What Precious Gems Can Be Found In Texas?

The state of Texas evokes sweeping plains and open spaces, hill country and Gulf Coast beaches. Texas is not as renowned as a source for gemstones. Nevertheless, due to some interesting geological features in the state, treasures can be found underfoot in the right places.

Texas boasts a number of rocks and minerals. Among these, Texas gemstones do exist. Some of the collectible, semi-precious and precious gemstones found in Texas include agate, topaz, opal, turquoise, jasper, petrified wood, turquoise and other crystalline and quartz varieties.

Blue topaz is the state gemstone of Texas. A true Texas gemstone, blue topaz often is cut with the Lone Star cut to showcase the state's symbol in the jewel. Texas blue topaz is a light-blue variety of the mineral topaz. Texas blue topaz is chiefly found in Precambrian granite. Mason County in Central Texas boasts much of the blue topaz in the Lone Star State. In Mason County, rockhounds can find gem-quality pale blue topaz.

Historically, blue topaz was considered quite rare. However, after the 1960s, a process emerged by which colorless topaz could be transformed into blue topaz. This greatly devalued naturally blue topaz as a result. Today, blue topaz is not expensive. It is quite striking in hue, however, and naturally-blue topaz still provides gemstone-quality jewels.

No commercial blue topaz mines exist in Texas. In Mason County, look for blue topaz in granite outcroppings near Grit, Streeter and Katemcy. Certain ranches specialize in giving access to blue topaz sources for a fee. When searching for blue topaz, use a pick and a shovel, and a mesh screen for sifting out small pieces of topaz. Digging after a rain might prove to be easier for your topaz treasure adventure.

The geologic feature in Texas called the Llano Uplift features over 200 varieties of Texas rocks and minerals in Llano County alone. Some of the Texas gemstones found in the Llano Uplift include the purple quartz amethyst, garnet, other varieties of quartz, and vivid, deep-blue azurite.

While not as renowned for turquoise as neighbor state New Mexico, Texas possesses some of this sky-blue gem. Historically, this Texas gemstone existed along the Culberson-Hudspeth county line. Texas has not been a major producer of turquoise.

Texas provides a broad array of agates for aficionados of this unique mineral. Available in many colors, agates can be found in West Texas and the Big Bend area.

Christmas agate features bands of green, red and white, giving it its seasonal name. These agates can be found in Big Bend.

In West Texas, myriad colors of Texas plume agate await treasure seekers. Banded blue agates can be found near Alpine, Texas. Honey onyx, a translucent variety of agate, can be found in the McCamey area. The so-called thunder egg banded agate geodes can be found in West Texas as well.

One popular Texas gemstone is common opal. Typically, this kind of opal can be found along with chalcedony in the Texas coastal plain region. Rockhounds may find common opal as nodules or veins. Fayette County, Texas boasts opalized wood.

In Central and West Texas, common opal exists in red, blue, brown, colorless or yellow varieties.

In the Terlingua area of Brewster County, Texas, collectors might unearth vanadinite crystals. Typically blood-red, vanadinite crystals also exist in rusty and yellowish hues.

For rockhounds of all ages, Texas rocks and minerals abound. You might also encounter petrified wood and other kinds of fossils in your search for precious gems. When seeking Texas gemstone treasures, be sure to pay close attention to signs and stay off private property.