TexasAmethystAgate.com:

Home of “the most diverse, colorful and unique agate find
in Far West Texas since the early 1960’s”

History

I have spent over 8 years in the field finding and documenting the most diverse, colorful, and unique agate field found in West Texas since the early 1960’s. This agate field, which I have immodestly named the “Carver” agate find, is in the hills overlooking Alpine, Texas. This agate field is the sole source of all of the agates shown in the photographs you will find on this website. All of these materials, including amethyst and agate amethyst, have been personally found by me on the “Carver” and each has been cut, shaped, and polished by me in order to highlight and emphasize the unique attributes of the material derived from this agate field.

Bracelets shown on this site have been designed and hand fabricated by me in order to document and illustrate the spectacular color and diversity of this material from the “Carver” agate find. Each bracelet is intended to showcase a particular cut stone–stones are not cut to fit a setting. The setting is designed to highlight the shape, color and sagenitic material contained in each individual stone.

TexasAmethystAgate.com exists to promote and document this geologically important and extraordinarily unique and diverse agate field located in the hills overlooking Alpine. I have been a lapidist since 1960 and began silver smithing in 1967. Bracelets shown on this site represent the first and only material from this field offered for sale. The agate field is located on private property with no public access (Texans are very serious about this). I am the only source for these agates which have never been commercially marketed or sold. All agates displayed or utilized by me are 100% natural with no heat treatment, coloration, or other artificial means used to enhance any aspect of the stone.

The bracelets shown are intended to represent the diversity of the agate material found in the “Carver” field. Since each bracelet is unique, I cannot duplicate bracelets presented here. I will periodically bring to the site new bracelets and new stones. I only make a new bracelet when I cut and polish a stone which inspires me to create and design a piece of jewelry art that showcases that stone. I do not undertake custom jewelry design or lapidary work, but rather create agate art that pleases me and is illustrative of the extreme range of color and diversity of the agates and sagenitic material found therein. While I have created agate art rings, pendants, and other jewelry, at this time I choose to only make sterling silver bracelets. These are best able to showcase the extraordinary agates from the “Carver.” If you wish to view my workshop and the spectacular specimens that have been cut, ground and polished by me, please explore this website. I am still exploring the agate field and continually cutting and polishing new material, and will periodically present this new material here. Since I have over 2,000 cut and polished specimens, I will periodically display more of these materials as well.

Attribution

I gratefully acknowledge the property access which I have been afforded and which has allowed this project to take place. I cannot overstate the value of the geological expertise and experience of Midland geologist Bill Halepeska and his 50+ years of West Texas agate field explorations. Bill has assisted me greatly in this project and has provided much of the geological expertise and information you will find here. I also am grateful to Gordon Sanborn of Alpine for sharing with me his decades of rock hunting experience and knowledge about a great many of the famous West Texas agate fields. Upon seeing the cut and polished agates, nodules, geodes and other material from the “Carver,” Gordon incredulously asked, “Is this all from here?” Upon confirmation that it was, he commented, “I am blown away!” It was Sanborn’s ratification that I had found something very special and Bill Halepeska’s confirmation that this formation was unique that drove me to attempt to document this extraordinary find and bring it to the public.

Thanks also to Gil Bartee, of Ft. Worth, who was instrumental in “getting the ball rolling” 8 years ago. Thanks to Dave Dumas of Fort Davis for sharing technical data and for assisting me with guidance and land access in order to document this find. Thanks to Paul Graybeal (Moonlight Gemstones of Marfa) for silver-smithing and gemstone advice and friendship over many years.  And finally, I am most appreciative of the skill and effort provided by Leah Krevit of Alpine, TX, in making this website a reality and allowing this project to be brought to the rock enthusiast public.  Without her efforts, these rocks would remain hidden in my private collection.

 The Future

The exploration of this agate field will continue, as will the technical research with the assistance of Bill Halepeska. Since most of the old West Texas agate fields have been either heavily picked or are now closed to collecting, most of what has been found over the years in West Texas has been sold or passed into private collections or made into jewelry. My personal goal, and one of the goals of this website, is to find a public home for this incredibly diverse, unique and complete rock collection from the “Carver.” There is presently no West Texas agate museum which allows public viewing of these extraordinary specimens. If you have ideas or can help in finding a public home to display West Texas agates, and in particular the material from the “Carver,” I would appreciate hearing from you!