Texas blue topaz has been the state gemstone since 1969, and this is the ground it comes out of: an ancient block of granite and metamorphic rock pushed up through central Texas across Mason, Llano, Gillespie, Blanco and Burnet counties, geologically nothing like the limestone country around it. Over the decades its small mines have given up yttrium and other rare earths, magnetite, feldspar, vermiculite, serpentine and gem-quality topaz. Almost all of the Hill Country is PRIVATE land, so this pin marks the district, not a dig: arrange access before you go anywhere with a shovel.
Blue topaz, feldspar, serpentine
Other places on the map within a couple of hours.
