Best Rockhounding Locations In Texas & What You Can Find

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As one of the largest and most geographically diverse states, Texas is like an amusement park for rockhounds. Whatever you want to collect, whether it’s colorful rocks, precious minerals, or unique fossils, you can find all of that and more in the Lone Star State. Let’s explore all the best rockhounding sites of Texas, and what you can collect at each one in the following sections.

The best rockhounding spots in Texas are:

Site	Public or Private	GPS Coordinates
Streeter	Public	30.763497, -99.375161
Chinati Mountains	Public	29.903997, -104.463979
Bonanza Mines	Private	31.186320, -105.501801
Plata Verde Mine	Private	30.877323, -104.921989
Quitman Mountains	Private	31.148617, -105.495831
Terlingua	Public	29.322332, -103.619281
Alpine (south)	Public	30.332136, -103.665755
Glass Mountains	Public	30.434406, -103.108625
Rabb’s Creek	Public	30.143973, -96.983555
Mason (west)	Public	30.737357, -99.232075
Trinity County	Public	30.939062, -95.369301
Willow City	Public	30.400379, -98.700824
Rio Grande	Public	27.730412, -99.756396

There’s no doubt that Texas is an enormous state, but no matter which area you visit, you’ll have ample opportunity to bring home all kinds of rocks and minerals. Blue topaz, amethyst, turquoise, opals, petrified wood, jasper, and many types of agates are just a few of the treasures you can find in the Lone Star State. While some of these finds are quite common throughout the state, others are rarer, so if you’re looking for something specific, you might have to stick to specific areas of Texas.

If you are interested in checking out the best rockhounding book about rockhounding in Texas you can find it by clicking here (Amazon link).

Rockhounding Regulations & Laws in Texas

Whether you are a native Texan or a first-time visitor, you’ll need to know the rockhounding rules and regulations of the state before going on your first collecting trip. Fortunately, the rockhounding rules for this state aren’t too complicated; you just have to determine whether you are collecting on public or private land. We’ll go over the details for Texas rockhounding on public or private lands below so you’ll be well-prepared for your adventures.

On private lands, there’s only one simple rockhounding rule; you have to gain permission from the land’s owner or manager before collecting. Fortunately for rockhounds, the majority of Texas is composed of private lands, which is why it’s known as the “private land state.” As a matter of fact, the Texas A&M NRI explains, “The majority of the land (~95%) is held in private ownership.”

As long as you receive permission from and run your plans by the land’s owner or manager, you are able to do just about anything during your rockhounding expeditions on private lands. One great way to find private rockhounding sites in Texas is to ask around, especially in local rockhounding groups or online forums.

Now that we’ve covered private lands in Texas, it’s time to move on to public lands. Public lands are a bit trickier to navigate than private lands since public lands are managed by different groups. In the Lone Star State, public lands include:

• National Parks
• State Parks
• BLM Land
• Public Land

All you have to do for public lands is determine which category the land falls under. For National and State Parks, rockhounding of any kind is illegal. The rules for lands under the management of the BLM, or the Bureau of Land Management, are a bit more flexible, and you are allowed to rockhound as long as you:

• collect for personal collections and not for commercial purposes,
• only collect small/reasonable amounts,
• use only hand tools for collection.

Lastly, rockhounds can collect on public lands, such as highway gravels or creek beds, as long as they only take reasonable amounts.

Best Rockhounding Sites in Texas

The Lone Star state is famous for its vast lands, and in this sprawling state, there’s no shortage of places to go rockhounding. Whether you are searching for a specific rock or mineral or need some help choosing your rockhounding destinations, you’ll find that this guide is packed with all the information you need for rockhounding in the great state of Texas.

In case you need it, the map below shows you the exact locations for all of the best public sites mentioned below:

Streeter

Streeter is a small area in Mason County located just north of the Llano River. While this area is certainly small, don’t be deceived by its size; it’s a great area for rockhounding! It’s surrounded by mines and mineral deposits, and while it might not possess a lot of collectible rocks, it offers plenty of minerals. The most popular minerals that rockhounds bring home from Streeter are tourmaline, topaz (clear and blue), quartz (clear and smoky), amazonite, and feldspar crystals.

