Ladonia Fossil Park
Approximate — check official site before visiting
Designated fossil park in Fannin County. The North Sulphur River channel cuts into Late Cretaceous marine beds that yield shark teeth, mosasaur teeth and bone, ammonites, and Exogyra oysters. Free and open to the public. Family-friendly. Bring tools for sifting creek gravels.
🪨 What You Can Find Here
Shark Teeth
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Mosasaur Teeth
Also found at:
- No other locations listed yet
Fossilized Oysters
Also found at:
- No other locations listed yet
Petrified Wood
Ancient wood turned to stone. Arizona's Petrified Forest and Washington's Ginkgo Petrified Forest are world-famous.
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📍 Nearby Locations in Texas
Texas Agate Beds (Woodward Ranch)
Alpine, Texas · Fee Dig
Woodward Ranch in Big Bend country produces spectacular plume agate and other agate varieties. Popular rockhounding destination. NOTE: Woodward Ranch ...
Llano Uplift Granite & Minerals
Llano, Texas · Public Land
The Llano Uplift exposes some of the oldest rocks in Texas. Collect garnets, quartz crystals, and unusual minerals along the Llano River.
Texas Blue Topaz Beds
Mason, Texas · Fee Dig
Hunt for Texas blue topaz (Texas state gem) at fee-dig operations in the Mason area. The only place in Texas where topaz is found.
Texas Petrified Wood Beds
Post, Texas · Public Land
West Texas exposures and gravels for petrified wood. The Texas state rock. Some specimens show beautiful agatized detail.
Big Bend Region Fossils
Terlingua, Texas · Public Land
Big Bend area exposures for Cretaceous marine fossils, petrified wood, and agate. The region is rich in dinosaur and marine reptile fossils.
Graveyard Point Agate Beds
Van Horn, Texas · BLM Land
BLM area in far west Texas known for beautiful agate and chalcedony specimens.
⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to Ladonia Fossil Park with the right equipment.
Rock Hammer
The most essential rockhounding tool. Choose a hammer with both a flat striking face and a pointed pick end.
Typical: $25-45
Safety Glasses
Mandatory protective gear. Rock chips fly unpredictably when hammering.
Typical: $10-20
Chisel Set
Cold chisels in 3-4 sizes for precise extraction from matrix rock.
Typical: $15-30
Geologist's Pick
A heavier crack hammer for splitting hard rock. Essential for hard rock mining areas.
Typical: $35-60
Sifting Screen
Stackable mesh screens for sifting gravel and dirt. Essential for gem and fossil hunting.
Typical: $20-40
UV Flashlight
Long-wave UV light for finding fluorescent minerals and Yooperlites.
Typical: $15-35