Fossil palm wood is by far the most sought after variety because this material displays “eyes” and tube-like structures that yield very attractive cabochons and cabinet specimens. Texas fossil palm wood is highly regarded by cutters from all parts of the country, and this material is thought by many lapidaries to be some of the finest gem-quality fossil wood in the United States. Gravel pits and river gravels in Live Oak County have produced very fine agatized wood. Although the gem material does not seem to be as abundant in this area as it is in counties to the northeast, the vivid colors and excellent preservation of the fossil wood in Live Oak County have attracted collectors from all over the State. The fossil wood usually occurs as large rounded cobbles in the streams. Much of this material is quite translucent when cut and contains various shades of brown, orange, and red. The gravels of the Rio Grande have produced some fossil wood in addition to the excellent agate that is also found there. Most of the fossil wood found in these gravels is very well preserved, but the colors are commonly dull shades of brown. Occasional fine red and yellow specimens have been recovered from the Rio Grande gravels, but these are rare. Good agatized wood has been found in and near Palo Duro Canyon, Armstrong County, about 50 miles southeast of Amarillo. Large trunk sections are not uncommon, but most of the material of cutting quality is obtained from small fragments. The Palo Duro Canyon fossil wood greatly resembles the famous Arizona Petrified Forest wood but is not nearly as plentiful. The Palo Duro wood contains yellow, brown, red, and bluish colors most commonly. Some of the wood-producing area is within Palo Duro Canyon State Park which is, of course, closed to collecting. The surrounding area has been worked diligently by local collectors, but new pieces of wood are exposed after heavy rains. Webb and Duval counties have also produced some good fossil wood specimens. Gadolinite _Composition_: Be₂FeY₂Si₂O₁₀. (Various other rare-earth elements may substitute into this mineral structure.) _Crystal system_: monoclinic. _Hardness_: 6.5 to 7.0. _Specific gravity_: about 4.2. _Luster_: vitreous to greasy. _Color_: black; in thin splinters dark bottle green. _Streak_: white to greenish. _Cleavage_: none. _Fracture_: conchoidal to splintery. _Tenacity_: brittle. _Diaphaneity_: opaque to subtransparent in thin pieces. _Refractive index_: variable, about 1.77 to 1.82.