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New Banner Photo(s) Coming

New Banner Photo(s) Coming

By /August 27, 2024 /2 comments /Geology

I have asked my trusted webmaster, Leah, to change up the top banner photo on the homepage 3 times over the next several months. I have recently reviewed, over many many hours, my best and most interesting photos of geodes, nodules, and vein agates. I will compile these photos on this website under three voluminous categories which will be captioned “Best of Galleries,” with one for each category. These galleries are probably too voluminous for the casual or limited interest viewer, but will be of some geologic value for serious rock enthusiasts who will take the time to view these specimens on a computer monitor, not their phones. The geological splendor and formational diversity will serve scientific inquiry about agate formation. This inquiry, though underway for much more than a hundred years, is still ongoing. Recently, I read a new scientific publication entitled, Banded Agates: a Genetic Approach (2018), by […]

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New Video: The Carver Agate Field Collection

New Video: The Carver Agate Field Collection

By /March 29, 2024 /0 comments /Cut Rocks

Texas Amethyst Agate has compiled a comprehensive video of the amazing diversity and beauty of the rocks of The Carver Agate Field of Far West Texas. All of the rocks in this video were collected, cut, and polished by John L. Carver over a period of 15 years. The cutting and polishing of The Carver Agate Field material is ongoing. The Carver Agate Field was described by my friend, the late geologist and rock enthusiast Bill Halepeska, of Midland, Texas, as “the most diverse, colorful, and unique agate find in Far West Texas since the early 1960’s.” Bill made this observation while exploring The Carver Agate Field with me when Bill was in his early 90’s. At that time, he said that he had been exploring the West Texas agate fields for over 60 years. The photos shown in this video, I believe, conclusively confirm his observation. I hope you […]

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CARVER AGATE FIELD: Winter 2024 Finds and a new Photo Gallery!

CARVER AGATE FIELD: Winter 2024 Finds and a new Photo Gallery!

By /March 15, 2024 /3 comments /Cut Rocks

Following serious health problems in November, 2023, I have this winter gotten back to my ongoing exploration of the stones of The Carver Agate Field of Far West Texas. Be sure to click on each image below to see a larger version! The featured stones above, 5431 and 5432, are free form cabs that really captured my imagination. Here is a close-up of 5431: Rock #5431 Close-up Stones 5434 and 5370 below are red carnelian agates both cut from the same source stone: Stone 5499 is a fancy, free form oddball blue-green agate/jaspagate. The green being the jasper part of the jasp\agate. Stone 5433 is a second stone cut from the same source from which stone 5499 was cut. Stone 5502 is a deeply colored citrine geode with a crystal filled vug leading to/from the ‘fill tube’, so-called by some. Citrine is always difficult for me to photograph. So, the […]

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Easter Gallery from 'The Carver' Agate Field Collection

Easter Gallery from ‘The Carver’ Agate Field Collection

By /April 11, 2021 /1 comment /Cut Rocks

Another two weeks of exploring, cutting and polishing stones from ‘The Carver’ agate field. Please visit the new Maine Gallery entitled ‘Easter Gallery’ to see them. These stones are from several different areas of The Carver agate field, hence, many look quite different. These specimens display some of the best colors and patterns. Try viewing them on a large screen if you can. Also try to see the amazing stones’ structure via enlargement. Not included in this gallery is another ‘first time seen’ from ‘The Carver’ agate field. The next posting will feature this ‘first’!

Finally: New Shop Up and Running! AND a new Photo Gallery!

Finally: New Shop Up and Running! AND a new Photo Gallery!

By /March 2, 2021 /1 comment /Cut Rocks

Months behind schedule, the shop is making rocks shiny again, although the building is not yet complete. So much for ‘getting done before the snow flies!’ The silversmith shop is built, but I have yet to find my smithing tools which are in ‘below zero’ storage. I have so many 5 gallon buckets of as yet uncut ‘Carver’ stones, it will no doubt take a few years to complete the intensive high grading. Not a problem I mind having, since the most fun (after collecting in the field) is cutting the stones open and seeing the amazing beauty and diversity of colors and agate/jasper types awaiting my eyes. I’ll be sharing this amazing diversity of color, patterns and agate types as I cut and polish. For now, I am showing the new discoveries so far since the shop reopening. These are the result of opening just ONE tub of rocks […]

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NEW: "Deep Pit" Amethyst Smoky Quartz Galleries

NEW: “Deep Pit” Amethyst Smoky Quartz Galleries

By /November 4, 2019 /4 comments /Geology

A 2018 discovery on ‘The Carver agate field’ has now been mostly explored. A year of cutting and polishing the agates, amethyst, and smoky quartz geodes from the ‘deep pit’ find is now displayed in these new photo galleries dedicated to this remarkable geological deposit from The Carver. The ‘deep pit’ was a small area approximately 15 x 30 feet within a larger pit that was approximately 500 x 700 feet.  From this larger pit, only the small pit yielded the geodes, agates and mineral specimens shown here. This is a geological oddity about which I have almost completed a more detailed geological report.  This report should be interesting because two highly respected Texas geologists have provided two differing geological opinions as to the  origins of this extremely peculiar geological find. Click on the links below to enjoy these new galleries and ‘stay tuned’ for more geological information about the […]

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A Deep Pocket

A Deep Pocket

By /January 19, 2019 /3 comments /Rock Finds

A deep excavation on The Carver has produced a small pocket/area filled with amethyst and smoky quartz crystal-filled geodes and blue agate nodules. Some unique mineral specimens were also uncovered. This deep pocket was approximately 10 to 15 feet down in the excavation and involved a productive area approximately 30 by 50 feet in size. This pocket, thus far, is a unique and never before seen geological formation on The Carver agate field. Fall 2018 produced an unexpected treasure trove of rock specimens. The photos speak for themselves, so click here to see examples in the Gallery.  

Designer Gem Stones Gallery #9

Designer Gem Stones Gallery #9

By /March 1, 2018 /0 comments /Cabochons

Gallery #9 is the final entry in the Designer Gem Stones Galleries set and is another great example of the wide array of stones to be found in the “Carver”! Photo #2376 – Geode with small plume agate Picture #2381 – Picture agate with sun setting  

Designer Gem Stones Gallery #8

Designer Gem Stones Gallery #8

By /March 1, 2018 /0 comments /Cabochons

Gallery #8 of the Designer Gem Stones Galleries contains a variety of colors and designs, as you will see! Two examples: Photo #2183 – Flower garden agate Photo #2373 – Plume agate, three dimensional plume of black edged in red.  The prettiest plume I have ever seen!

Designer Gem Stones Gallery #7

Designer Gem Stones Gallery #7

By /February 28, 2018 /0 comments /Cabochons

There is a rather astonishing array of diverse stones in Gallery 7. See for yourself! Details: Photo #2312 – nodule cross-section with plume agate at the bottom and fortification agate above. Photo #2329 – agate nodule cross-section. Photo #2531 – This is a gorgeous sagenitic agate reminiscent of the West Texas range.