The Zapata area is literally a gold mine for both the experienced rock hunter and the neophyte.

If you have never hunted rocks, a new and thrilling experience awaits you in this area. With just a rock hammer and a short walk you can find yourself in a new world of fascinating colors.

In ages past, the Rio Grande River changed its course at least three times. In its meandering routes it has rolled and tumbled many varieties of rocks from far off places and deposited them in a broad area on each side of its course.

Here, a thrilling experienced awaits those who are interested enough to look inside the rocks they see. Agates in red, golds, greens and combinations of color are plentiful. Jaspers in bright colors and Cherts in pastel shades are also here. Colorful petrified woods and distinctively marked petrified palms exist in relative abundance. Fossils, arrowhead and Indian Artifacts are often found on the surface of the ground. Many of your neighbors are experienced rock hounds and are happy to help you learn to identify these various rocks.