Big Bend National Park Field trip Guide

Transcription

Big Bend National Park Field trip Guide
University of Houston
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
March 9th – March 15th 2013
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Big Bend Field trip for Field Methods class (GEOL 3460), spring 2012
Instructor: Dr. Paul Mann
Our trip to Big Bend is critical to your training in field geology. We want to remind
you of two important policies that apply to this trip and that you would need to
agree to when you sign the official UH form “Release and indemnification form”.
This form has you agree that you will follow all UH policies regarding your conduct
on field trips.
1) Safety is paramount.
A student participant who willfully or negligently
endangers the safety and welfare of himself/herself or another will be required to
leave the field trip and return to Houston at their own expense.
2) All field trips in the UH Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department are
alcohol and drug-free. This means that participants who go on this field trip and
sign the mandatory UH release and indemnification form agree not to consume
alcoholic beverages of any kind or to use illegal substances for the duration of the
field trip, including during the evenings and in the vans while traveling to and
from Big Bend park.To avoid problems, do not bring alcoholic beverages and/or
illegal substances on this trip. Violators will be required to terminate the field
course and return to Houston at their own expense.
NOTE: Big Bend Park is located in a politically sensitive and heavily patrolled
international border region with Mexico. We will be stopped by US immigration
and border patrol officers while on this trip. Everyone who is part of the trip,
traveling in the vans, and is NOT a US citizen would need to bring with them on
the trip their: F-1 visa, I-20 form, and valid passport. US resident aliens would
need to bring their their US resident alien green card. US citizens would need a
valid drivers license or passport. Not having this information with you on your
person, could delay your van and all of its occupants for hours while US
immigration officials confirm your identity and visa status.
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Field Methods
Big Bend National Park
Field Mapping Project
March 9-15th, 2013
The purpose of this trip is to construct a geologic map and a measured stratigraphic column that is useful in
addressing two questions:
1)
2)
3)
4)
What was the depositional environment of the sedimentary rocks exposed in the study area?
What is the nature of magmatism? (composition, age, and type of intrusive bodies)
What type of folds are exposed in the study area and when did they form?
What is the sequence of events (geologic history) archived in the Dagger Flat area?
Before we leave Big Bend you are expected to turn in a: (1) colored, inked version of your geologic map, and (2)
your notebook (containing your stratigraphic column and answers to the questions listed above).
Stratigraphic Column
You will measure and describe a representative stratigraphic section in the field area. Using your Jacob staff, you
will measure thicknesses and make lithologic descriptions for every 1.5 meter interval. Descriptions should
follow the guidelines outlined in Coe.
Geological Map
The following geologic features must be shown on your geologic map:
1. Contacts between rock units (Quaternary alluvium (Qal), Quaternary older alluvium (Qoal), Quaternary
landslides (Qls), Tertiary igneous rocks (Tig), Cretaceous Boquillas Formation (Kbo), Cretaceous Buda
Formation (Kbu), Cretaceous Del Rio Formation (Kdr), Cretaceous Santa Elena Formation (Kse) .
2. Attitude (strike and dip) of rock units.
3. Trend and plunge of small-scale folds.
4. Attitude of fractures and small-scale faults
Use the symbols outlined in Compton (Appendix 7) to depict the features listed above.
*You should strive for 3 bedding attitudes per square inch, 20 fractures (in total). The quantity of fold and fault
measurements will be determined on the first day of mapping.
The geologic map must contain a legend which explains the geologic symbols present on the map and a brief
description of the rock units.
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Qal – Yellow
Qsl - Golden Yellow
Qf - Yellow Orange
Tig – Red
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Kbo – Green
kbu – Pink
kdr – orange
Kse – blue
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Ksp – brown
Kdc – grey
Ktc - aqua green
Field Final
On the 5 day of our trip you will take an independent field mapping exam. The location will be disclosed to
you that morning. During the exam you will be asked to make a complete geologic map of the area in 4 hours.
The map will be turned in before we head back to camp.
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Daily Itinerary
Daily Itinerary
March 9th – Arrive at Stillwell Ranch around 6pm. You can pick up fast food in Fort Stockton for
dinner or cook at camp.
March 10th – Eat Breakfast. Be prepared to leave camp by 8:15am. All day will be spent in the field.
Lunch in the field. Vans will leave the field at 6pm..
March 11th –Eat Breakfast. Be prepared to leave camp by 8:15am. Lunch in the field. Vans will leave
the field at 5:30pm.
March 12th –same routine as previous day.
March 13th –same routine as previous day.
March 14th –Field final day. You will have 4 hours to complete mapping of the designated area. After
the exam we will take a driving tour into central Big Bend, stopping for gas and snacks, a visit to the
National Park Visitor Center, and make a couple scenic stops.
March 15th – Drive home (10 hours). ETA to Houston is 7pm.
Geologic Report
You will use your geologic map to address the following two questions:
1) What is the sequence of events (geologic history) with respect to sedimentation, faulting and
magmatism?
2) What type of faults are present, which way did they move, and how far? (i.e., the name, the trend of the
striations, and net slip).
Guidelines and due date for this report are forthcoming.
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Travel Instructions from Houston to Big Bend National Park –
BUCKLE UP!
 Depart Houston at 6am. Houston to Exit for Kerrville (Highway 16) ~259 miles from Houston.
Meet at the Chevron station on the southside of the Interstate 10. Fill up your tank. (4 hours)

Kerrville to Fort Stockton. Meet at the Food Basket on Dickenson Blvd (the main drag –
business route) ~252 miles from Kerrville (3.5 hours). Address is 1300 W. Dickenson Blvd.
Fill up your tank before you go to the grocery store.

Fort Stockton to Stillwell Ranch (~100 miles). Take highway 385 south from Fort Stockton.
Head toward Marathon (~55 miles from Fort Stockton). Continue toward Big Bend on highway
385. Make left on Ranch Rd. 2627 to Stillwell Ranch. This turn is ~40 miles past Marathon.
Mann’s Cell Phone Number 512-809-2843
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Section-6
Section-5
Section-4
Section-7
Section-3
Section-2
Section-1
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Legend
Geological Features
Unknown Feature
Unit Name
Capitan Formation
Goliad Formation
Permian rocks, undivided Quaternary
Whitsett Formation
Carizzo Sand
Gorman Formation
deposit, undivided Quaternary-Tertiary
Willis Formation
Catahoula Formation
Hannold Hill Member of Tornillo Formation
deposits, undivided
Woods Hollow Shale, Fort Pena Formation, Alsate Shale, Marathon Limestone
Cathederal Mountain Formation
Haymond Formation
Riley Formation showing Lion Mountain Sandstone...
Word Formation
Cook Mountain Formation
Hensell Sand
Santa Elena Limestone
Yegua Formation
Devils Graveyard volcanic rocks
Javelina Member of Tornillo Formation
Skinner Ranch and Hess Formations, undivided
alluvial fan deposits
Dimple Formation
Lenox Hills and Neal Ranch Formations, undivided
Smithwick Formation
alluvium
Duff Formation, Cottonwood Springs Basalt, Potato Hill Andesite,
Leona Formation
Sue Peaks Formation, Del Carmen Limestone...
caliche deposits
Eagle Ford Formation
Lissie Formation
Terrace deposits
fill and spoil
Edwards Limestone
Manning Formation
Tertiary intrusive rocks, undivided
gypsite deposits
Finlay Limestone
Maxon Sandstone and Glen Rose Limestone, undivided
Tesnus Formation
land slide deposits
Fleming Formation
Midway Group, undivided
Tessey Limestone
older alluvial deposits
Fredericksberg Group and Maxon Sandstone, undivided
Navarro Group and Marlbrook Marl, undivided
Uvalde Gravel
playa deposits
Fredericksburg Group
Oakville Sandstone
Washita Group
sand sheet deposits
Gaptank Formation
Oligocene intrusive rocks
Washita and Fredericksburg Groups, undivided
water
Gatuna Formation
Pecan Gap Chalk
Weches Formation
Faults
Glen Rose Limestone
Pen Formation
Wellborn Formation
Aguja Formation
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RoadSections
Anacacho Limestone
Antlers Sand
Austin Chalk
Beaumont Formation, areas predominantly clay
Beaumont Formation, areas predominantly sand
Bissett Conglomerate
Simplifed Geological Map Houston
Black Gap area volcanic rocks
Black Peaks Member of Tornillo Formation
Bouquillas Formation
Buda Limestone
Buda Limestone and Del Rio Clay, undivided
Caballos Novaculite and Maravillas Chert, undivided
Cadell Formation
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50
100
150
200
Miles
Map showing Geological Features between Houston City
and Big Bend National Park. The purpose of this
map is to enable UH students to discover geology of Texas from a broader prospective.
