ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS:
Discuss the rocks and minerals that are common in the state of Texas, and apply what you now know about the continent’s original locations, weather/environment conditions, and the relationship between the rocks/minerals found today based on the conditions in the past and continental drift.
PROVIDE IN-TEXT CITATIONS AND REFERENCES FOR ALL SOURCES USED, USING PROPER APA STYLE FORMATTING.
You may also search the USGS United States Geological Services-https://www.usgs.gob/faq/geology
and this following link will take you to a website where you can easily find a link to your state’s natural resource/geology website. https://www.stategeologists.org/surveys
HOW TO WORK ON THIS ASSIGNMENT (EXAMPLE ESSAY / DRAFT)
Texas is renowned for its extensive and varied geology, with a variety of rocks and minerals being found all around the state. The genesis of the continent, environmental factors, and continental drift will all be discussed about Texas’ rocks and minerals in this essay.
Sedimentary rocks are one of the most prevalent types of rocks in Texas, accounting for about 90% of the state’s surface geology (Texas State Historical Association, 2021). Sand, clay, and organic debris accumulated over millions of years to produce these sedimentary rocks, which were subsequently compacted and cemented together. Sandstone, shale, and limestone are a few of the sedimentary rock types that are most frequently found in Texas.
These sedimentary rocks can be linked to the original position of the continent and the environmental circumstances that prevailed at that time. Texas used to be close to the equator, and the warm, shallow oceans that blanketed the region were perfect for allowing sedimentary rocks to accumulate. Different types of sedimentary rocks were formed as a result of the sea levels rising and falling as the continents migrated apart.
Igneous rock, which is created by the cooling and solidification of magma or lava, is another type of rock that can be found in Texas. The Enchanted Rock, which can be found in the state’s Hill Country, is the most major igneous formation in Texas (Texas State Historical Association, 2021). This rock, which is said to be more than a billion years old, was created when magma solidified beneath the surface of the earth.
Due to Texas’ proximity to the boundary between the North American and Pacific plates, igneous rocks are present in the state. Numerous faults and volcanic activity that have resulted in the creation of igneous rocks in the area mark this boundary.
Texas is home to a range of minerals, including oil, natural gas, and sulfur, in addition to sedimentary and igneous rocks. These minerals were created under specific environmental circumstances, such as the deposition of organic matter in the case of sulfur and oil and the production of natural gas in the case of natural gas.
Texas’s geology demonstrates how the state’s rocks and minerals are related to continental drift. The environmental factors that influenced the creation of the rocks and minerals in Texas during millions of years of continental drift also altered, giving rise to a wide variety of geological formations in Texas.
As a result of the continent’s original location, climatic factors, and continental drift, Texas’ rocks and minerals were formed. Texas’s geology is a witness to the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the earth, from sedimentary rocks developed in warm, shallow waters to igneous rocks formed by volcanic activity.
References:
Association for Texas State History (2021). Geology. The Texas Online Handbook. Extrapolated from “geology” at https://www.tshaonline.org
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