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Where to Find Agate in Texas

Texas agate concentrates in the Big Bend country and the Trans-Pecos volcanic belt of Brewster, Presidio, and Jeff Davis counties. Pompom agate, plume agate, and red moss agate erode from the Tascotal and Mitchell Mesa volcanics south of Alpine, with the Walker, Woodward, and Stillwell ranches running paid digs. Marfa-area agate (Mexican Lace, often called Laguna or Marfa Plume) carries dramatic fortification banding. Smaller showings of Balmorhea blue agate occur in Reeves County. Surface collecting on public land is essentially nil, since most agate ground sits inside private ranches that charge daily access fees; trespass on Texas ranch land is treated seriously.

Spot list checked against source data on April 1, 2026.

Map of 20 agate collecting spots in Texas

Best counties for agate in Texas

Ranked by the number of mapped agate spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.

Every agate spot we track in Texas

Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.

SpotCountyMineralsCoordinatesAccess
Area surfaces all around SmithvilleTX 71Bastrop County30.0160, -97.1478Public
Agua Fria RanchAgua Fria RoadBrewster County29.5252, -103.6739Public
General AreaWest US Highway 90Brewster County30.3222, -103.7856Public
Stillwell Ranch N of Big Bend Natl ParkRanch Road 2627Brewster County29.6436, -103.0802Public
Terlingua CreekJoe Moss RoadBrewster County29.2906, -103.5475Public
SW of FreerDuval County27.7726, -98.7653Public
Peach CreekCounty Road 353Gonzales County29.5041, -97.3143Public
Gravel pits near Rio GrandeFlores StreetHidalgo County26.2408, -98.5635Public
Quitman Mountains (South)Hudspeth County31.1005, -105.5080Public
Marfa and Ft. DavisTX 17Jeff Davis County30.4511, -103.9821Public
MoultonCounty Road 532GLavaca County29.5580, -97.1321Public
Eagle PassStone HillMaverick County28.7373, -100.4712Public
Chinati MtsPresidio County30.0004, -104.3529Public
Needle PeakPresidio County29.4283, -103.8104Public
General AreaReeves County31.3526, -103.7592Public
Rio GrandeStarr County26.3624, -98.8352Public
Btwn Groveton & TrinityTrinity County31.0331, -95.2220Public
Rio Grande River AreaRio Grande Vega TrailWebb County27.4979, -99.4922Public
Falcon Lake General AreaOld U.S. Highway 83Zapata County26.7343, -99.2020Public
LopenoEl Tigre RoadZapata County26.7131, -99.1313Public

Before you go

Read the agate identification guide so you know what a keeper looks like in the field: Agate in the encyclopedia.

Agate in Texas FAQ

Where can you find agate in Texas?+
The mapped spots concentrate in Brewster County County, Presidio County County, and Zapata County County. Known collecting areas include Woodward Ranch plume agate (Brewster County), Walker Ranch (Brewster County), and Marfa area (Presidio County). Every spot on this page appears on the map above with coordinates and access notes.
How many agate spots are mapped in Texas?+
20 spots across 15 counties. The RockHoundR app keeps the same spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, and your saved finds.
Is it legal to collect agate in Texas?+
Hand collecting of common rocks and minerals in small amounts for personal use is generally allowed on BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are closed to collecting. 20 of the 20 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.
When is the best time to collect agate in Texas?+
Big Bend agate ranches typically run dig days from October through April, when temperatures stay below 100°F. Mid-summer is uncomfortable and most ranches close.

Where else to find agate

More minerals to hunt in Texas

Hunt agate in Texas with the map in your pocket

RockHoundR puts these spots on an offline map with BLM and Forest Service overlays, geology layers, and a log for your finds.

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