Data from USGS were used to develop the map.
USGS- The State of Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1351, U.S
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96°20'0"W
96°10'0"W
96°0'0"W
95°50'0"W
95°40'0"W
95°30'0"W
95°20'0"W
30°0'0"N
96°30'0"W
Willis Formation
Willis Formation
Lissie Formation
29°50'0"N
Terrace deposits
Willis Formation
alluvium
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^
29°40'0"N
alluvium
Beaumont Formation, areas predominantly sand
Beaumont Formation, areas predominantly clay
29°30'0"N
alluvium
Legend
Faults
GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS
UNIT NAME & AGE
Simplifed Geological Map
Houston - Big Bend National Park Route
Section-1-
NAME: Beaumont Formation, areas predominantly clay --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene-Late
NAME: Beaumont Formation, areas predominantly sand --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene-Late
NAME: Fleming Formation --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Miocene
NAME: Goliad Formation --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Miocene
NAME: Lissie Formation --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene-Middle
®
NAME:Terrace deposits --- AGE Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
NAME:Willis Formation --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Pliocene
NAME: alluvium --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Holocene
NAME: fill and spoil --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Holocene
water
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University of Houston - CBTH Project
http://cbth.uh.edu/
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10
15
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98°0'0"W
97°50'0"W
97°40'0"W
97°30'0"W
97°20'0"W
97°10'0"W
97°0'0"W
96°50'0"W
96°40'0"W
29°50'0"N
Yegua Formation
Midway Group, undivided
alluvium
Cadell Formation
Carizzo Sand
Manning Formation
Cook Mountain Formation
29°40'0"N
Whitsett Formation
Weches Formation
Catahoula Formation
Fleming Formation
Leona Formation
alluvium
Willis Formation
Willis Formation
29°30'0"N
Oakville Sandstone
Legend
Faults
NAME:Lissie Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene-Middle
GEOLOGICAL FEATURES
NAME:Manning Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene
UNIT NAME & AGE
NAME:Midway Group, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Paleocene
NAME: --- AGE:
NAME:Navarro Group and Marlbrook Marl, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late [Gulfian]
NAME:Austin Chalk --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late [Gulfian]
NAME:Oakville Sandstone --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Miocene
NAME:Cadell Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene
NAME:Pecan Gap Chalk --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late [Gulfian]
NAME:Carizzo Sand --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene
NAME:Terrace deposits --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
NAME:Catahoula Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Oligocene
NAME:Weches Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene
NAME:Cook Mountain Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene
NAME:Wellborn Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene
NAME:Eagle Ford Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late
NAME:Whitsett Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene Oligocene
NAME:Edwards Limestone --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME:Willis Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Pliocene
NAME:Fleming Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Miocene
NAME:Yegua Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene-Middle
NAME:Goliad Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Miocene
NAME:alluvium --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Holocene
NAME:Leona Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene
NAME:water --- AGE:None
http://cbth.uh.edu/
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®
Section-2-
7
99°30'0"W
99°20'0"W
99°10'0"W
99°0'0"W
98°50'0"W
98°40'0"W
98°30'0"W
98°20'0"W
98°10'0"W
98°0'0"W
97°50'0"W
97°40'0"W
30°20'0"N
99°40'0"W
Hensell Sand
30°10'0"N
Edwards Limestone
30°0'0"N
Glen Rose Limestone
29°50'0"N
Glen Rose Limestone
Legend
Faults GEOLOGICAL
Edwards Limestone
FEATURE
29°40'0"N
FEATURES
NAME & AGE
NAME: --- AGE:
NAME:Carizzo Sand --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene NAME:Eagle
Ford Formation --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late NAME:Edwards
29°30'0"N
Limestone --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early NAME:Glen Rose
Limestone --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early NAME:Hensell Sand --AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean NAME:Leona Formation
Austin Chalk
NAME:Midway Group, undivided --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Paleocene
29°20'0"N
--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene
Uvalde Gravel
NAME:Anacacho Limestone --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late [Gulfian]
Carizzo Sand
NAME:Pecan Gap Chalk --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late [Gulfian]
NAME:Terrace deposits --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
NAME:Uvalde Gravel --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary Quaternary | Pliocene Pleistocene
NAME:Willis Formation --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Pliocene
®
NAME:alluvium --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Holocene NAME:Austin Chalk
--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late [Gulfian] NAME:caliche deposits --- AGE:
Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
NAME:Buda Limestone and Del Rio Clay, undivided --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late
NAME:water --- AGE: None
Section-3-
NAME:Navarro Group and Marlbrook Marl, undivided --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late [Gulfian]
NAME:Riley Formation showing Lion Mountain Sandstone and Cap Mountain Limestone Members, undivided --- AGE: Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Cambrian-Middle
http://cbth.uh.edu/
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8
100°40'0"W
100°30'0"W
100°20'0"W
100°10'0"W
100°0'0"W
99°50'0"W
99°40'0"W
99°30'0"W
99°20'0"W
99°10'0"W
30°40'0"N
30°50'0"N
100°50'0"W
Hensell Sand
Buda Limestone
30°30'0"N
Edwards Limestone
Terrace deposits
alluvium
alluvium
30°20'0"N
Hensell Sand
Buda Limestone
30°10'0"N
Legend
Faults GEOLOGICAL
FEATURES
FEATURE
NAME & AGE
NAME: Bouquillas Formation--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late
NAME: Buda Limestone and Del Rio Clay, undivided--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late
NAME: Buda Limestone--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME: Edwards Limestone--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME: Glen Rose Limestone--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
®
NAME: Gorman Formation--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Paleozoic| Ordovician-Early
NAME: Hensell Sand--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean
NAME: Permian rocks, undivided--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian
NAME: Quaternary deposit, undivided--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary
NAME: Smithwick Formation--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Pennsylvanian-Middle [Atoka]
NAME: Terrace deposits--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
Section-4-
NAME: alluvium--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Holocene
NAME: playa deposits--- AGE: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
NAME: water--- AGE: None
http://cbth.uh.edu/
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8
16
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32
Miles
9
102°10'0"W
102°0'0"W
101°50'0"W
101°40'0"W
101°30'0"W
101°20'0"W
101°10'0"W
101°0'0"W
100°50'0"W
31°0'0"N
alluvium
sand sheet deposits
30°50'0"N
Quaternary deposit, undivided
Edwards Limestone
30°40'0"N
alluvium
Legend
Edwards Limestone
30°30'0"N
Faults GEOLOGICAL
FEATURES FEATURE
Ed
NAME & AGE
NAME: Bouquillas Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late
NAME: Buda Limestone --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME: Edwards Limestone --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME: Finlay Limestone --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean Albian]
NAME: Fredericksburg Group --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean]
®
NAME: Gatuna Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene-Middle(?)
NAME: Maxon Sandstone and Glen Rose Limestone, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME: Quaternary deposit, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary
NAME: Terrace deposits --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
NAME: Washita Group --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean] Cretaceous-Late
NAME: alluvium --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Holocene
Section-5-
NAME: playa deposits --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
NAME: sand sheet deposits --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Holocene
NAME: water --- AGE:None
http://cbth.uh.edu/
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3
6
12
18
24
Miles
10
103°0'0"W
102°50'0"W
102°40'0"W
102°30'0"W
102°20'0"W
31°10'0"N
103°10'0"W
Washita Group
31°0'0"N
Washita Group
alluvium
30°50'0"N
Quaternary-Tertiary deposits, undivided
Buda Limestone
Edwards Limestone
30°40'0"N
30°30'0"N
Tessey Limestone
Formation
Word Formation
Faults
GEOLOGICAL FEATURES
FEATURE NAME & AGE
0
NAME: Antlers Sand --- AGEPhanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
3
NAME: Bissett Conglomerate --- AGEPhanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
6
12
30°20'0"N
®
Legend
18
24
Miles
NAME: Buda Limestone --- AGEPhanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME: Capitan Formation --- AGEPhanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian [Guadalupe]
NAME: Cathederal Mountain Formation --- AGEPhanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian [Leonard]
NAME: Edwards Limestone --- AGEPhanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME: Finlay Limestone --- AGEPhanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean Albian]
NAME: Fredericksberg Group and Maxon Sandstone, undivided --- AGEPhanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean]
NAME: Fredericksburg Group --- AGEPhanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean]
NAME: Gaptank Formation --- AGEPhanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Pennsylvanian-Early Pennsylvanian-Middle Pennsylvanian-Late
NAME: Gatuna Formation --- AGEPhanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene-Middle(?)
