Texas is known for its vast landscapes, long history, and diverse cultures. But beneath its rough terrain lies a hidden gem: turquoise. People have loved this stunning blue-green mineral for thousands of years because of its bright color and its many uses in art and jewelry.
In Texas, especially in some areas, turquoise veins tell stories about oceans that were there a long time ago and the geological forces that shaped them. Finding turquoise in the Texas landscape is like going on an exciting treasure hunt.
We’ll guide you on this trip and help you find the state’s bright blue secret, whether you’re a rockhound, a jewelry lover, or someone interested in the state’s geological wonders.
What Is Texas Turquoise Anyway?
A bright blue-green stone called turquoise is often used in art and jewelry. Its unique color comes from the copper, aluminum, and water that go into making it. As time goes on, these elements mix in rocks.
When it rains, the water helps them stick together and harden into turquoise stones. It takes a million years to be formed! It depends on the nearby minerals whether the turquoise is a different shade of blue or green.
Sometimes, it has lines or patterns from the rocks around it. We wrote an article about identifying a turquoise to make your search easier.
You can find turquoise in several places around the world. Places where turquoise is found are usually dry and rocky, perfect for making this beautiful mineral. The specimen’s origin can also affect how much a turquoise is worth.
The Types Of Turquoise Found In Texas
It’s interesting to see how different the minerals in Texas are when you look at turquoise. It comes in many colors, has different qualities, and has different names. These are the types of turquoise you’ll come across in the state:
- Blue-green turquoise
- Green turquoise
- Spiderweb turquoise
- The deep experience and understanding of our team about the area
- Recommendations from local groups and clubs
- How easy it is to get the a particular location
- Safety and potential hazards when collecting
- Weighing private and public locations
- The ability for both experienced and novice geode enthusiasts to find great samples
With these factors in mind we’ve been able to put together a fantastic list that just about anyone can use!
The Best Places To Find Turquoise in Texas
Let’s talk about the best places in the state to find turquoise. There are many great places to mine for gems in Texas, but only a few are good for finding turquoise. Not many people know about some of these places, but they often have great chances to search.
Always Confirm Access and Collection Rules!
Before heading out to any of the locations on our list you need to confirm access requirements and collection rules for both public and private locations.
These requirements are subject to change without notice and may differ from what we state below.
Always get updated information directly from the source ahead of time to ensure responsible rockhounding.
Carrizo Mountains
The Carrizo Mountains are a beautiful range that not many people know about. They are hidden in the vast landscapes of West Texas. Geology fans will enjoy these mountains because they have a unique mix of rocks and minerals.
Over the years, different geological events have left this area with a lot of minerals, such as turquoise, a beautiful blue-green stone.
There is a mix of copper, aluminum, and water in the mountains, which are all necessary for turquoise to form. Over millions of years, the gem was formed slowly as rainwater moved through the rocks and mixed with these elements.
Along with the chance to find turquoise, the mountains offer stunning views and a taste of nature that hasn’t been changed in any way. In other words, the Carrizo Mountains are a great place to start if you want to find turquoise or see how beautiful Texas’s rough terrain is.
Before you bring anything home from Texas, make sure you know the most up-to-date rules for collecting.
Where we found turquoise in the Carrizo Mountains
A lot of rock and gem hunters go to areas in the Carrizo Mountains that are known to be mineral-rich to look for turquoise and other gems. If you want to find turquoise, you should look for places that are dry and have geological features like water reacting with minerals like copper.
The tools every geode hunter will need
When you're out looking for geodes having the right tools for the job is very important. You don't need a lot for most trips but there are a handful that are critical and will make your life a lot easier.
We get asked a lot about the equipment we use. Over the years we've found a handful of tools that we recommend to both new and experienced geode hunters which we outline in great detail in our complete rockhounding tools and kit guide. These are quality options that also happen to be relatively inexpensive.
Below are the basic tools that make your life so much easier and save you a ton of time. Check out the full guide to see everything we recommend bringing. One quick note, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but we try very hard to only recommend gear we would use ourselves and often recommend brands you can't find on Amazon.
At a minimum you should have:
1 - Sturdy rock hammer: The Estwing Rock Pick is our standard
2 - Rugged chisels: Try Kendo' 3-piece Chisel Set
3 - Compact shovel: The Koleiya 28-inch shovel works well
4 - Rock screen pan: The Wazakura Soil Sieve Set fits the bill
5 - Eye protection: DeWalt Safety Glasses are cheap and comfortable
6 - Head protection: Malta's Safety Helmet has been our go-to
7 - Jewelers lens with at least 20x magnification: Jarlink's Jewelers Loop is perfect
The geode-finding books that we use most
There are also a few books that have been extremely helpful in the search for gems. These books have great recommendations and tips:
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America
Southwest Treasure Hunter's Gem & Mineral Guide
Earth Treasures: The Southwestern Quadrant
We provide links to find these tools on Amazon but some can also be found at your local hardware stores. For more recommendations check out the link to our full tool guide above.
Guadalupe Mountains
The Guadalupe Mountains are very tall and give people a look into the state’s amazing geological history. This mountain range in West Texas is famous for more than just its hiking trails and state’s tallest peak.
