General

This drive crosses the heart of the Llano uplift, almost all of the trip is on the billion year old granite, gneiss, and schist complex of rocks that characterize the Llano uplift. The topography is not spectacular, but along the way, low rounded knolls of pink granite, and banded slabs of gneiss form the platform for clumps of trees. Knobs and knolls coalesce in skyline ridges, reminding us that erosion may have leveled once-tall mountains, but it left a bit of topography on the remnant surface.

East of Mason, watch for a cliffed roadcut north of the highway, where grayish bands of gneiss and schist (Packsaddle Schist) are cut by lighter-colored granite dikes.

Historical buildings in Mason, many of which are well-preserved, are constructed of locally-quarried brown, Cambrian-age Hickory sandstone . This sandstone is preserved on the edge of and in the Llano uplift in elongate, down-dropped blocks between linear faults.
















Road Log

legend for the map

road milage points are marked with white circles on the map. All road logs start at the intersection of highways 29, 16 and 71; north of the bridge over the Llano River




















mile 0.0 - 33.6 (30o 45.590; 98o 40.510) - Junction of 29, 16, 71

mile 1.0 - 32.6 (30o 45.647; 98o 41.522) - crossing Pecan Creek; preCambrian outcrops can be seen in the creek bed and on the left side of the highway.

mile 2.8 - 30.8 (30o 46.160; 98o 43.202) - highway 71 to Brady on right; this is the route for the Llano to Brady trip.

mile 5.3 - 28.3 (30o 46.082 ; 98o 45.723) - Cross Johnson Creek

mile 8.9 - 24.7 (30o 45.328; 98o 49.161) - cross San Fernando Creek, schist outcrop in stream bed and quartz-feldspar sands.

mile 9.2 - 24.4 (30o 45.182; 98o 49.394) - highway 102 to Scott's Crossing on the Llano River

mile 9.8 -23.8 (30o 44.975; 98o 50.018) - outcrop on left these are younger granite outcrops (younger than Town Mountain Granite)

legend for the map




















mile 11.2 - 22.4 (30o 44.736; 98o 51.389) - outcrop on left - Spring Valley Gneiss.

mile 14.8 - 18.8 (30o 44.512; 98o 55.043) - outcrop on right - Valley Spring Gneiss.

mile 15.2 - 18.4 (30o 44.476; 98o 55.440) - outcrop on right - Valley Spring Gneiss.

mile 15.5 - 18.1 (30o 44.336; 98o 56.706) - roadcut, on both sides of highway - Valley Spring Gneiss.

mile 16.9 - 16.7 (30o 44.255; 98o 57.144) - Weide Creek, rock outcrop - Younger Granites (preCambrian)

mile 17.1 - 16.5 (30o 44.257; 98o 57.283) - highway 2768 to Castell on the Llano River

mile 17.8 - 15.8 (30o 44.317; 98o 58.000) - outcrop on right & left - Younger Granites

mile 18.2 - 15.4(30o 44.317; 98o 58.404) - outcrop on left - Younger Granites

mile 18.6 - 15.0 (30o 44.324; 98o 58.882) - outcrops on left & right to mile 20.5 of VSG schist

mile 20.8 - 12.8 (30o 44.364; 99o 01.103) - creek & roadcut

legend for the map




















mile ~23 ~10.6 - Town Mountain granite of several miles diameter centered here. No exposures near highway.

mile 25.5 - 8.1 (30o 44.314; 99o 05.873) - Lost Creek Gneiss (preCambrian) outcrop

mile 26.3 - 7.3 (30o 44.318; 99o 06.667) - Art, Willow Creek Road to the Llano River

mile 30.9 - 2.7 (30o 44.834; 99o 11.148) - Packsaddle Schist outcrop on right

mile 33.6 - 0.0 (30o 44.928; 99o 13.873) - town square in Mason; Hickory Sandstone building

Topaz & smoky quartz - Katemcy Creek

Texas topaz comes in several tints from almost colorless to a baby blue, aqua-blue and deep sky-blue. Blue topaz is the big treasure of Mason County for gem and mineral collectors. Pegmatites in the Llano Uplift may have gem topaz pockets.