NAME: Haymond Formation --- AGEPhanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Pennsylvanian-Early
NAME: Lenox Hills and Neal Ranch Formations, undivided --- AGEPhanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian [Wolfcamp]
NAME: Maxon Sandstone and Glen Rose Limestone, undivided --- AGEPhanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME: Quaternary deposit, undivided --- AGEPhanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary
NAME: Quaternary-Tertiary deposits, undivided --- AGEPhanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary Quaternary | Pliocene Pleistocene
NAME: Skinner Ranch and Hess Formations, undivided --- AGEPhanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian [Wolfcamp]
Section-6-
NAME: Terrace deposits --- AGEPhanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
NAME: Tessey Limestone --- AGEPhanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian [Ochoa]
NAME: Washita Group --- AGEPhanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean] Cretaceous-Late
NAME: Washita and Fredericksburg Groups, undivided --- AGEPhanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean]
NAME: Word Formation --- AGEPhanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian [Guadalupe]
NAME: alluvial fan deposits --- AGEPhanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
NAME: alluvium --- AGEPhanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Holocene
NAME: gypsite deposits --- AGEPhanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
NAME: older alluvial deposits --- AGEPhanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene
NAME: playa deposits --- AGEPhanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
NAME: sand sheet deposits --- AGEPhanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Holocene
NAME: water --- AGENone
http://cbth.uh.edu/
11
103°40'0"W
103°30'0"W
103°20'0"W
103°10'0"W
103°0'0"W
102°50'0"W
102°40'0"W
Cathederal Mountain Formation
30°20'0"N
Capitan Formation
30°10'0"N
alluvium
Tesnus Formation
Washita Group
30°0'0"N
Woods Hollow Shale, Fort Pena Formation, Alsate Shale,...
Maxon Sandstone and Glen Rose Limestone, undivided
29°50'0"N
29°40'0"N
Legend
land slide deposits
Faults
GEOLOGICAL FEATURES
FEATURE NAME & AGE
NAME: Aguja Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late
NAME: Bissett Conglomerate --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
29°30'0"N
NAME: Black Gap area volcanic rocks --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Miocene
NAME: Black Peaks Member of Tornillo Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Paleocene
NAME: Bouquillas Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late
NAME: Buda Limestone and Del Rio Clay, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late
NAME: Caballos Novaculite and Maravillas Chert, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Ordovician-Late Devonian Carboniferous Mississippian
NAME: Capitan Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian [Guadalupe]
NAME: Cathederal Mountain Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian [Leonard]
NAME: Devils Graveyard volcanic rocks --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene Oligocene
NAME: Dimple Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Pennsylvanian-Early
NAME: Duff Formation , Cottonwood Springs Basalt,.. --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene-Late Oligocene-Early
NAME: Duff Formation, Cottonwood Springs Basalt, Potato Hill Andesite... --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene-Late Oligocene-Early
NAME: Edwards Limestone --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME: Fredericksberg Group and Maxon Sandstone, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean]
NAME: Fredericksburg Group --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean]
NAME: Gaptank Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Pennsylvanian-Early Pennsylvanian-Middle Pennsylvanian-Late
0
2.5
5
®
10
15
20
Miles
NAME: Glen Rose Limestone --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME: Hannold Hill Member of Tornillo Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene
NAME: Haymond Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Pennsylvanian-Early
NAME: Javelina Member of Tornillo Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic Cenozoic | Cretaceous-Late Tertiary | Paleocene
NAME: Lenox Hills and Neal Ranch Formations, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian [Wolfcamp]
NAME: Maxon Sandstone and Glen Rose Limestone, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME: Oligocene intrusive rocks --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Oligocene
NAME: Pen Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late
NAME: Quaternary deposit, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary
NAME: Santa Elena Limestone --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME: Skinner Ranch and Hess Formations, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian [Wolfcamp]
NAME: Sue Peaks Formation, Del Carmen Limestone, and Telephone Canyon Formation, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early
NAME: Tertiary intrusive rocks, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary
NAME: Tesnus Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Mississippian-Late Pennsylvanian-Early
NAME: Washita Group --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean] Cretaceous-Late
NAME: Washita and Fredericksburg Groups, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Early [Comanchean]
Section-7-
NAME: Woods Hollow Shale, Fort Pena Formation, Alsate ... --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic| Cambrian Ordovician
NAME: Woods Hollow Shale, Fort Pena Formation, Alsate Shale, .. --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic| Cambrian Ordovician
NAME: Woods Hollow Shale, Fort Pena Formation, Alsate Shale, ... --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic| Cambrian Ordovician
NAME: Woods Hollow Shale, Fort Pena Formation, Alsate Shale, Marathon Limestone, and Dagger Flat Sandstone, undivided --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic| Cambrian Ordovician
NAME: Woods Hollow Shale, Fort Pena Formation, Alsate Shale,... --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic| Cambrian Ordovician
NAME: Woods Hollow Shale, Fort Pena Formation, Alsate Shale,.... --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic| Cambrian Ordovician
NAME: Woods Hollow Shale, Fort Pena Formation, Alsate Shale... --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic| Cambrian Ordovician
NAME: Woods Hollow Shale, Fort Pena Formation, Alsate Shale.... --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic| Cambrian Ordovician
NAME: Woods Hollow Shale, Fort Pena Formation... --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic| Cambrian Ordovician
NAME: Word Formation --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian [Guadalupe]
NAME: alluvial fan deposits --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
NAME: alluvium --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Holocene
NAME: land slide deposits --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene
NAME: older alluvial deposits --- AGE:Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene
http://cbth.uh.edu/
12
Ecosystems
103°15’
Scientific Investigations Map 3142
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
Qia
Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service
Geologic
Map
of
Qoa
(Pamphlet accompanies map)
plant and animal ecosystems, and the geologic
formations greatly influence the distribution of the
wide variety of plant and animal communities in the
park. The extraordinary bio-diversity in Big Bend
reflects the wide variety of natural mountain, desert,
and river landscapes in the park, and is also due to
the great variability in climate and elevation of those
different landscapes. Big Bend has more species of
birds than any other national park, and the Chihuahuan
Desert has the greatest diversity of plants of any
desert on earth.
Ka
Qia2
Qia
13
Ti
12
QTa
28
55
Mt
2011
7
Kb
MOu
Kp
Qya2
Ka
4
Qoa
5
4
Ktm
85
Big Bend National Park, Texas
1
1
2
Ka
10
Kdc
70
12
20
Kgr
18
QTa
15
Qc
Kp
30
35
Qia1
Ka
Qya
Tgs
Tib
36
Pzu
48
Qya2
43
(Left) Black bears. Black bears were common in the
park in the early 1900s, but none were observed after
Big Bend became a park in 1944. They returned to the
park from Mexico in the 1980s, and remain there today
mostly in the Chisos Mountains; their recolonization is
rare and enigmatic. They are well adapted to the Chisos
Mountains, mainly because of their food source of
acorns, juniper berries, pinon nuts, all available in this
woodland environment.
87
Ka
27
24
Kdr
Qrf
38
By Kenzie J. Turner, Margaret E. Berry, William R. Page, Thomas M. Lehman, Robert G. Bohannon,
Robert B. Scott,3 Daniel P. Miggins,1 James R. Budahn,1 Roger W. Cooper,4 Benjamin J. Drenth,1
Eric D. Anderson,1 and Van S. Williams1
1
Qya
19
Qls
(Right) Collared lizards. Collared lizards are some of the largest lizards in the park,
and are a critical part of the Big Bend ecosystem because they are the food source
for many birds in the park, and they help control the population of insects.
Yucca Faxoniana. This towering
variety is also known as giant or
Spanish dagger, beaked yucca,
or soaptree yucca. Native
Americans ate flowers, petals,
and young stalks of the plant,
and used the leaves for rope,
mats, sandals, and baskets.
