The Geology of Texas and How It Has Shaped the Community of Texas - Essay Example

Texas Geology Generally, geology deals with the study of the earth and its processes with respect to its effect on the general life of humans or societies. For instance, it studies the history and material of mountains, glaciers and rocks and also analyzes processes like earthquakes, floods, and landslides. In this consideration, geologists are better positioned in advising the community as it regards to issues like a search of natural minerals, water, and other important resources. Importantly, through the historical study of various earth processes they warn communities of probable geologic hazards and provide mechanisms for minimizing the associated risks. This paper provides the geology of Texas and how it has shaped the community of Texas. Generally, Texas consists of various physiographic features that include rocky plateaus, forests, high plains, rocky plateaus, seas and coastal plains (Ferguson 12). Notably, all these features are controlled by the various structures and rocks that are underlying or cropping out across the state. Geologists state that the rocks, those that are underground and have been exposed in the search for oil and gas, as well as those exposed at the surface of the state, provide an accurate geologic history of Texas. In this regard, the rocks are said to reveal the ever-changing and dynamic seas, volcanoes, ancient mountains, hurricanes, and rivers. Currently, even though the belts of volcanoes and great earthquakes are no longer active, the streams and rivers, rain and winds and the imperceptible alterations of the rocks near or at the surface continuously are changing the appearance of taxes. From the area of Uvalde to Texarkana are series of faults that bisect the Texas state from Southwest to Northeast. The surface exposures on the east and south of these faults are mostly shale strata and Cenozoic sandstone growing towards the coast. The coastal plains are underlaid by domes of salt. On the other hand, the north and west of the faults are Edwards, Stockton, and the Comanche Plateaus. The Red River is found extending across most of the central region and consists of limestone and Cretaceous shale outcrops. In addition, Edwards Aquifer is a vital water resource and is located in the Texas Hill country on a porous limestone formation. Paleozoic sedimentary rocks surround the Cretaceous rocks that host a source of granite, schist, and Precambrian gneiss called the Llano Uplift. Further, the late Cenozoic deposits of Pliocene and Miocene prevail in the Texas Panhandle. According to Ferguson West Texas consists of Pennsylvanian and Cretaceous strata that are placed on conglomerates of Quaternary (33). In the Western region, from Big Bend to El Paso there are extensive deposits of a volcano and another important feature in the Big Bend National Park is the Marathon Mountains. The formation of the various geological features and structures followed a different process that occurred in different periods of time. The earliest era was the Precambrian era supposed to have occurred 600 million years ago and led to the formation of Precambrian rocks. These rocks are said to be the foundation of continental mass and formed by the cooling of liquid state while others were deformed by altering the pre-existing rocks. Secondly, approximately 600-350 million years occurred Paleozoic era swallow seas inundated the Craton of Texas repeatedly. The era is associated with the Paleozoic rocks that include limestone, sandstones, and shale, and functionally they form the sediments forming the sea. Plate tectonic theory suggests that Texas Craton is located at the part of the North American plate that colluded with the African and European plates causing formation of Ouachita Mountains in South America that extent across Texas and hence the rocks. Young sediments accumulated in the Marathon Basin are due to the uplift and erosion. Thirdly, the Mesozoic era occurred 240 million years ago during which the African-South American and the European plates began to separate from North America. These geological events led to the formation of the faults from Mexico to Nova Scotia and hence the Texas faults. Later, the Taxes faults were buried beneath thick deposits of Marine salt as the continents of Europe and South America drifted away from North America. The Cretaceous rocks were formed with a sequence of shelves of limestone due to the development and widening of the Gulf of Mexico. Lastly, the last documented era of formation is the Cenozoic era that is supposed to have occurred approximately 65 million years ago. This era led to the formation of rivers as streams flowed eastward and Cenozoic rocks. Also, numerous volcanic eruptions lead to the formation of mountains and lava flows and volcanic related material. The flow of lava caused the plateaus and the respective intrusive igneous rocks that are currently observable. In addition, streams originating from the elevated southern Rocky Mountains brought to the Texas Panhandle sand and gravel through floods. The Gulf Coastal plain was also formed in this era due to accumulated glacier of ice sheets that caused rivers to carry more water, sand and gravel to the sea. Specifically, the rivers of today including the red river were formed approximately 3000 years ago due to a flow of streams and erosion. The geology of Texas has shaped and influenced the socio-economic activities of Texas. Of importance is the discovery of gas and oil that have turned the main income generating activity from agriculture to exploration. The activities of exploration have further influenced political decisions regarding infrastructure and development. The coastal plains are rich in oil traps and as such that is the main activity in the coastal areas (Ferguson 67). Further, the oil and gas exploration industry has provided employment for many of the coastal area population. The limestone outcrops are important for cement manufacture while the Cretaceous shale is good for building. As a result, many cement manufacturing companies are located in limestone rich areas. For instance, Art Resources Technology Inc is in West Lakeview Drive, Ash Grove Texas L P is on Dallas Parkway have their operations in limestone rich areas and hence influence the economic activities of their location areas. The activities of manufacturing and exploration impact on the area residents and their activities. However, there have been conflicts of interests especially when the exploration or manufacturing requires displacement of large volumes of people. Much as the activities provide income flows, the force displaced people to turn to other activities that are conducive to areas they have relocated to. However, the displacements have also been caused by geological processes. For instance in 2011 around 1.5 million people were displaced from the Gulf Coast before the rainfall which was expected to cause terrific floods. Coastal erosion also impacts on the activities of people around like tourism, farming and fishing (Waterwatch.usgs.gov) Knowing the geology of the home area or region is important for understanding the history and the changes that have occurred in the society. First, geology brings out the process of location and management of the natural resources of the earth. In this regard, one is able to know the establishment of different manufacturing companies and the associated conflicts and changes that they brought. Moreover, geology highlights the trends that have accompanied the different geological processes with the resultant changes in human activities. In specific, the mining geology explains how high income generating activities have replaced low-income activities like agriculture and provides a basis for predicting future changes that may be on the way. Geology also provides a history of the natural hazards that have occurred in the past. By studying the process of the natural hazard, one is able to predict and prepare for an event of another hazard. For instance, the coastal regions of Texas are prone not only to Coastal Erosion but also to Tsunamis that are associated with geological processes. Floods from rivers and Landslides especially around mountains are a risk that should be avoided through a better understanding of geology. On the contrary, the geology of Texas has also highlighted the sources of resources and how they were formed. In consideration of this information, one is able to predict other possible areas from were similar resources may be found. In conclusion, the geology of Texas is important for hazard mitigation and preparation and also for understanding the activities of the area. Further, the geology of Texas may also be used in other contexts of similarly placed regions. Generally, the geology of a place is the main primary source from which can be extracted information regarding its past. Works Cited Ferguson, Walter Keene. Geology and Politics in Frontier Texas, 1845–1909. University of Texas Press, 2014. Waterwatch.usgs.gov,. USGS Waterwatch -- Streamflow Conditions. N.p., 2015. Web. 2 Apr. 2015. Read More