It’s also a mineral treasure trove. One of these treasures is turquoise, a beautiful blue-green stone.
The conditions here were perfect a long time ago for turquoise to form. Copper, along with other elements and rainwater, made pockets of this valuable gem inside the rocks.
Over the years, erosion and natural forces have brought some of these turquoise deposits to the surface. People who like exploring and rocks often come to this area to try to see or even find a piece of this beautiful stone.
The Guadalupe Mountains are a great location for both adventurers and people looking for gems because they contain turquoise as well as beautiful natural sights.
Where we found turquoise in the Guadalupe Mountains
Outside of protected areas, you may explore other parts of the Guadalupe Mountains. Given its geology, it’s possible to find turquoise in specific locales, especially where there’s evidence of copper mineralization.
Plata Verde Mine
People who love the beauty of turquoise will love the Plata Verde Mine. This mine, which is in the middle of the state’s vast landscapes, is famous for its fine turquoise gems.
“Plata Verde” means “Green Silver” in Spanish, which is another clue about what it is worth. These mines have been producing turquoise stones for many years. The stones are bright in color and of high quality.
Copper is common in this area, which is what gives turquoise its blue color. Natural elements and rainwater come together to make beautiful turquoise stones.
Miners and collectors widely praise Plata Verde turquoise for its deep color and small matrix, which makes it ideal for crafting and jewelry. That’s why you should check out Plata Verde Mine if you want to find some of the freshest turquoise in Texas!
Where we found turquoise at Plata Verde Mine
The Plata Verde Mine in Texas is famous for its turquoise, making it one of the best places in the state to look for this blue-green gem. If you want to look through the mine for turquoise, you have to know where the copper-rich areas are.
Sierra Blanca Peaks
The Sierra Blanca Peaks are more than just a beautiful sight; they’re also a great place to find gems. The peaks in West Texas are full of minerals and have layers upon layers of geological wonders from long ago.
The bright turquoise, a blue-green stone that many people love, is one of the gems that are hidden in these mountains.
Because of the way their rocks are formed, the Sierra Blanca Peaks are the perfect place for turquoise to grow. People who want to find this beautiful gem or learn more about it will be drawn to these mountains.
For that reason, the Sierra Blanca Peaks in Texas are a must-see for anyone who loves finding hidden gems in nature.
Where we found turquoise at Sierra Blanca Peaks
With its mineral-rich makeup, the areas around Sierra Blanca Peaks could be good places to find turquoise. Mountainous regions can be tricky and potentially dangerous. Always have the right equipment, be cautious, and preferably explore in groups.
Sierra Tinaja Pinta
Sierra Tinaja Pinta is a beautiful place that gem lovers love. The unique name comes from the unique geological features of the area: “tinaja” refers to the rocky basins that hold water, and “pinta” means “paint” in Spanish, a reference to the colorful rock formations.
Turquoise is one of the most valuable minerals that can be found in Sierra Tinaja Pinta. Over many years, the right mix of elements, such as copper, and rainwater made it possible for turquoise to form.
It offers a journey full of discoveries and the allure of nature’s treasures to people who like to take risks and look for gems. This place in Texas is worth seeing whether you know a lot about it or are just interested.
Where we found turquoise at Sierra Tinaja Pinta
You can explore its terrain and look for turquoise through its rocky basins and colorful rocks.
Other Great Places To Find Texas Turquoise
We wanted to talk about the other places on our list after we talked about our favorites. We’ve broken down each suggestion by county and added a few more locations where we’ve had success.
Our recommendations by county
| County | Location |
| Culberson | Van Horn area, slopes of smaller hills |
| Culberson | Nickel Creek |
| Culberson | Maltby Mine |
| Hudspeth | Texas Turquoise Company Mine |
Common Turquoise-Hunting Questions
If you want to know where to find turquoise in Texas, here are some questions that people often ask:
Is it illegal to collect turquoise in Texas?
In Texas, as in many other states, it depends on where you are and who owns the land if you can legally collect turquoise or any other mineral.
Get any permissions or permits you may need before you go to Texas to try to collect minerals like turquoise. Learn about the area you want to visit, the laws that apply, and the rules and laws that apply.
To protect natural and cultural resources for future generations, rockhounding must be done in a smart way.
The Best Places To Buy Turquoise In Texas
Having turquoise in your hands will always make you feel good if you like it or collect it. But some people don’t like working hard and getting dirty. This list is for you if you want to find turquoise without having to do that.
Here are some of our favorite places to find and buy turquoise in the area:
- Broken Arrow Rock Shop and Gallery – 13904 Ranch Rd 12 #3, Wimberley, TX 78676, United States
- Crystal Rock Shop – 2136 Roy Rd, Tyler, TX 75707, United States
- Geno’s Mine Rock Shop – 6062 Holly Rd #5b, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, United States
- Johnson’s Rock Shop – 238 N Lincoln Wiggins St, Livingston, TX 77351, United States
- The Old Wizzard’s Rock Shop – 14005 African Hill Rd, Willis, TX 77378, United States