The geology of Big Bend is intricately linked to
Ka
Qya1
1
45
15
Ksp
Kb
65
40
Tib
25
Kbu
20
10
Kb
8
Qya1
5
Qc
Tir
8
12
Kbe
5
Qia2
7
15
Tia
Kb
Qoa
QTa
Kp
Qya1
Qia1
42
10
38
10
12
Qia1
Ka
Kse
Kse
15
Ti
Kgr
Ktm
82
Qya2
10
Kbu
30
20
20
Kbe
Kse
87
Kbu
27
Kdr
4
26
Kbs
18
Qya2
24
Kdc
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
3 U.S. Geological Survey, Corvallis, Oregon
4 Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas
1
Qya2
Kb
2
10
18
Qc
27
Ksp
5
21
29
15
14
17
8
Tib
Kbu
Kdr
Kbu
Ka
30
Qia
25
20
23
20
Qia
Qya2
Kse
12
26
Qya
20
Kbe
15
12
Qya1
Qya1
Ka
Kb
13
Qya
Qls
Kbu
20
Kse
14
Ti
24
18
Qia2
Kb
Qoa
38
UD
Qls
Tib
12
Qya2
Kp
Kdr
15
5
Qc
Qya
Kbu
Ka
Ka
Kp
6
Qia1
19
Qya1
82
(Right) Century plant. The
century plant is the largest
agave in the park, and is the
food source for the endangered
Mexican long-nosed bat,
which pollinates the brightcolored yellow flowers.
12
Qia
Qia2
Kbe
Kbs
Tib
17
Ka
15
Kb
4
18
Qc
28
18
17
Qya
Kdr
Qia
Kdc
Qia1
Kp
17
18
10
Kbu
19
Kbe
Ka
8
Kbs
14
37
29°30’
29°30’
6
Qls
5
22
Ksp
20
Tib
Qya2
Kdc
Qya
Qc
11
15
Kbe
Tir
19
Qia2
Ka
14
14
Tib
Qia2
8
7
10
3
Tir
Ti
Qc
42
Qya1
34
21
Kj
TKbp
11
12
17
15
Qia2
8
Kdr
33
14
Kbu
Ka
11
9
9
Kbu
12
Qiw
12
14
9
Tctm
39
10
20
9
14
Kb
23
Tib
74
10
10
69
Tcac
10
14
8
8
Kj
15
Ka
28
10
8
5
5
Kse
8
Ka
42
Qya1
14
Tib
Qe
5
15
21
Kgr
Ktm
Ksp
Kj
10
2
18
Qrf
18
14
25
21
26
12
10
12
Tcme
Tcac
3
68
5
9
5
56
Tcy
49
6
Qls
15
48
47
8
Tbw
67
8
Tcbm
Ti
Tcme
Tcy
Tcbm
38
63
10
Tt
Qc
Tcbm
17
Tcy
Tt
41
16
Qya2
Ta
47
8
16
8
Qyw1
Tib
Qya1
Qiw2
QTa
Qyw1
QTa
Qya2
5
Tcac
Qiw3
Tt
Ta
Qya
Tcy
14
Kbe
Qyw2
79
Kbd
Qya1
12
17
10
Tib
Qc
Kdr
25
Kbd
Scenic Landscapes
Ka
11
CONVERSION FACTORS
20
20
Multiply
32
Qiw1
inches (in.)
feet (ft)
miles (mi)
29°00’
Kdr
22
Qya
Qya2
By
2.54
0.3048
1.609
Tib
1200
800
Timh
Kbd
Ktm
Kgr
QTu
1200
Ti
800
Kp
Timh
Pzu
Kb
400
Ksp
Kse
0
Kdc
Kdc
Kgr
Ksp
Tsi
Ksp
Tqi
Kse
Kgr
Ktm
-400
Pzu
Kgr
Ktm
Ktm
Pzu
Kgr
0
-800
Pzu
5 KILOMETERS
-1200
HORIZON TAL SCALE
-1600
QTu
20
Kbu
3
2
4
5 MILES
APPR OXIM AT E MEAN
DECLINATION, 2010
QTu
Ka
Kj
2
3
4
5
6
QTu
Kb
Kp
Kbd
Kse
QTu
Kbd
Ksp
Kb
QTu
Ktm
Kdc
Kgr
Kbd
Ksp
800
400
Kbd
Kse
Kbd
Ktm
0
Ksp
Kb
Kse
Kgr
Kdc
Ksp
Kdc
Kgr
-400
Ktm
Kdc
Kgr
Pzu
Ktm
Kdc
Kgr Ktm
Pzu
Pzu
Pzu
1927 North American Datum
5 KILOMETERS
7 KILOMETERS
HORIZON TAL SCALE
CONT OUR INTERVAL 20 METERS
NATIONAL GEODETIC VERT ICAL DATUM O F 1929
1200
Kbd
Ksp
0
1
QTu
METERS
Kse
Kse
Kp
Kp
Kse
Projection Universal Transverse Mercator
SCALE 1: 75 000
1
TKbp
QTu
Kb
Kp
-400
SIE RRA DEL CARMEN
Kbd
Ka
Kb
Base from U.S. Geological Survey
Chisos Mountains, Texas–Chihuahua–Coahuila, 1985;
Boquillas, Texas–Coahuila, 1984; and
Santiago Mountains, Texas, 1985
-800
0
QTu
Kj
7˚
Qia
Kbs
C’
Kj
0
Kbe
30
Qaw
103°15’
0
Kp
Kbd
Kse
2000
1600
-2000
To obtain
centimeters (cm)
meters (m)
kilometers (km)
15
Kp
Qiw3
Qyw2
.5
QTu
VER TICAL EXAGG ERATION X 2
Ka
4
1
Timh
TKbp Kj
Kse
Kdc
Kdc
QTa
Kb
Kbd
Pzu
400
Qyw1
1/2
MCK INNE Y HILLS
Photograph Credits
Kb
1
Ksp
Ta
Tco
METERS
Kse
Ktm
METERS
Qya1
Kp
Qia1
Qe
Kp
Kb
C
14
Big Bend National Park offers some of the most diverse and scenic landscapes of all national parks, and is renowned
for its spectacular geology. The Chisos Mountains are the centerpiece of the park with its rugged volcanic peaks
in an evergreen and oak woodland setting. The lowlands surrounding the Chisos Mountains are part of the Chihuahuan
Desert, where each Spring the desert floor blooms with bursts of brightly colored wildflowers, cacti, and other plants.
The Rio Grande contrasts sharply with the desert, and forms a green ribbon of life winding through the rocky
landscape. Mesa de Anguila and Sierra del Carmen are uplifted mesas and mountains bounding the west and
east sides of the park, respectively, where they form steep, majestic cliffs and deep, intervening canyons.
Kse
ESTUFA BOLSON
Qaw
Kse
8
B’
Kp
Ksp
10
29°00’
5 KILOMETERS
SIE RRA DEL CARMEN
QTu
Kdc
Kb
Kj
QTu
Ka
Ka
Qya
60
4
Qoa
Ka
-400
Pzu
-2000
Kbe
Qia1
13
Qc
Kgr
75
Kj
10
Ktm
Ktm
Pzu
10
Qiw1
TKbp
Kj
Ktm
Tib
7
Kp
Tsi
TKbp
Kbd
Kdc
-1600
25
5
Ksp
-1200
Qiw2
12
4
Qyw1
Tco
Tcac
Tcac
Kp
Kp
-800
Qia1
10
Kp
20
Qaw
Kgr
Kgr
15
4
8
15
Qiw2
Tsi
Tcy
Ka
-400
Qiw
Kbu
Kj
19
5
10
Tsb
Tsp
Tqv Tco
Kj
Tcac
Kse
12
4
Qiw1
Tsd
Tco
QTu
Tcy
Tcbm
0
Qiw1
15
34
3
5
5
Kj
Qia1
Qiw1
Tsi
QTu
TKbp
14
Kbs
15
20
Qya2
Qiw
Qia2
QTu
Kj
62
5
7
70
Qoa
Tcy
TKbp
14
Qia1
Qyw2
Tib
Ka
Kbe
Qyw1
Ka
10
Tqd
Kb
8
TKbp
10
0
Kdc
Pzu
Tcy
DELAHO BOLSON
Tcbm
Ta
Tt
QTu
400
Kp
10
Qia1
Qow
Ta
400
Ksp
Kse
-400
Tcy
5
10
Qya1
Kb
Ksp
Kdc
PINE CA NY ON CA LDE RA
Tsb
HAYES
RIDGE
Tcy
Tt
800
Kbu
11
Kj
7
Qia
Qiw1
SIE RRA DE
CHINO
25
Qiw3
Qiw2
800
Ktm
Kbd
Kbd
Kse
1200
Kdc
Pzu
Ka
Kp
Kb
METER S
Kgr
QTu
Tib
Tib
Ktm
Pzu
Tcy
1200
Kdr
Kse
Kbs
10
10
Tir
QTu
Kp
Kdc
Kgr
Tqi
Tqd
Tia
18
25
Ka
MISSISSIPPIAN
Tsb
Qia2
Kdr
Qya
5
CHALK DRAW BASIN
QTu
Ksp
PENNSYLVANIAN
Unconformity
METER S
1600
20
Kbu
27
Tcy
6
Kbd
Kb
QTu
SANTIAGO
MOUNTAINS
HORIZON TAL SCALE
SIE RRA QUEMADA
3
18
Qia1
Kj
9
Geochronology sample location and map sample number
(Appendix)
A’
Tib
DEVONIAN, SILURIAN,
AND ORDOVICIAN
6
19
Qya1
46
21
Qya1
10
5
12
Overturned
A
MOu
Qia1
Qia
Kbe
51
Hannold Hill Formation (Eocene)
Thh
Basaltic flow (Oligocene)
Kse
2000
10
Qya1
Tt
17
Pzu
Qoa
4
18
75
35
8
Vertical
Canoe Formation (Eocene)
LOCATION MAP
B
10
Tcbm
View of El Pico in the Sierra del Carmen.
