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Gem Hunting in Central Texas

Central Texas provides a plethora of gem and mineral hunting opportunities. Rock hounds and lapidaries often collect gem specimens such as jasper, cinnabar, agate, quartz, topaz and microcline. Dress for the weather including sunscreen and hats. Some areas require a permit to search the area, so be respectful of private lands.

Topaz
- Mason Country in the Texas Hill Country is the ideal location and popular hunting ground for the gem-quality white, pale-blue and sky-blue topaz --- the state's official gemstone. Fine crystals are occasionally found in pegmatite dikes associated with quartz, black or pink tourmaline, and cassiterite; however, many of the pegmatites have eroded away depositing the topaz crystals in stream beds.
Quartz
- Smoky quartz crystals can be found with topaz in pegmatite dikes and stream beds in Mason County, near Streeter, Katemey and Grit. Though lighter colored than crystals found near Lake Buchanan, the crystals found in Mason County are larger with fewer flaws.
Garnet
- Gem-quality almandite garnet has been found in Llano, Blanco, Burnet and Gillespie counties. The stones found scattered in stream gravels as well as concentrated behind rocks and on small gravel bars commonly show appreciable crystal form.

Gemology