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):  September 2, 2011

TGC INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

101 E. Park Blvd., Suite 955

Plano, TX 75074

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (972) 881-1099

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):

x          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 September 6, 2011, TGC Industries, Inc. (“TGC”) and Dawson Geophysical Company (“Dawson”) issued a joint press release announcing that the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice has closed its investigation without taking any action and that early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), has been granted in connection with Dawson’s previously announced proposed acquisition of TGC.  Accordingly, the condition to the proposed acquisition of TGC relating to the expiration or termination of the HSR Act waiting period has been satisfied.

A copy of the joint press release is included herein as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

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Important Information For Investors and Shareholders

This report does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval.  Subject to the terms of the Amendment, the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement between TGC and Dawson, including the proposed Merger and the proposed issuance of Dawson common stock in the Merger, will, as applicable, be submitted to the shareholders of TGC and Dawson for their consideration.  Dawson has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Amendment No. 3 to its registration statement on Form S-4 (commission file number 333-174843) that includes a preliminary Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the proposed Merger.  After the registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC and subject to the terms of the Amendment, Dawson and TGC will mail the definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus to their respective shareholders. Dawson and TGC also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF TGC AND DAWSON ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.  Investors and shareholders may currently obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus filed on June 10, 2011 and amended on July 20, 2011, August 8, 2011 and August 29, 2011, and will be able to obtain free copies of any further amendments to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus as well as other documents containing important information about TGC and Dawson, through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. TGC and Dawson make available free of charge at www.tgcseismic.com and www.dawson3d.com, respectively (in the “Investor Relations” section), copies of materials they file with, or furnish to, the SEC, or investors and shareholders may contact TGC at (972) 881-1099 or Dawson at (432) 684-3000 to receive copies of documents that each company files with or furnishes to the SEC.

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Participants in the Proxy Solicitation

TGC, Dawson, and certain of their respective directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of TGC and Dawson in connection with the proposed transactions.  Information about the directors and officers of TGC is set forth in its Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, which was filed with the SEC on April 15, 2011.  Information about the directors and officers of Dawson is set forth in its proxy statement for its 2011 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on December 7, 2010. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other relevant materials filed with the SEC.

Item 9.01.                                          Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)                                  Exhibits

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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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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

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