Although El Pico is located across the Rio
Grande from Big Bend, in Coahuila, Mexico, the
Sierra del Carmen extends northward into Big
Bend National Park, where the range forms
towering limestone cliffs, originally deposited in
ancient seas during Cretaceous time. The high
mountain range is a series of uplifted, east-tilted
fault blocks, which mark the easternmost range
of the western North American cordillera.
8
5
40
Inclined
Horizontal
Tc
Basaltic and other mafic composition intrusive rocks, undivided
(Oligocene to Eocene)
11
23
5
Qya2
13
Tia
Strike and dip of bedding
50
Christmas Mountains related volcanic rocks (Eocene)
LOWER TERTIARY TO LOWER CRETACEOUS SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
0
20
Qia1
Tdd
3
Tx
Andesitic and other intermediate composition intrusive rocks, undivided
Syncline—Dashed where approximately located, dotted where
concealed
SOUTH RIM
4
Qia2
8
6
Rhyolitic and other felsic composition intrusive rocks, undivided
Tia
Dike
Anticline—Dashed where approximately located, dotted where
concealed
0
11
12
Qya
6
Kp
10
Kp
10
Tir
800
Qiw1
21
Qya2
Qls
Rhyolite tuff unit
1200
Qaw
Qow
Kbs
30
Tib
9
Siltstone unit
Tcrt
Lower
Cretaceous
Mt
8
9
Ka
8
10
Qya1
Qc
Sandstone, tuff, and rhyolite unit
Tcks
Kgr
Big Bend
National Park
5
Tir
8
Tcstr
Intrusive rocks, undivided (Oligocene to Eocene)
METERS
Tib
3
Qc
Thrust—Dashed where approximately located, dotted where
concealed. Sawteeth on upper plate
Older part, undivided (Eocene) (cross-section only)
Intrusive complex at Rattlesnake Mountain (Oligocene)
CRETACEOUS
Kdc
Qyw2
9
6
25
Ka
Tib
18
Qc
Kj
23
8
86
8
15
Qya1
Tco
8
25
Tcac
7
Qia1
Qiw1
23
Kp
Kj
Qls
Qya2
Tcy
5
MIDDLE TERTIARY VOLCANIC AND INTRUSIVE ROCKS
400
12
8
TKbp
15
Alamo Creek Basalt Member (Eocene)
Unconformity
9
15
65
Ta
6
103°30’
Reverse—Dotted where concealed. Showing relative motion;
U on upthrown side, D on downthrown side; Rosillos
Mountains only
Oblique-slip, right-lateral offset—Dotted where concealed.
Bar and ball on downthrown side; paired arrows indicate
relative right-lateral strike-slip movement
Oblique-slip, left-lateral offset—Dotted where concealed.
Bar and ball on downthrown side; paired arrows indicate
relative left-lateral strike-slip movement
Ash Spring Basalt Member (Eocene)
Ktm
10
9
Undifferentiated lava flow (Eocene)
Tcac
Ksp
TEXAS
10
22
5
U
Mule Ear Spring Tuff Member (Oligocene)
Tcl
Kdr
Qiw3
5
Qls
Ka
Bee Mountain Basalt Member (Oligocene)
Kse
13
Qia1
8
10
Tule Mountain Trachyandesite Member (Oligocene)
Upper
Cretaceous
Kbu
Qiw1
7
103°00’
20
Kj
TKbp
Tdd
10
Tctm
Tcbm
Tcas
Kbd
16
25
25
25
Tia
Qls
7
Younger part, undivided (Oligocene and Eocene)
Quaternary to Tertiary deposits, undivided (Holocene to Miocene)
(cross-section only)
Tirc
Tib
Kbs
10
4
MAP EXPLANATION
Unconformity
6
Qc
10
Syenite of Rosillos Mountains (Oligocene)
Ti
Tfb
9
Qya
Qoa
Tt
Tcac
Tt
12
Tir
50
70
20
Tirm
?
Ka
15
7
5
Ti
25
Fayalite syenite of Grapevine Hills (Oligocene)
Fayalite syenite of McKinney Hills (Oligocene)
Normal—Dashed where approximately located, dotted where
concealed. Bar and ball on downthrown side
Kp
12
35
10
Tigh
Timh
Gravity slide blocks (Miocene?)
Volcanic rocks, undivided (Oligocene)
QTa
Qia1
25
Qc
25
10
5
Ka
10
Tdd
Qrf
10
57
70
Tir
Tbi
11
55
9
42
Mississippian to Ordovician rocks, undivided
Intrusive rocks, undivided
Buried—Inferred from geophysical data
15
37
Tcme
Qaw
?
Qyw1
Qya1
15
4
Tesnus Formation (Lower Pennsylvanian and Upper Mississippian)
Kbe
Tib
12
12
MOu
D
Tv
Kj
7
12
4
Qya2
Qaw
20
Tib
Tdm
QTa
54
Qia
8
Qyw1
Kj
7
?
Kb
Qia2
80
Qya1
Tgs
Paleocene
5
35
Mt
Ring dike
Tcme
TKbp
7
Kp
Qc
PALEOZOIC ROCKS
Eocene
7
25
37
Paleozoic rocks, undivided (Lower Pennsylvanian through Ordovician)
Chisos Formation (Oligocene and Eocene)
Tib
25
Qiw3
Qaw
4
TKbp
70
Qoa
Qya1
Qia2
15
9
Qia2
20
Qc
9
5
Tdi
Qya
Qya1
8
Qia2
Pzu
41
Ka
17
8
Tia
Qiw1
14
7
3
Qs
20
5
17
17
Tcks
10
Tcrt
Qc
15
45
15
51
Qrf
15
25
Tdd
Tbr
7
Qrf
25
16
16
Kj
15
9
Tib
4
7
24
4
Kbs
Glen Rose Limestone (Lower Cretaceous)
Unconformity
Kp
2
Qya
24
23
10
?