The outside of the topaz may be frosty. Many pieces retain no crystal shape, while others are definitely well-formed terminated crystals with vitreous luster. Topaz can readily be distinguished from quartz by its heavier "heft" or specific gravity, and it also seems to "glow" in the sun because of its higher refractive index.

Topaz and quartz (including smoky quartz) can be found along many of the creeks in northern Mason county. The most productive region is bounded by the San Saba River on the north, Camp Air on the west, Fredonia on the east, and Mason in the south. Farmers found these gemstones scattered throughout their property, especially along Katemcy Creek and its tributaries.

Most streams in the region run through pegmatite-bearing granite where the topaz and quartz crystals were formed. As the erosion processes wear it down, more and more of the gems are freed and subsequently deposited in streambeds, washes and other low-lying areas.

Items you will need with which to hunt topaz are a pick and shovel and a wire screen with about 1/4-inch mesh. The topaz can be found by sifting dirt through the screen. Since digging is often required to find stones, topaz hunting is more pleasant when done during the cooler months. The week following a rain is an excellent time to hunt topaz, since the ground is often softer and easier to dig.

Topaz - Earnest McWilliams Ranch

From time to time local ranchers let collectors onto their property, and one, in particular, has done so for years. The Earnest McWilliams family can be reached by traveling to the Camp Air store and service station, situated on highway 87, 10.8 miles north of Mason and 16.2 miles south of Brady. From there, go east on farm road 1222 about 0.3 of a mile and the McWilliams home will be the first one on the left.

Collecting is allowed in the limited region adjacent to farm road 1222, where it crosses the creek.

Topaz - Wayne Hofmann Ranch

They charge by the day and you keep what you find. Because of its density, topaz is usually found in streambeds and ravines but occasionally can be located atop the ground

The Wayne Hofmann Ranch charges $10 per person per day. To hunt on the Hofmann Ranch contact Wesley Loeffler, 4890 west state highway 29, Mason, Texas 76856, or call (915) 347-6415. The Loefflers also have keys to the Garner Sequist Ranch. The Loefflers are located on Texas 29 in Grit, west of Mason, at the site of the old Grit store, as shown on the accompanying map.

The ranch itself is 2.1 miles from where highway 377 intersects highway 29, and a very short distance up the road from the Loeffler home. There is lots of loose sand on the ranch, so be careful not to get your vehicle stuck. The Hofmanns request that all digging holes be filled in before leaving to prevent animals from being hurt or trapped by stepping into them.

The recommended time of year is spring and late summer. A utility vehicle is recommended.

Topaz - Garner Sequist Ranch

The Garner Sequist Ranch, in Mason County, has been regarded as a premiere topaz collecting area for years. Before 1953, people were allowed to freely roam the ranch and search for the precious gemstones, but a few thoughtless visitors abused the privilege, leaving trash scattered all over the property and not refilling digging holes. In 1953, the Sequists were forced to close the ranch to all but a few reliable collectors who were willing to pay an annual fee.

In 1968, one of those rockhounds decided to break away from the traditional procedure of screening and raking through the gravel of washes and streambeds and explore the upper hills among the trees and granite. To everyone's surprise, he struck it rich, finding a bonanza of topaz crystals around tree roots on the side of a hill. The total cache weighed several thousand grams, and, needless to say, word of the fabulous find spread quickly. With the ensuing publicity, the Sequists once again agreed to open the ranch to collectors on a daily basis.

If you would like to try your luck on the Sequist ranch, contact them at p.o. box 35, Mason, Texas 76856. No reservations are necessary; however, it is always wise to contact them ahead of time at (915) 347-5413 to assure there will be no conflicts. You will pay your fees and pick up the keys to the gate at the Nuway grocery store on the northwest comer of the square in Mason. Their phone number is (915) 347-5713. A utility vehicle is recommended for easier access.

The Garner Sequist Ranch is 6 miles west of Mason, on highway 377, and the roads are paved all the way to the gate. There is a nice campground on the property, rest rooms and even shower facilities. The daily collecting fee is $10 per person. Camping is available at $5 per day for primitive camping and $10 per day for hookups to water and electricity and use of showers. In addition to topaz, you also have an opportunity to find quartz crystals in a variety of colors.

All of the ranchs are closed to rockhounding during deer season.

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