geologic history of texas: the making of texas over 1.5 ...richard kyle is the third c. e. yager...

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Produced by and for Hot Science - Cool Talks by the Environmental Science Institute. We request that the use of these materials include an acknowledgement of the presenter and Hot Science - Cool Talks by the Environmental Science Institute at UT Austin. We hope you find these materials educational and enjoyable. Dr. Richard Kyle March 24, 2000 Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 Billion Years # 4

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Page 1: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Produced by and for Hot Science - Cool Talks by the Environmental Science Institute. We request that

the use of these materials include an acknowledgement of the presenter and Hot Science - Cool Talks

by the Environmental Science Institute at UT Austin. We hope you find these materials educational

and enjoyable.

Dr. Richard Kyle

March 24, 2000

Geologic History of Texas:

The Making of Texas

Over 1.5 Billion Years

# 4

Page 2: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas over 1.5 Billion Years

J. Richard Kyle

Department of Geological Sciences

The University of Texas at Austin

Geologic History of Texas:The Making of Texas over 1.5 Billion Years

Page 3: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

I am grateful to many individuals who have contributed to

my understanding of the geologic history of Texas,

particularly present and former colleagues at The

University of Texas at Austin in the Department of

Geological Sciences, the Bureau of Economic Geology,

the Institute for Geophysics, and the Texas Memorial

Museum. These individuals and institutions have

contributed many of the illustrative materials contained

in this CD-ROM.

The presentation contained herein was made by J. Richard Kyle and is intended for educational purposes only.

Any use of this work, partial or complete, must cite J. Richard Kyle and this Outreach Lecture Series Volume 4.

No portion of this product may be reproduced or distributed in any form.

March 2000

Acknowledgments

Page 4: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

3. Texas Today

Page 5: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Plate Tectonics

Page 6: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Texas Geography

Austin

Page 7: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Texas Geology

Austin

Page 8: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

7. Geologic time scale – major Texas events

Page 9: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Geologic Time Principles

8. Geologic Time Principles

Several geologic principles are fundamental to using the rock record to

interpret processes.

Original Horizontality: Most rocks that form at the Earth's surface are

deposited in essentially horizontal layers. Therefore, when layered

rocks are not horizontal, they probably have been affected by post-

depositional processes such as a tectonic event.

Superposition: When layered rocks are formed, they are deposited in

an orderly sequence with the oldest being at the base of the sequence

and the strata becoming progressively younger upward. Therefore

when a sequence of rocks differs from the predicted sequence, or layers

are missing, then an explanation for the cause of these differences is

required.

Cross-cutting Relationships: Features such as faults or igneous

intrusions generally cross-cut or affect all rocks that were present locally

at the time of the faulting or intrusive event.

Uniformitarianism: Present Earth processes are useful in

understanding the types and rates of processes that have affected the

Earth during past periods of geologic history.

Page 10: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Central Texas roadcut

Page 11: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Llano stratigraphic column

Page 12: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Llano rocks

Geologic Time

D

B

A

C

Protero-

zoic

Mesozoic

Paleozoic

Time Interpretation Based on Llano Stratigraphic Column

0 Ma

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

A

B

C

DErosion

Erosion

Erosion

Erosion

Page 13: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Central Texas geologic map

Page 14: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Deformed metamorphic rocks cut by granite dike

Intrusive dike crosscutting

folded metamorphic rocks.

Page 15: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Enchanted Rock

Page 16: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Granite slabs

Page 17: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Tectonic Model for the Precambrian History of the Llano Region

Page 18: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Himalayas

India

Tibet Plateau

Himalayas

Page 19: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Late Proterozoic Position of Texas

Page 20: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Precambrian – Paleozoic time chart

Page 21: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Complex topography on Enchanted Rock

Page 22: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Great Barrier Reef, eastern Australia

Bird

Tree Covered Island

Page 23: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

PLATES Lower Paleozoic reconstruction

Page 24: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Lower Paleozoic life panorama

Page 25: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Marathon map

Marathon

Uplift

Page 26: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Marathon exposures

Dip

direction

Flat-lying

Cretaceous

Limestones

Haymond Formation

Page 27: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Caballos Novaculite aerial exposures

Page 28: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Marathon tectonic evolution