5
10
4
8
10
Tir
Tc
Tcstr
Tcks
Tcrt
Kbu
Kbe
9
12
9
Tib
25
25
9
66
Qiw1
Qiw3
Kj
35
25
Qrf
5
Tcy
6
20
80
Outflow deposits, undivided
Telephone Canyon Formation and Maxon Sandstone, undivided
(Lower Cretaceous)
Kgr
Tertiary mass-movement deposits
LOWER TERTIARY–LOWER CRETACEOUS
AND
PALEOZOIC SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Qiw2
7
Ka
Qaw
Qya1
5
3
25
5
10
Tcme
Qya2
Qya1
15
Qyw2
20
19
Tt
Qia1
18
15
Ka
46
15
25
Qia
45
Qia2
13
78
Tqi
19
Tcy
8
Qls
7
32
6
10
Tqd
Tcme
Qc
TKbp
Tt
5
11
77
45
10
10
Ta
22
14
Qyw1
Qow
12
46
Qya1
15
Qia1
Tcstr
24
25
10
3
12
Qiw2
73
23
Qia
Qow
Ta
27
8
Pine Canyon rhyolite member
Tsr
Tcy
Basin-fill deposits (Miocene)
Thh
12
Qoa
22
Tcbm
13
20
Kp
Tqv
10
Tbi
17
Tco
Qoa
Kp
Qls
Qoa
Qia1
Boot Rock member
Del Carmen Limestone (Lower Cretaceous)
Very old alluvium (early Pleistocene and Pliocene)
Tirm
Unconformity
Kse
Qaw
25
12
11
11
5
25
Timh
Tcas
8
12
Qls
Old alluvial deposits, undivided (middle to early? Pleistocene)
Tcy
Tcl
Ksp
65
Kbu
25
7
5
72
15
10
Ti
15
Qiw1
11
5
10
Tib
Qe
Kdc
4
3
35
Tbw
Kj
7
Old axial river deposits (middle to early? Pleistocene)
Qoa
Ta
Tigh
Tcac
Qia1
22
5
8
12
20
Tx
80
8
10
Ka
Sue Peaks Formation (Lower Cretaceous)
Kdc
Ktm
Faults
Qow
QTu
Tcbm
15
8
19
Santa Elena Limestone (Lower Cretaceous)
Undivided surficial deposits
Tcme
16
Qia
Qya1
9
Tir
20
Kse
Ksp
Contact
Tdi
Tdd
Kse
16
5
23
20
20
Tqd
15
Qia
Qya2
2
48
Qc
20
Qc
Tbr
43
15
8
60
28
14
44
44
13
Qia1
28
Tcy
52
15
18
10
5
5
24
10
20
20
23
12
25
Tt
Tcbm
17
20
12
Qya
20
24
10
Qc
2
25
Qiw1
3
Qya
13
Qc
Qaw
Tcks
Tdm
Tcbm
31 86
15
10
Qc
15
Older of the intermediate alluvial deposits (middle Pleistocene)
TERTIARY
Qia
15
Kbe
20
Ti
Tqv
Tsi
65
11
Kj
5
Kj
Qia2
15
22
10
Tbr
5
8
Tir
25
51
Qia1
Tsb
Tsp
Oligocene
Kdc
63
28
8
Qia1
Qia
Ti
Qrf
Tir
10
Qls
11
11
7
Qls
Kbu
12
8
Younger of the intermediate alluvial deposits (late to middle
Pleistocene)
Qia2
Tctm
5
10
Qya1
Tir
15
Tqi
Tsd
Tsp
10
Ta
Qia2
20
15
30
Tqd
Tsr
Ktm
75
8
11
Tsr
2
30
Qaw
Tia
25
12
?
Unconformity
Qia
3
Ti
Qoa
35
70
Qia2
12
12
15
10
TKbp
4
5
12
25
Tse
13
16
14
12
10
Qya
18
45
10
20
7
20
10
8
Qaw
Ti
75
Tib
Qaw
Kp
4
Kdr
30
Kp
10
15
17
Kdr
TKbp
16
20
Tcbm
25
Qya1
4
7
Buda Limestone (Upper Cretaceous)
Intermediate alluvial deposits, undivided (late and middle Pleistocene)
Qia1
Miocene
?
Tv
10
25
Tcy
5
8
Tcac
5
35
9
?
Ti
29°15’
Qya
Qia2
Qoa
Qya
Tir
Ti
30
Tt
Tcas
Tcas
8
?
?
Kbu
Tcstr
Qoa
Oldest intermediate axial river deposits (middle Pleistocene)
Emory Peak rhyolite member
Tsi
Tse
Kgr
12
12
11
20
Tsb
Youngest intermediate axial river deposits (late Pleistocene)
Older intermediate axial river deposits (late to middle Pleistocene)
Ksp
Kdr
Qaw Qya2
20
10
Qc
6
Tcy
10
11
3
5
12
15
Tir
10
2
12
Qaw
Qoa
26
Intermediate axial river deposits, undivided (late and middle Pleistocene)
Qiw3
QTa
Tsb
15
Tse
Older of the young alluvial deposits (Holocene to late Pleistocene)
Qiw2
Qia
Qaw
26
Tsd
Ernst Member
Buda Limestone and Del Rio Clay, undivided (Upper Cretaceous)
(cross-section only)
Del Rio Clay (Upper Cretaceous)
Tbw
Tt
Tsi
Tcy
40
Tsd
5
1
Tbi
Qc
Tsd
Younger of the young alluvial deposits (Holocene)
Tsd
QTu
Tbi
Qia1
28
Tcl
Qia
62
17
5
7
45
Qc
Tib
17
Qyw2
Qia2
Tfb
?
Ta
?
Tbr
17
Qya2
Dominguez Mountain intrusive rocks, undivided
10
QTa
32
15
25
10
Qc
15
30
20
27
26
Tse
24
10
10
4
11
Qs
5
18
Tcy Kj
71
13
16
Kb
11
6
16
6
28
9
Ti
11
Qya
11
7
Qya1
Kdr
10
103°45’
Ka
19
15
14
30
20
Kb
Qc
QTa
Tcy
6
Qyw1
5
Qia
53
Tcbm
Qya2
Qoa
?
Tfb
12
10
31
12
33
Qia1
10
Pleistocene
Qow
MIDDLE TERTIARY VOLCANIC
AND INTRUSIVE ROCKS
Tgs
QTa
Qoa
Qc
Kp
79
Tsp
Kp
6
Qaw
19
Ta
Qc
30
Qls
Tsi
Dominguez Mountain dike swarm
South Rim Formation (Oligocene)
Tirc
20
Tsd
30
28
Qaw
Kbu
Tcy
25
Tcstr
Tcas
58
Tbr
8
4
6
8
10
10
20
Qya1
Qia
Qia2
Tcstr
Qrf
Tcas
Tbw
25
Qrf
12
Tirc
16
Kb
7
4
19
8
22
Qc
32
Kse
17
5
6
Tib
26
Kb
Tcy
30
11
10
17
Qls
19
8
55
10
10
34
8
11
20
12
Qya1
QTa
Qia1
40
Qia2
Qya2
Tsb
34
20
Qia2
?
Kgr
Ksp
?
TRUE NORTH
Qyw2
Qya
15
Qiw3
18
Tsb
35
20
Tir
10
10
31
Ka
Qia1
Kbu
Kdr
Dominguez Mountain mafic lava flows
Young alluvial deposits, undivided (Holocene to late Pleistocene)
QUATERNARY
QTa
Kbs
Qya
Qya1
20
Tctm
10
10
29°15’
37
8
7
Tir
Qc
Tcas
Kdr
60
6
29°15’
38
75
10
7
Qls
8
Tcme
40
60
8
Qiw
Tsr
Tia
Tt
Qiw1
Qia1
Qia
7
53
12
Qoa
Tcy
Kp 103°45’
7
Qia2
8
64
50
8
7
San Vicente Member
8
29
Tsi
20
15
Qiw2
Kdc
Ktm
12
30
Sierra Quemada vent breccia
10
Tia
Qc
20
8
12
Kse
Kbe
18
Qya1
5
12
8
Qia1
12
Qya1
Tctm
Qs
Qiw
18
Qoa
Tsp
Qrf
Qya2
15
Tbw
Kj
Qls
8
Pliocene
22
Qoa
25
10
Tsb
9
Qc
Qiw
Holocene
12
25
10
Kbd
Tdm
15
Qc
50
Qya1
10
12
27
37
35
10
15
5
29°15’
29
5
11
10
10
(Right) Chisos Formation. Spires of orange-weathering
tuffaceous sandstone of the Chisos Formation, near
Blue Creek Ranch.
Tsr
Qia2
Sierra Quemada intrusive rocks, undivided
Tdd
Qya2
Kdc
22
Qia
Tc
Qia
36
Older of the young axial river deposits (Holocene to late Pleistocene)
Qya2
Qya
6
8
Kbu
15
24
Qya1
TKbp
19
9
11
10
8
40
4
10
15
Kp
12
Tcas
QTa
Qia
Qls
59
20
Qyw1
Qyw2
Qiw1
23
Ka
10
Kbe
5
Tcac
Tc
10
Tcstr
Tcas
Tctm
15
12
Tib
35
30
15
19
Tcac
55
7
19
16
30
Qya1
Qe
Qrf
15
Tcas
45
7
ALLUVIAL AND
BASIN-FILL
DEPOSITS
SPRING
DEPOSITS
Qaw
Ksp
65
6
Kp
7
Qoa
HILLSLOPE AND
MASS-MOVEMENT
DEPOSITS
20
Tsi
Kj
10
35
20
Tir
10
Younger of the young axial river deposits (Holocene)
Qyw2
Qya1
EOLIAN
DEPOSITS
14
5
11
Tv
40
Ka
QTa
Tcstr
20
Qya2
7
Kp
Qia
Qya2
Tcy
9
12
19
U.S. and Mexico (Mexico is on the left side of the river
and the U.S. is on the right), the Rio Grande is the
lifeblood of the region and is a fragile, riparian ecosystem
with unique plant and animal communities, and a critical
shared water resource of bi-national communities along
this desolate course.