Luckily, Streeter isn’t a difficult place to find. It’s located just outside of Mason and Grit, and you can easily reach it by taking the US-377 or the TX-29 down to Streeter Lane.

Rocks & Minerals	Rarity
Tourmaline	Occasional
Topaz	Occasional
Quartz	Rare
Amazonite	Rare
Feldspar	Rare

Chinati Mountains

Over 35 million years ago, a violent volcanic eruption in the Pecos region of Texas created the Chinati Mountains. In the late 1800s, settlers and ranchers mined this area for gold, silver, copper, zinc, manganese, and fluorspar.

Even though a large portion of the mountains are located within the Chinati Mountains State Natural Area, the Sierra Parda and Chinati peaks are not within the borders of the park. Rockhounds often explore both the mountains and the mine dumps in this area, especially since the mine dumps contain all sorts of interesting minerals.

You’ll find the Chinati Mountains a bit east of the Texas/Mexico border, off Highway 67. It’s a fairly remote area, and the nearest town, Shafter, is actually a ghost town. The most direct route to this area is to take Highway 90 and then Highway 67 down to the mountain range.

Rocks & Mineral	Rarity
Agate	Common
Fluorite	Common
Jasper	Common
Galena	Common
Sphalerite	Common
Chalcedony	Common
Pyrite	Common
Smithsonite	Common

Bonanza Mine

After beginning production in 1885, the Bonanza Mine primarily produced ores, including gold, silver, and lead. Some common byproducts found in the mine include zinc, quartz, siderite, malachite, and kaolinite. Typically, rockhounds visit this site to collect sphalerite, galena, and chalcopyrite since these are common and of great quality in this area.

The Bonanza Mine is located next to the Texas/Mexico border and Sierra Blanca, right off Interstate 10. There are also plenty of small backroads you can take, but usually the I-10 is the simplest and most direct way to reach this destination.

Rocks & Minerals	Rarity
Gold	Rare
Silver	Rare
Lead	Occasional
Zinc	Occasional
Quartz	Common
Sphalerite	Occasional
Galena	Common
Chalcopyrite	Common
Kaolinite	Common
Malachite	Occasional
Siderite	Common

TIP: Gold prospecting in Texas is more than a hobby; it’s a journey that will take you deep into the heart of the state, its history, geology, and the spirit of adventure that defines it. Find out more in the article below:Gold Prospecting in Texas: 10 Best Locations & Laws

Plata Verde Mine

The Plata Verde Mine was in operation from 1934 to 1943, and there are currently no plans to reopen it. It is located in the Van Horn Mountains Mining District near Lobo, Texas. While the mine itself was considered a small-scale producer, it’s a great place to collect multiple types of minerals. The most popular collectible minerals from this mine are azurite, quartz, malachite, barite, and anglesite.

From Van Horn, take Highway 90 down east to reach the Plata Verde Mine. You’ll find it just before you reach Scotts Crossing.

Rocks & Minerals	Rarity
Azurite	Common
Quartz	Common
Malachite	Common
Barite	Common
Anglesite	Common

Quitman Mountains

Without a doubt, the Quitman Mountains are some of the best areas to go rockhounding in Texas. There’s a wealth of collectible rocks and minerals in this region, such as petrified wood, amethyst, carnelian, jasper, agate, and silver. You can search the mountains themselves or the mines located in the area, such as the abandoned Hazel Mine.

The Quitman Mountains reside in Hudspeth County, west of Sierra Blanca. You’ll need to take Interstate 10 to reach them, and you might have to use off-road vehicles to reach certain areas.

