SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED):

May 19, 2006

TGC INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01  Other Events.

On May 22, 2006, TGC Industries, Inc.  (“TGC” or the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the completion on May 19, 2006, of the purchase of substantially all of the assets of Highland Industry, Inc.  A copy of this press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)           Exhibits.

The following exhibit is furnished with this Form 8-K:

99.1                           Press release of the Company dated May 22, 2006.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

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Exhibit 99.1

TGC Industries Announces the Acquisition of Highland Industry

PLANO, TEXAS – MAY 22, 2006 – TGC Industries, Inc. (AMEX: TGE) announced today that on Friday, May 19, 2006, it completed the purchase of substantially all of the assets of Highland Industry, Inc.  Highland Industry, based in Houston, Texas, is engaged in the seismic shot-hole drilling business.  TGC assumed no liabilities from Highland and financed the transaction from its cash reserves.

Wayne Whitener, TGC Industries’ President and CEO, stated, “Currently the drilling phase of our shot-hole business, which is one of the two energy sources used in acquiring seismic data, is being performed by third party contractors. The purchase of Highland Industry’s shot-hole drilling rigs and related assets will enable us to have more control over our contract scheduling and will reduce third party charges, providing a significant return on the assets purchased. This transaction will enable us to better serve the needs of our shot-hole contract clients.”

As previously announced, TGC Industries has purchased and will take delivery of 15 new vibration vehicles in the second half of 2006.  By year-end 2006, the Company will have a total of 42 vibration vehicles in operation to meet the continuing growing demand from its vibroseis contract customers.

TGC Industries, Inc, based in Plano, Texas, with a branch office in Houston, is one of the leading providers of seismic data acquisition services throughout the continental United States.

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward looking statements are based on our current expectations and projections about future events. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release regarding the Company are forward looking statements. There can be no assurance that those expectations and projections will prove to be correct.

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