20
Qyw1
Qya
8
25
10
40
Active tributary wash and river deposits (latest Holocene)
CORRELATION OF MAP UNITS
5
QTa
QTa
Tqi
Tdi
10
Qoa
Qc
6125
9
34
9
5
14
10
Qia1
42
Qia2
Ka
Kdr
25
10
15
Kbe
Dominguez Mountain related rocks (Oligocene)
Qaw
Qyw2
Qc
Kbe
Kbu
10
11
10
4
Ta
Tir
Tcy
Tib
10
16
28
Qia
Sierra Quemada ring dike
Tqv
Qaw
5
Qoa
Tqd
Alluvial and basin-fill deposits
Qia
Qiw1
Ksp
35
Qya2
10
30
20
4
5
14
30
57
Boquillas Formation, undivided (Upper Cretaceous)
Kbs
Qya
Kbs
Qya2
Qya
Kj
Qya1
9
Pen Formation (Upper Cretaceous)
Kb
Spring deposits (Holocene and Pleistocene)
TORNI LLO CR EEK
Kj
10
9
7
8
7
Qls
15
Ka
Qia
7
14
85
84
5
10
11
84
Kj
12
32
Tir
(Above) The Rio Grande near the mouth of Santa Elena
Canyon. As the international boundary between the
6
8
Qya1
Qya2
5
10
Tib
Trachytic lava, undivided (Oligocene)
43
40
Kp
27
Ka
13
12
Qaw
6
20
18
19
Ka
Qya
5
Ka
8
30
10
Qoa
5
13
Landslide deposits (Holocene and Pleistocene)
Qs
include the Mexican Jay, Mexican mallard,
Lucifer hummingbird, and Colima warbler.
6
Kj
Qoa
Ka
Tia
15
Kb
8
Aguja Formation (Upper Cretaceous)
Spring deposits
FRESN O CR EEK
5
Tx
25
83
Qia
7
Qia
Qoa
15
15
Kbu
MARISCAL MOUNTAIN
AN TIC LIN E
Kp
25
Ksp
Ti
Qya
11
17
10
9
103°30’
Kdc
Qya1
Qya1
Qya2
10
12
Kdc
Timh
8
5
Kgr
Qya2
15
25
Thh
Qia1
Tia
18
20
40
Qia
Qia1
5
17
45
12
TKbp
Qls
(Right) Mexican Jay. Big Bend National
Park is one of the best localities in the U.S.
for bird watching, and more species have
been recorded there than any other National
Park. Some of the more rare species
Ksp
18
Kdr
11
24
8
Colluvium and colluvial-fan deposits (Holocene and Pleistocene)
TORNI LLO CR EEK
Qrf
7
Kp
9
Qia2
QTa
Kse
38
35
Qoa
80
Tcy
Qc
Sierra Quemada related rocks (Oligocene)
QTa
20
10
Tc
18
Javelina Formation (Upper Cretaceous)
Kp
Qia
Kse
39
25
6
15
Qls
8
20
COW H EAV EN
AN TIC LIN E
Kj
30
9
35
18
Tcac
Rock fall deposits (Holocene and late Pleistocene)
Black Peaks Formation (Paleocene to Upper Cretaceous)
Kj
Ka
Intrusive rocks, undivided
Tbi
Qrf
Qya
Ktm
10
Qc
Qya2
Qya1
Qc
Hillslope and mass-movement deposits
Tt
8
Kdc
16
5
Qc
10
Ka
Tir
Wasp Spring member
20
7
10
Qls
Qoa
Qya
Tigh
64
21
20
7
15
Ti
Tbw
38
Tia
7
Qoa
12
27
Kp
12
8
Tib
Ksp
Ka
BE ND
IN SECTIO N
Qia
Ka
Kbe
Qia1
45
Thh
7
Qya1
Rhyolite member
SANTIAGO
TH RUS T FAULT
Qls
37
Qya
Kp
5
12
Tc
46
Tx
11
Qya1
13
Qs
(Above) Gulf Fritillary. Over 160 species of butterflies occur in Big
Bend National Park, and the Gulf Fritillary, also known as Passion
Butterfly, is one of the more common varieties in the park.
Eolian sand (Holocene)
DUGO U T W ELL S FAULT
Ti
Qia
65
81
Qe
CH ALK D R AW FAULT
Qrf
Kj
23
Qoa
Qia
Tbr
21
TKbp
9
Qoa
7
11
Eolian deposits
10
Qia2
8
Thh
TKbp
25
7
5
18
Kj
Ka
Kp
8
Burro Mesa Formation (Oligocene)
SURFICIAL DEPOSITS
Kdc
12
37
TKbp
40
11
15
Qoa
LIST OF MAP UNITS
20
Qaw
3
8
Kdr
SUE PEAK S
17
Kj
TKbp
12
Tib
7
Qya
23
19
76
Kbs
30
15
5
2
17
Qoa
10
3
Tib
Geology
Blooming prickly pear. Big Bend boasts more species of
cacti than any other park, and the wide variety is attributed
to the diverse settings of the park.
Qya2
8
25
8
Kj
18
3
Qya1
Ka
Kbu
6
Kj
14
Qiw3
11
Tir
15
21
Qoa
10
Kb
15
13
Kj
Ka
24
15
Qia2
10
Qya1
Qiw3
Casa Grande. Casa Grande is one of the highest peaks (7,325 ft elevation) in the Chisos Mountains, and in Texas.
The peak’s name, meaning “Big House” in Spanish, comes from its massive, steep-sided profile, which towers
above the Basin. Casa Grande is an extra-caldera vent, or volcanic dome, of the Pine Canyon caldera, which
erupted rocks of the South Rim Formation.
30
22
Thh
Qya2
Kdr
82
35
17
5
12
Qls
Kse
Kbs
31
19
Tc
5
Kj
Qya
15
Qoa
34
Qia1
18
Qls
Qoa
16
Kp
48
Kj
Kj
Qoa
22
TKbp
Face off. A coyote (left) and a black-tailed jackrabbit (above) face off. Coyotes
are well adapted in Big Bend, and are found in almost all environments in the
park. The black-tailed jackrabbit is actually a hare, and is prey for mountain lions,
coyotes, fox, bobcats, and hawks and eagles.
Qc
8
Ti
(Above) Mule Ear Peaks. Mule Ear Peaks
are one of the most distinctive geologic
landforms in the park, and are composed of
the Chisos Formation and overlying Burro
Mesa Formation.
Texas Brown tarantula. The Texas Brown
tarantula is a common variety of spider found
in Big Bend National Park. Texas Browns can
grow in excess of a four-inch leg span, and
weigh more than 3 ounces as adults.
Kdr
5
Tirm
A T
A
T
Pzu
-800
Mule Ear Peaks (Courtesy of the National Park Service,
Big Bend National Park Visitor Photo Gallery)
Santa Elena Can yon (Photograph by Van S. Willia ms, U.S. Geological Survey)
Casa Grande in fog (Co urtesy of the National Park Service)
Chisos Formation sandstone (Photograph by Daniel P. Miggins, U.S. Geological Survey)
Full moon over El Pico (Courtesy of the National Park Service,
Big Bend National Park Visitor Photo Gallery)
Yucca cactus (Courtesy of the National Park Service)
Century plant (Photograph by Daniel P. Miggins, U.S. Geological Survey)
Prickly pear cactus (Photograph by Margaret E. Berry, U.S. Geological Survey)
Gulf Fritillary, large (Courtesy of the National Park Service)
Gulf Fritillary, Small (Modified from photograph by Calibas.
Any use is licensed under GNU Free Document License 1.2 or later and
Creative Commons 3.0)
Mexican Jay (Photograph by Alan Vernon.
Any use is licensed under Creative Commons 2.0)
American black bear cub (Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Coyote (Photograph by Rebecca Richardson.
Any use is licensed under Creative Commons 2.0)
Collared lizard (Photograph by Daniel Schwen.
Black-tailed jackrabbit (Photograph by pschemp.
Tarantula (Photograph by Kenzie J. Turner, U.S. Geological Survey)
Any use of trade names is for desc riptive purpos es only and does not
imply endors ement by the U.S. Government
For sale by U.S. Geologic al S urvey Informat ion S ervic es, Box 25286,
Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225
1-888-ASK-USGS
Arc Info c overages and a PDF for this map are available at
http://pubs.us gs.gov/sim/3142/
Suggest ed citation:
Turner, K.J., Berry, M.E., Page, W.R., Lehman, T.M., Bohannon, R.G.,
Sc ott, R.B., Miggins, D.P., Budahn, J.R., Cooper, R.W., Drent h, B.J.,
Anders on, E.D., and Williams, V.S., 2011, Geologic map of Big Bend
Nat ional Park, Texas: U.S. Geologic al S urvey S cientific Inves tigations
Map 3142, scale 1:75,000, pamphlet 84 p.