Rocks & Minerals	Rarity
Petrified wood	Occasional
Amethyst	Occasional
Carnelian	Occasional
Jasper	Common
Agate	Common
Silver	Rare

Terlingua

Terlingua and Terlingua Creek are excellent rockhounding sites for colorful rocks, such as agates, and unique minerals, such as cinnabar. There are plenty of mines throughout this area where rockhounds can collect many types of treasures. In this area, you can find amber, pompom agates, cinnabar, fluorite, calcite, terlinguaite, aragonite crystals, and jasper.

Terlingua is sandwiched between Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park. Take the TX-118 to the Lone Star Ranch Road, and you’ll be in the heart of Terlingua.

Rocks & Minerals	Rarity
Amber	Occasional
Agate	Occasional
Cinnabar	Occasional
Fluorite	Common
Calcite	Common
Terlinguaite	Rare
Aragonite	Common
Jasper	Occasional

Alpine

Do you want to collect Texas moonstones or plume agates? If so, then Alpine is your next stop. This area is located southeast of Fort Davis, and its gravels often contain many hidden treasures. At this location, rockhounds gather moonstones, agates (moss and plume), quartz, chalcedony, jasper, and labradorite.

Fortunately, Alpine is located right next to Highway 90, and it’s surrounded by highways and roads. No matter which direction you come from, you’ll be able to find Alpine with ease as long as you reach Highway 90.

Rocks & Minerals	Rarity
Moonstone	Rare
Agate	Occasional
Quartz	Common
Chalcedony	Common
Jasper	Occasional
Labradorite	Rare

BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? The books listed below are the best ones you can find on the internet (Amazon links):

• Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals
• Gemstone & Crystal Properties (Quick Study Home)
• Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals (National Geographic Kids)

Glass Mountains

The Glass Mountains are full of treasures, and rockhounds pick up quartz, agate, jasper, and chalcedony from these rugged hills. In addition, fossil lovers will be happy to know that they can collect all types of marine fossils from the Glass Mountains, including coral, bryozoans, crinoids, nautiloids, and other types of marine life.

The Glass Mountains are located south of Fort Stockton and east of Fort Davis. If you’re coming from the Fort Stockton area, you can take the I-10 to Highway 385, and then Highway 385 down to the mountains. From the Fort Davis area, you can take Highway 90 to Highway 385, taking the 385 north until you reach the mountains.

Rocks & Minerals	Rarity
Quartz	Common
Agate (moss and plume)	Common
Jasper	Common
Chalcedony	Common
Fossils	Common

Rabbs Creek

Anyone who’s in the central Texas area should stop by Rabbs Creek for some petrified and opalized wood. The creek beds and surrounding gravels are great rockhounding sites for those who want to add petrified or opalized wood to their collection.

Rabbs Creek is close to Giddings, so to reach it, all you have to do is take Highway 290 to Highway 77, then turn onto FM 448 Rd, which intersects with the creek.

Rocks & Minerals	Rarity
Petrified wood	Occasional
Opalized wood	Occasional

Mason

Natural blue topaz is rare, but Mason, Texas, is one place where you can find it. Many ranches in Mason allow rockhounds to collect (usually for a small fee), and you can pick up tourmaline, topaz, feldspar, quartz, and amazonite.

Mason is southwest of Enchanted Rock, and Highway 87 will lead you right to it. You can also take Austin Street or Highway 377 to reach this area.

Rocks & Minerals	Rarity
Tourmaline (black)	Rare
Topaz (clear and blue)	Rare
Feldspar	Common
Quartz	Common
Amazonite	Common

Trinity County

While there are a lot of excellent rockhounding sites in West Texas, the ones in East Texas are not to be ignored! Trinity County offers some unique specimens for rockhounds, including agatized wood, jasper, agate, petrified wood, and chalcedony.

Whether you are coming from Crockett, Lufkin, Huntsville, or Livingston, there are numerous routes you can take to Trinity County. It all depends on your starting destination.

Rocks & Minerals	Rarity
Agatized wood	Occasional
Jasper	Common
Agate	Common
Petrified wood	Common
Chalcedony	Common

Willow City

While most of the locations we’ve covered so far focus on minerals, there are some collectible rocks you can bring home from Texas, including soapstone and serpentine. If you want to add these collectible rocks, and maybe barite, to your collection, take a trip to Willow City.

