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In Memory of Bill Halepeska

In Memory of Bill Halepeska

By /January 4, 2021 /6 comments /News

Bill Halepeska, a dear friend, geologist and fellow rock enthusiast, passed with the COVID virus shortly before Christmas. In addition to being a good friend, Bill was my mentor, freely sharing with me his 50+ years of rock hunting experience in West Texas. He made numerous trips to Alpine, Texas, to visit with me and sort out the strange geology which created the amazing diversity of The Carver Agate Field. Most recently, Bill and I co-authored an article entitled “Captivating Find at The Carver Agate Field,” which appeared in the October 2020 issue of Rock & Gem Magazine. Bill was a Christian gentlemen who generously shared himself and his vast knowledge with others. He was a ‘mover and shaker’ in the Midland (Texas) Gem and Mineral Society. He, our good friend Raymond Boswell of Midland, and I were the ‘3 Amigos’ shown visiting together on The Carver Agate Field. Raymond […]

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Rock & Gem Magazine Gets It Right

Rock & Gem Magazine Gets It Right

By /November 14, 2020 /0 comments /Geology

Rock & Gem Magazine’s three articles about The Carver Agate Field have now been published–with a necessary correction to the latest article which appeared in the December issue (see the cover below). The three articles are: The New Carver Agate Field: Is It Worth The Hype? Rock & Gem Magazine vol. 47, issue #8 (August 2017) The Unicorn Citrine Scepter and Yellow Agates. Rock & Gem Magazine vol. 48, issue #8 (August 2018) Captivating Find at the Carver Agate Field: Geological Mystery Draws Interest, Rock and Gem Magazine vol. 50, issue #10 (October 2020) the correction The most recent article and correction is the latest geological mystery solved by my geologist friend, Bill Halepeska, and me. This Rock & Gem article and its correction tracks in abbreviated form the geological mystery we discovered on The Carver–which we believe we have solved. Click the image for a larger, more readable version. […]

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NEW Article + Correction in Rock and Gem Magazine, October 2020

NEW Article + Correction in Rock and Gem Magazine, October 2020

By /November 14, 2020 /0 comments /Geology

In October, Rock & Gem Magazine published the article geologist Bill Halepeska and I had authored in volume 50, issue 10. There were, unfortunately, factual errors that occurred during the editing process. Here at last is the published article, along with the correction. Click each image to open up a larger version for easier reading. And the Correction

Rock & Gem Article about The Carver Agate Field Published

Rock & Gem Article about The Carver Agate Field Published

By /October 24, 2020 /1 comment /News

The October Rock & Gem Magazine article entitled “Captivating Find at The Carver Agate Field,” by John L. Carver and Bill Halepeska, has been published. Unfortunately, it was published with significant factual errors which occurred in Rock & Gem editing of the original article submitted. Rock & Gem has agreed to correct the editing errors in an upcoming issue. When the corrections are published by Rock & Gem, TexasAmethystAgate.com will post the article here together with the corrections. In the meantime, the original submission to Rock & Gem has been posted on this site and can be viewed now. Here’s the cover of the October 2020 issue of Rock & Gem and the first pages of the article, to give you a taste of things to come. Cover First Page Second Page

Rock & Gem Magazine October 2020: “Captivating Find At The Carver Agate Field” reviewed

Rock & Gem Magazine October 2020: “Captivating Find At The Carver Agate Field” reviewed

By /October 5, 2020 /0 comments /Geology

In October 2020, Rock & Gem Magazine published an article, “Captivating Find At the Carver Agate Field,” by John Carver and Bill Halepeska. The article as published by Rock & Gem is an abridged, edited version of the original work submitted to Rock & Gem by Carver and Halepeska. The Rock & Gem article in its summary captioned “Authors’ Opinions” incorrectly states that Bill and I came to different geological conclusions. The fact is just the opposite. We collaborated extensively and reached consensus that the ‘deep pit’ nodules and geodes formed in and then weathered out of gas bubbles formed in lava before hardening. Since these nodules and geodes are only in one small area of the ‘deep pit’, we do not believe that they were formed where found, nor weathered out in their current location. We both believe they were formed elsewhere (in the Paisano volcano, several miles to […]

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The End of the Beginning

The End of the Beginning

By /August 1, 2020 /4 comments /Geology

In April, 2020, the exploration of The Carver Agate Field ended after approximately 12 years.  That was the beginning. The task has now turned to cutting, polishing and exploring the huge volume of The Carver rocks collected over the last 12 years.  This process has moved to the new ‘Carver’ headquarters being constructed at this time (see photos). Years of further exploratory work will be featured on TexasAmethystAgate.com.  During construction, however, there will be a delay extending into late fall.  Until then, I expect a major feature article  about The Carver Agate Field to appear soon in Rock and Gem Magazine.  This article, expected in the September issue, will be the ‘end of the beginning’ of the surface geological exploration of The Carver.   The article will be published here as soon as it has been published in Rock and Gem.  The article, co-authored with Midland geologist, Bill Halepeska, will reveal […]

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Three Amigos April Rock Hunt

Three Amigos April Rock Hunt

By /May 8, 2017 /1 comment /Rock Finds

Two days of rocking turned up several kinds of moss agates (red, green and yellow), jasper,  agatized jasper, and brechiated jasper (yellow, orange, red, green….), plus nodules and agates.   Geologist Bill continued to ‘school’ us on the geology of ‘the Carver’.  A great time was had by all. Click on the images below to see the detailed versions. Left to right:  John Carver, Raymond Boswell, Bill Halepeska, on April rock hunt on ‘the Carver’.