Texas Rockhound

Texas explorer and lapidarist. Rock and fossil collecting. Also some gem mining. I find most of my specimens in West Texas.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

@Tsunami___Rose I’ve never done that but open to it. I normally take my son along with me when I go exploring.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

@LeilaBela Cool. Yes there are small chunks all along the river just requires a bit of searching. The specimen I posted came from a chunk about the size of a grapefruit. I cut, shape, and polished it. As I do with most of my finds.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

Llanite. This stuff comes from central Texas. The mix of rhyolite, feldspar, mica, and tiny blue quartz crystals makes this material very attractive.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

@LeilaBela This can be found along the llano river under the bridge in downtown llano and nearby. I access the riverbank from the end of Ash St. at the intersection of E Sandstone St. You can park there at the end of the road, walk down to the river and explore.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

Agua Nueva agate. I really like the soft purple tones in this specimen.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

@MrsProffitt I use a 14” lapidary saw and a CabKing 6 to polish smaller material. To polish large chunks I use a vibralap. lol I’ve never thought of posting the equipment I use. Maybe I will in the near future. Possibly some before and after pics as well.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

Blue mountain jasper. This chunk is superb.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

Here’s a thunderegg from Nevada. Enjoy…

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

@ValkyrieVolta_ I’ve seen llanite in lighter shades too. This polished piece came off a larger chunk I found off the Llano River banks about a half mile east of downtown Llano.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

@Goodtwitchsouth @GeologyTime Lol!

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

Baker Ranch thunderegg. From Deming, New Mexico. Such a pretty little nodule.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

@ValkyrieVolta_ You’re welcome. Have fun! Hope you have good luck out there. 🙏🏼

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

I explored the Llano Uplift in central Texas today. I had a very good haul. The best part was finding the topaz you see in the first pic. Topaz is also the official gemstone of Texas.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

@ValkyrieVolta_ As for quartz, that stuff is everywhere out there. You’ll have no problem finding that. But best spot are washout areas near creeks and runoff’s. Minerals tend to pile up in those areas after decent rainfalls.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

@ValkyrieVolta_ For topaz search around and under granite outcrops along Blackjack and Flygap roads. The Lindsay Ranch is a good place too. The lady there is nice, charges a small fee, and I found a small topaz there once. I’ve found llanite in downtown llano along the riverbanks by the bridge.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

I found this beautiful fossil yesterday. It’s only a piece of ammonite, but still pretty cool to have. Specimens from the Cretaceous period like this can be found all over the Texas Hill Country.

[Matt Schwartz @Schwartz_Land]

Rolling hills dolomite. Really soft stone that still gets a good shine (the harder the stone, the better the shine). A fun stone to work.

[Matt Schwartz @Schwartz_Land]

It’s Friday and our dog hasn’t been a puppy for years, so I’m going to tweet pix of some of the best rocks I’ve worked the last few years. (Some will be RTs, sorry)

This is an Australian dendritic opalite.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

Wonderful agate with moss and lavenders.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

@CutaiaVictoria Mason County.

[Texas Rockhound @txrockhound]

@TTB_72 @TugboatPhil Can’t see. Account is private