Willow City is located between Fredericksburg and Llano. Take the TX-16 either north or south (depending on where you are starting from), and you’ll reach Willow City in no time!

Rocks & Minerals	Rarity
Soapstone	Occasional
Serpentine	Occasional
Barite	Common

Rio Grande

If you can only make one stop in Texas, the Rio Grande is a great choice. The Rio Grande yields obsidian, jasper, Rio Grande Agates, and agatized wood. Additionally, while they aren’t naturally occurring treasures, arrowheads often pop up here and there in the Rio Grande gravels, and they make a great addition to any collection.

The Rio Grande flows along the Texas/Mexico border, and it’s quite a large river, so there are plenty of spots for rockhounds to explore.

Rocks & Minerals	Rarity
Obsidian	Occasional
Jasper	Common
Rio Grande Agates	Common
Agatized wood	Occasional

Other Notable Rockhounding Spots in Texas

Interested in adding a few more Texas rockhounding locations to your travel plans? Check out some additional Texas rockhounding sites in this chart.

Site	Public or Private	GPS Coordinates	Common Rocks/Minerals
Bedias	Public	30.774762, -95.943537	Tektites, black diamonds, fire pearls
Lake Livingston	Public	30.796571, -95.173075	Petrified palm wood
Llano County	Public	30.724944, -98.662038	Topaz, zircon
Sierra Blanc	Public	31.180993, -105.368945	Turquoise
Bishop Ranch	Private	30.155151, -104.006273	Texas Bouquet Agate
Buffalo Creek	Public	30.000391, -96.333422	Celestite

TIP: From the Texas deserts to the forests, there are plenty of rocks and minerals that exist all over this state, as you’ll find out in this informative article:12 Common Rocks & Minerals You Can Find in Texas

Rockhounding Clubs in Texas

There are enthusiastic rockhounds all over the Lone Star State. Any rockhound who wants to join a Texas rockhounding community should check out these groups and clubs:

Fredericksburg Rockhounds

The Fredericksburg Rockhounds are a non-profit organization that shares its enjoyment of rock and minerals by hosting frequent rockhounding field trips, museum visits, informative meetings, rock swaps, annual gem and mineral shows, and more.

They are affiliated with the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS) and the South Central Federation of Mineral Societies (SCFMS). Visitors are welcome to attend their meetings, which start at 7:00 pm on the first Monday of each month at the Golden Hub Senior Center, 1009 N Lincoln, Fredericksburg, Texas.

El Paso Mineral & Gem Society

Since 1947, the El Paso Mineral & Gem Society has encouraged members to share their passion for rockhounding with field trips, gem and mineral shows, and classes that teach lapidary arts, silversmithing, faceting, casting, and wire wrapping.

The dues are $20.00 per year (18 and over) $4.00 for junior membership. They describe their community as, “We are a group of regular down-to-earth people commonly called ‘Rock Hounds’ who commonly have a lot of fun enjoying rocks, nature, and life.”

Pleasant Oaks Gem & Mineral Society of Dallas

The mission of the Pleasant Oaks Gem & Mineral Society of Dallas (POGMC) is to “promote interest in the various earth sciences, in particular, those areas dealing with the science of gems, minerals and fossils, the art of cutting and polishing gemstones, metal crafts, jewelry arts, and all related fields.”

They host field trips, lapidary classes, educational meetings, and metal crafts. Visitors are always welcome to attend meetings, and they post the time and place on their website, which is linked above.

Waco Gem & Mineral Club

The Waco Gem & Mineral Club explains that “Our members share an interest in earth sciences, especially collecting rocks, cutting and polishing them (lapidary), and making jewelry.” They also hold a public rock and mineral show annually every spring. They are a non-profit organization that is a part of the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.

State Rock, Mineral, Gem, and Fossil of Texas

Texas possesses some fascinating and rare stones, and this state did a superb job at choosing its state rock, gem, and fossil to truly represent its unique geology.

