EVERYTHING IS BETTER
IN WEST TEXAS
Our rockhounding tours are led by professional outdoor guides who have led adventures for more than five years in the Alpine, Texas area. These guides will help you traverse the vast and dynamic landscape of local private ranches. You will have the opportunity to learn about the fascinating geology of West Texas. During our hiking tours, you will have the opportunity to learn about the robust flora and fauna of the Alpine Mountains.
ABOUT US
Our mission is to encourage the interest in rock and mineral collecting in the Trans Pecos region of West Texas and to spur the education of rockhounds in the geology and environments of the area while providing a safe hiking and outdoor adventure experience.
Our goal is to provide you with a trip experience you will enjoy and remember vividly for years to come. We want you to think back on your trip(s) with a sense of fulfillment, inspiration and entitlement.
Our trip leaders have a great appreciation for nature in the Davis Mountains region, a demonstrated love of rockhounding and a strong educational background in geology, geophysics, environmental geology, natural resource management and ecology.
OUR GUIDES
Our guides are Aaron, James, and Roy. Three West Texans who love to share their appreciation for wild places and the rocks that make them special.
James Winn VI
Favorite agate: Blue Fox Condor agate
Aaron Thomas
Favorite Agate: Plume Agate
Roy Saffel
Favorite Agate: Jasper Agate
LOCAL ROCKS
Most agates are associated with igneous rocks, primarily andesite, rhyolite and basalt. Agates are formed in voids, most often in volcanic rocks. Volcanic ash converts to silica gel which can permeate the volcanic rocks and can fill the voids partially or completely. If carbonates or oxides like iron or manganese oxide are present, beautiful colors and inclusions appear. Saturation changes in the silica gel can lead to the deposition of crystalline quartz.
Our goal is to share this passion and experience with all collectors and prospective collectors and increase interest and awareness of quality agate within the West Texas area.
Agate
Agate is a cryptocrystalline form of quartz. “Cryptocrystalline” means that the crystals in the stone are too tiny to see individually. Agate is the quartz gem for which the Big Bend area is best known. Agate is usually multicolored and at least partly translucent or transparent. The colors occur in patterns that are truly incredible. Some of the local agates are quite sought after: Red & black plume agate and Marfa bouquet agate are two examples which have tree-like or feathery formations of different colors in the agate.
Amygdule – A nodule formed in a gas created void within volcanic rock.
Fortification or Banded Agate
An agate with concentric or repeating bands or stripes. The term, “Fortification,” comes from banding that resembles multiple walls of a fortress.
Geode
A thunder-egg or amygdule that is hollow.
Botryoidal
Having the form of a bunch of grapes or bubbles.
Vein Agate
Agate that is formed by filling cracks and fractures in the host rock.
Plume Agate
Plume is a three-dimensional inclusion that resembles trees, feathers, tongues, or flowers formed by oxides, carbonates or other minerals in the chalcedony.
Other types of agates, fossils, and minerals found in West Texas:
Calcite, Aragonite, Selenite, Common and Precious Opal, Quartz Crystals, Chalcedony, Jasper, Labradorite, fossils, Petrified Wood, and Petrified Palmwood
