Rockhunting is defined as “allowing guests on your ranch to collect rocks of certain types for a fee.”
If you own or manage a ranch in the Big Bend area and want to see whether rockhunting would work for you as an extra source of income, we can probably help you. We offer a free mineralogical and geological assessment of your property and we can further discuss Rockhounding options that suits the ranch’s rules and guidelines.
Rock Info
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 permeating the volcanic rocks and filling the voids. If carbonates or oxides like iron or manganese oxide are present, beautiful colors and inclusions appear. 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, minerals and carbonates in the chalcedony. Various types of plume are described below.
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