and my students for some rock and mineral hunting. Fossils would be great too. Kids love "rocks". I need areas that are easily accessible. I also want to know if you can tell me who to contact for joinging a local rockhounding club. Thanks Karen

Hi Karen,

Call me in Austin at (512) 848-8309. I have access to one or two sites that meet your requirements and are only an hour or two from San Antonio.

Frank

-looking for garnets or other collectables for a student collection, near or around Austin, San Antonio, Burnet, Fredrickburg and LLano.

Thanks,

Hey all I just moved to S. Austin and am looking to restart my rock fossil collection. I took a Geology class at San Antonio college a few years back and we were taken to a big granite quarry, also i want to say an area north of salado for fossils, then in the llano area.. I am trying to find Tourmaline( if thats in texas at all), malachite, and blue topaz.. im a novice rockhound but I love rocks and geodes.. can anyone advise me of places I can go or with a group of expierenced rockhounds to kinda help me out..
thanks,

my cell is 210-382-4968
Michael

Hello Guys and Gals,
I curently live in Southern California,But will soon move to texas[dallas Fortworth area,
I'd like to very much join in the mineral collecting Texas has to offer,
If you are into making new friends and enjoy Pegmatite Minerals then perhaps we all can get together
For the last 5 years I've dug at tourmaline mines all over southern california,
You should see my specimines.
I am a serious digger,I have all my own digging equiptment and I know how to move hard rock.
Please look me up as I'll be arriving after june 15th sometimes.
All the best rockhounding to everyone,
Warm Regards,
Thomas Hess/a diehard rockhound
thomascarlhess@yahoo.com
951-216-5910 cell

From what I understand there are few if any places open to amateur collectors in Texas - it's all private land owned by people with big hats and big guns.

Jolyon



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2008 09:32PM by Jolyon Ralph.

Yee Haw!

I've lived in Texas off and on for forty years and I've always wanted to say that.

Frank

So Joylon with what your saying all I need is a big redicioulious hat,
Because I have everything else
Thomas

I would like a place to take my 12 year old son and 60 year old mother to go rock hounding for minerals somewhere somewhat near Houston (within 100 miles) this weekend (Memorial weekend). Can anyone provide me with some ideas? Please email me at naturejuice@yahoo.com Thank you!

If you are looking for mineral specimens, you are pretty much out of luck (the nearest decent places are in Arkansas - one of the problems with living on the Gulf Coast). There is some petrified wood in east Texas.
[www.mcrocks.com]

Hi all!

I am an Anthropology major and have recently moved to San Angelo. I really really want to get into rockhounding and the lapidary arts. I know that there are a couple of decent roadcuts here, and would like to try them out before heading out to the Big Bend area. I have no experience, and would love some pointers and info. Thanks!

... I also have a big ridiculous hat if it helps...