State Rock

Even though petrified palm wood is a fossil, it was designated the state stone in 1969. This stone is stunning, and famous for its unique polka-dot pattern; as a matter of fact, it’s so popular in the geology community that four other states also claimed it as their state stone.

State Fossil

In 1997, Texas assigned the Brachiosaur sauropod, Pleurocoelus, as the official state dinosaur of Texas. However, paleontologists later discovered that they had misidentified the dinosaur that was found in Texas, so they transferred the official state fossil title to the Paluxysaurus Jonesi, named after the town of Paluxy where it was first discovered.

State Gem

Out of all the rocks, minerals, and gems in Texas, the most famous one is the state gem: the blue topaz. Since blue topaz is incredibly rare in its natural state, it makes sense that this gem drives many rockhounds to explore the Lone Star State. In addition, Texas also created its own gemstone cut, called the Lonestar Cut, that reflects the five-point star of Texas. So, if you find a blue topaz in Texas, be sure to use the Lonestar Cut to allow the stone to display its full beauty.

Recommended Rockhounding Gear

While special gear is not required to find nice rocks and fossils, having the right tools will help you find more than what’s simply laying around on the open ground. Here are some of the more basic tools and safety gear for interested rockhounds.

Geological Hammer

This 22oz Pointed-Tip Rock Pick by Estwing (Amazon link) is recommended for its durability and shock-reducing grip.

A rock pick is essential when collecting mineral specimens from a hard substrate such as stone. The pick’s handle is shock-resistant, making it more comfortable for use for longer times in the field.

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Geology Pick

The Geology pick by Estwing (Amazon link) is a good choice for those starting out in the hobby as well as seasoned professionals.

The hammer comes with a pointed tip on one side of the head and a chiseled end on the other. This pick is good for excavating interesting mineral and fossil specimens.

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Mini Shovel

The Mini D-Handle Round Point Shovel by Stanley (Amazon link) pairs convenience with durability. Especially in areas of soft material such as sand or clay, it is nice to have a sturdy shovel that is easy to carry.

The D-shaped handle gives you more leverage when digging on your knees, which is something that similarly sized standard-handled shovels wouldn’t provide.

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Heavy Duty Work Gloves by Ironclad

Working with your hands in rockhounding environments can be rough; it is easy to get cuts or abrasions when in the field. Protecting your hands is important, especially while working with sharp or abrasive rocks.

The Heavy Duty Work Gloves by Ironclad (Amazon link) protect your hands from sharp rocks and tools. They are machine washable, highly abrasion resistant, and durable.

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Safety Glasses

Eye protection is a must when breaking up a rock or any sort of work where debris could cause injury to your eyes.

The 3M Safety Glasses (Amazon link) are anti-fog and have a corded earplug system, as well as a removable foam gasket. The clear, scratch-resistant lenses shield the eyes against harmful ultraviolet light as well as prevent eye injury from flying rock chips.

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First Aid Kit

With its 299 pieces, the Only Emergency First Aid Kit (Amazon link) is a good one for rockhounds. Of course, it’s best to avoid injuring yourself but if things go wrong it’s good to be prepared.

Some of the items found in the kit include fabric and plastic bandages, painkillers, gauze and pads, cold packs, wound closers, and many more.

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Conclusion

Whether you want to collect the renowned Texas blue topaz or some patterned Rio Grande agates, Texas is a wonderful place for any rockhound to be! Even though the majority of the rockhounding sites in Texas are in the west, you can still find plenty of top-notch rockhounding areas no matter where you go in this state.

Additionally, there is a wonderful rockhounding community in this state and many passionate rockhounding groups that always provide a warm welcome for visitors. If you plan to visit the Lone Star State anytime soon, prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime rockhounding adventure!

TIP: Finding geodes in Texas is difficult, especially since this state isn’t well-known for its geode deposits. However, there are some places here where rockhounds have found various geode specimens.Guide: 10 Best Locations to Find Geodes in Texas