Page 29: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

New Guinea

Page 30: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

PLATES Late Paleozoic

Page 31: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Ouachita Orogeny and Formation of the Permian Basin

Page 32: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Delaware Basin

Page 33: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Delaware Basin Section

Page 34: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

El Capitan Reef

Page 35: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Permian Basin filling by Evaporites

OPEN

OCEAN

Page 36: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Evaporation

Page 37: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Potash-bearing salt at Carlsbad

Page 38: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Mesozoic – Cenozoic time chart

Page 39: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

PLATES Early Mesozoic

Page 40: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Rifting and Formation of the Gulf of Mexico Basin

Page 41: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Death Valley, California

Volcano

Salt Lake

Page 42: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Gulf of Mexico – Pacific Connection

Page 43: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Distribution of northern Gulf of Mexico Salt Diapirs

Page 44: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

East Texas Basin Salt Structures

Page 45: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Salt in a Salt Dome Mine

Page 46: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Distribution of Cretaceous Limestones

Page 47: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Cretaceous Limestone Exposures along the Colorado River in Austin

Page 48: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Cretaceous Volcanoes in Central and South Texas

Uvalde area

Pilot Knob

Page 49: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Hawaii volcano

Page 50: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Cretaceous Interior Seaway

Page 51: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

West Texas Cretaceous Stratigraphy

Page 52: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Clean up

Formation of the Rocky Mountains

Page 53: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Mesozoic Life – Dinosaurs

Page 54: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

PLATES End Cretaceous Asteroid Impact

Page 55: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Subduction off the Western Coast of Southern North America

Page 56: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Mid-Tertiary Volcanic Field

Page 57: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Explosive Volcanic Eruption

Page 58: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Bofecillos Mountains ignimbrites

Page 59: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

West Texas caldera field

Page 60: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Laccolith Formation

Corazones Peaks

(laccoliths)

Page 61: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Solitario

Page 62: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Gulf Coast sedimentary sequence

Page 63: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Louisiana Bayou

Page 64: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Tertiary Lignite Deposits in East Texas

Page 65: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Gulf of Mexico Shoreline since the Cretaceous

Page 66: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Ogallala Formation

OGALLALA

FORMATION

Page 67: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Pecos River Headward Erosion

Page 68: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Rifting in West Texas and New Mexico

Page 69: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Salt Basin

Guadalupe

Peak

(8,749 feet)

El Capitan

Page 70: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Cave Decoration at Carlsbad

Page 71: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Late Cenozoic Life

Page 72: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Ice Ages

Page 73: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Barrier island development

Page 74: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Texas Coastal Bend

Gulf of Mexico

Corpus Christi Bay

Brazos River

Delta

Barrier

Island

Mississippi

River Delta

Page 75: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Padre Island

Page 76: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Conclusion:

The geologic history of Texas is recorded in rocks that are

exposed throughout the state and fill sedimentary basins.

These rocks document more than a billion years of change.

Those changes include the building and erosion of major

mountain ranges, explosive volcanoes, strong earthquakes,

vast deserts, evaporating salt basins, tropical forests, river

and delta systems, tropical seas and barrier reefs, and

beaches and barrier islands.

Erosion of highlands filled subsiding sedimentary basins and

adjacent continental margins. Colliding plates deformed,

metamorphosed, and uplifted these materials to continue the

rock cycle.

Texas' abundant and varied mineral resources are products

of these geologic events.

Conclusion

Page 77: Geologic History of Texas: The Making of Texas Over 1.5 ...Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from

Professor Richard Kyle

Richard Kyle is the Third C. E. Yager Professor of Geology at The

University of Texas at Austin. He received a Ph. D. from the University of

Western Ontario and worked as a minerals exploration geologist for

several companies prior to joining the UT faculty in 1978. Kyle is the

author of more than 75 publications, including writing or editing six

books. His research contributions have been recognized by awards from

regional and national professional societies. Professor Kyle is the Editor

of Ore Geology Reviews, an international economic geology journal. His

teaching responsibilities and research interests include Texas geology, ore

deposits geology and geochemistry, minerals exploration, industrial

minerals, and multimedia approaches to geoscience education. He has

received departmental and college awards for teaching, program

development, and student advising. Since1988, Kyle has taught a non-

majors course on the Geology and Mineral Resources of Texas.