Impact+Geology

Impact Geology: Touring the Geology of Texas

Students will create a virtual field trip of major geologic sites around the state of Texas. They will traverse through at least 2 ecoregions of Texas. They will use Google Earth to pinpoint locations, layer a topographic map, create pinpoint information and measure the distances between sites on our great state of Texas. Students will research at least 3 geologic features. Analyze satellite and topo maps to predict changes in land features caused by weathering and erosion. Student will research the environmental, human, and economic impact of the land feature on the culture of Texas.

Step one: Select 3 geology sites inTexas, you must pick from at least 2 ecoregions of Texas

Coastal Prairies
Barrier Islands (Galveston)

West Gulf Coastal Plains
Big Thicket National Preserve

Oaks and Prairies
Red River

Osage Plains (Cross Timbers)
Glen Rose Dinosaur Valley State Park Mineral Wells, Texas

Pecos and Staked Plains
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge Palo Duro Canyon

Rolling Plains
Ogallala aquifer Playa Lake Wildlife Management Unit (Taylor Lakes Unit)

Edwards Plateau
Longhorn Caverns Inner Space Caverns Natural Bridge Caverns Edwards Aquifer Wonder World Texas State Aquarena Spring Enchanted Rock Pilot Knob

South Texas Brushland
Rio Grande Edwards Aquifer Barrier Island (North and South Padre) Eagle Ford Shale

Chihuahuan Desert/Mexican Mountains
Marfa, Texas (Permian Basin) Big Bend National Park

In what ecoregion is it located? Rock type - formation How the land form was created (melt water fromRockies, intrusion of magma, accumulation of sediment..) Agents/ speed of weathering and erosion (factors impacting type of rock, steepness of slope, human degredation) How landscape has changed Cultural or economic history Environmental impact and human influence of the site (provides water, oil, habitat) Current use/impact by man How has the landform changed How will it change in the future

Include a topographic map over lay of the region At least 2 pictures of the site Picture (cultural, economic, environment or human) use

General Helpful Sites
Ecoregion of Texas - [] Handbook of Texas - [] Geologic Wonders of Texas - [] Edwards Plateau geology - [] Google Earth geologic map of Texas - [] Printable colored maps of Texas Regions - [] The Protal to Texas History - []

Specific Helpful sites
Barrier Islands How stuff works! - [] Origin of Padre Island (heavy science) - [] Galveston Island - []

Big Bend Igneous Intrusions - []

Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge - [] []

Enchanted Rock Echanted Rock State Natural Area - [] E-rock - []

Longhorn Cavern

Longhorn Caverns - [] Geology - [] Mineral Wells Famous Mineral Water Co. - [] Permian Basin Permian Basis Petroleum Museum - [] UTPB geologic map - []

Palo Duro Canyon Facts - []