Llanite Roadcut on Highway 16 — Rockhounding in Llano County, Texas
The roadcut on Texas Highway 16 about nine miles north of Llano slices through the only known outcrop of llanite, a 1.1-billion-year-old rhyolite porphyry flecked with blue quartz crystals found essentially nowhere else on Earth. The blue color comes from microscopic ilmenite inclusions in the quartz, set in a matrix studded with reddish microcline feldspar. It is the single publicly reachable exposure of the rock. Reported finds include llanite, blue quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Llanite Roadcut on Highway 16 photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing Llanite Roadcut on Highway 16 in Llano County, Texas
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Llano County
- State
- Texas
- Coordinates
- 30.79949, -98.64099
Land & collecting status
Generally open to casual rockhounding
Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.
Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.
Sources & verification
Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.
State guidance last verified:
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Bureau of Economic Geology — Texas geology
- Big Bend National Park — Rules
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Llanite Roadcut on Highway 16
Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.
- LlaniteEncyclopedia →
- Blue QuartzEncyclopedia →
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Llanite Roadcut on Highway 16.
- Llano River at Grenwelge ParkTop pick in TexasLlano County, Texas · 4 mi awayBlue Quartz, Quartz, Almandine Garnet
- Llano countyLlano County, Texas · 14 mi awayTopaz, Zircon
- General AreaLlano County, Texas · 20 mi awayBarite, Serpentine, Soapstone
- Moss Ranch area near Enchanted RockLlano County, Texas · 23 mi awayEpidote, Pink Feldspar, Quartz
- Hinton CreekSan Saba County, Texas · 29 mi awayChalcedony, Chert
- LampasasLampasas County, Texas · 32 mi awayFluorescent Calcite
- General AreaLampasas County, Texas · 36 mi awayCelestite
- Amethyst Hill on Althaus RanchBlanco County, Texas · 36 mi awayAmethyst, Citrine
Llanite Roadcut on Highway 16 FAQ
Why is Llanite Roadcut on Highway 16 one of the best rockhounding spots in Texas?+
Where is Llanite Roadcut on Highway 16?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Llanite Roadcut on Highway 16?+
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More rockhounding in Texas
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