Author and Production Credits
Surficial geology mapped and compiled by Margaret E. Berry,
2004–2009; and Van S. Williams, 2004–2009
Bedrock geology mapped and compiled by Kenzie J. Turner,
2005–2009; William R. Page, 2003–2009; Thomas M. Lehman,
2001–2007; Robert G. Bohannon, 2003–2007; Robert B. Scott,
2003–2005; Lawrence W. Snee, 2003–2005; Kay Wache, 2003–2004; and
Roger W. Cooper, 2004–2010
Digital map database prepared by Kenzie J. Turner
Editing and digital cartography by Gayle M. Dumonceaux,
Denver Publishing Service Center
Graphic design and layout by Carol A. Quesenberry,
Denver Publishing Service Center
Manuscript approved for publication November 30, 2010
800
800
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600
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1200
900
600
1600
1200
1100
900
1100
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X
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Geological Features of the Big Bend National Park
are shown over a DEM ( 30 meter Resolution
³
X
Data Source: USGS
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3142
Low : 372.294
X
Projection:
GCS_WGS_1984
Datum: D_WGS_1984
20
Kilometers
High : 2719
X
CBTH Project
http://cbth.uh.edu/
0
1:225,000
5
10
meter above S.L.
X
Big Bend National Park Topographical Map
1
0
0
0
DEM
X
1100
Legend
bigbendpark
14
Big Bend National Park location map (from Bedford, 2009).
15
Modified from the Late Jurassic 150 Ma paleogeographic map by Dr. Ron
Blakey. Note the location of the Chihuahua Trough.
16
Field Methods
Field Mapping Project
March 11-March 17, 2006
Hillshade relief map showing major physiographic and geologic features in
northern Big Bend.
17
Map of Late Cretaceous-early Tertiary Laramide fold-thrust belt extending
from Canada to southern Mexico. It resulted from subduction of the Farallon
plate beneath the western portion of the North American plate.
18
Rio Grande
Rift
Map of Cenozoic extension in the western United States and Northern Mexico
(modified after Faulds and Varga, 1998). Red box shows location of Big Bend National
Park. Extensional fault systems shown on this map post-date Laramide compressional
deformation.
19
Block diagram and stratigraphic chart showing that Cretaceous sedimentary rocks
were deposited in a shallow ocean at the edge of the Chihuahua trough, a deep basin
that formed when South America rifted from North America.
20
Stratigraphic column illustrating units exposed in map area as well as major tectonic
events. Formation names and thicknesses derived from Maxwell, R.A., Lonsdale, J.T.,
Hazzard, R.T., and Wilson, J.A., 1967.
21
Unpaved road
Primitive road
(four-wheel drive,
high-clearance
vehicles only)
Trail
To Marathon
39mi 63km
Distance indicator
(main roads)
0.5mi
0.8km
Ruins
Distance indicator
(other roads)
0.5mi
0.8km
Private land within
park boundary
Please observe land owner’s
rights.
Rapids
Ranger station
Gas station
Picnic area
Self-guiding trail
Lodging and food
Campground
Restaurant
Primitive campsite
Figure ( 9)Overview Figure Showing Field Trip Planned Sites
385
Entrance
Store
Camp Site Location
Figure 10 & 11
5mi
8km
3mi
5km
BLACK GAP
Persimmon Gap Visitor Center
North
0
5
10 Kilometers
0
5
Stillwell Store and RV Park
Graytop
5502ft
1677m
10 Miles
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
To Alpine
58mi 94km
Do not use this map for backcountry
hiking or trip planning. For safe travel
get detailed maps at visitor centers.
Nine Point Draw
2627
NORTH
Rosillos Mountains
Figure 14 & 15
118
T E X A S
ROSILLOS
23mi
37km
(H a r te R a n c h)
Dagger Mountain
23mi
37km
Big Bend
National Park
Stairway Mountain
R OS ILL O S M O U N TAI N S
18mi
29km
DAGGER
F L AT
Rosillos Peak
5373ft
1638m
River
Camels Hump
Aqua Fria Mountain
Packsaddle
Mountain
5.1mi
8.2km
CORAZONES PEAKS
5319ft
1621m
ROSILLOS
RANCH
1.9mi
3.1km
( p ri v a t e l a nd )
Hen Egg Mountain
4963ft
1513m
9mi
14km
Heath Canyon
Terlingua Ranch
LA LINDA
18mi
29km
Fossil Bone
Exhibit
McKinney Spring
THE
S O LI TA R I O
Adams
Ranch
26mi
42km
Grapevine
Spring
7.7mi
12.4km
PAINT GAP
HILLS
Roys Peak
Vista
2.5mi
4.0km
Slickrock Mountain
Telephone
Canyon
Paint Gap
Croton Peak
Hannold Draw
Dogie Mountain
10mi
16km
TERLINGUA GHOST TOWN
(Historic District)
Maverick Mountain
118
17mi
27km
13mi
20km
Entrance
Panther Junction
170
Chisos Mountains
Figure
12 & 13
Tule Mountain
To Presidio
50mi 80km
LAJITAS
Barton Warnock
Environmental Education Center
(Big Bend Ranch State Park)
Sam Nail
Ranch
Lost Mine
Trail
Visitor Center
Casa Grande
7325ft
P
2233m
Chisos Mountains Lodge
B UR R O M E SA
Terlingua Area
Figure 16 & 17
Burro Mesa
Pouroff
a
g
n
i
12.8mi
20.6km
Luna's Jacal
Ocotillo Grove
Toll
Mtn
Emory Peak
7825ft
2384m
Chimneys West
Sotol Vista
Overlook
Pummel Peak
6620ft
2018m
Lost Mine Peak
7550ft
2301m
Y ON
T
Homer
Wilson
Ranch
Peña
Mountain
Ernst Basin
K-Bar
Panther Peak
5401ft
1646m
The Window
4600ft
1500m
Willow Tank
Park Headquarters
6mi
10km
Chisos Basin
Maverick
Junction
3750ft
1143m
Visitor Center
Road to the Basin not recommended
for trailers longer than 20 feet and
RVs over 24 feet because of sharp
curves and steep grades.
Castolon/
Santa Elena
Junction
3mi
5km
Chisos Mountains
Basin Junction
STUDY BUTTE/
TERLINGUA
26mi
43km
Dugout Wells
Nugent
Mountain
4.1mi
6.6km
Pine
Canyon
Twisted
Shoe
Robbers
Roost
Canyon Trail
Visitor Center
Chilicotal Mountain
4108ft
1252m
Glenn
Spring
B I G B E N D N AT I O N A L P A R K
8mi
13km
TUFF
CANYON
1.9mi
3.1km
1.5mi
2.4km
Daniels
Ranch
(raft/canoe take-out)
Cottonwood
1004m
6.8mi
10.9km
1572m
1193m
Castolon Visitor Center
SANTA
ELENA
Elephant
Tusk
(closed in summer)
(Store open all year)
2169ft
661m
Rio Grande
Springs
Village
(Store open all year)
DEL CARMEN
PROTECTED AREA
Boquillas Area
Figure 18 & 19
Gravel Pit
Dominguez Mountain
5156ft
Mule Ears Peaks
3881ft
MADERAS
Boquillas Canyon
Overlook
BOQUILLAS
DEL CARMEN
Hot
9.6mi
15.5km
Elephant Tusk
5249ft
1600m
Mule Ears
Spring
Cerro Castellan
3293ft
Santa Elena Canyon
River Access
Rio Grande
Overlook 4mi
6km
Mule Ears Viewpoint
Santa Elena Canyon
Overlook
Tunnel
Candelilla
Goat
Mountain
Boquillas
Canyon
Tr a i l
(closed in summer)
4.5mi
7.2km
l
Rock
Slide
Camp
de
Leon
Rice Tank
5.3mi
8.5km
Santa Elena
Ernst
Tinaja
D od
Terlingua Abajo
22mi
35km
La Noria
2.3mi
3.7km
20mi
32km
g R
Croton Spring
B LA CK MESA
Roys Peak
3945ft
1202m
Government
Spring
Talley Mountain
3765ft
1148m
La Clocha
1850ft
564m
SAN VICENTE
8.5mi
13.7km
Fresno
Buenos
Aires
Triangulation Station Mountain
3143ft
953m
4.5mi
7.2km
Mariscal
Mine
Tr
6.8mi
10.9km
2.2mi
3.5km
Black Dike
Gauging
Station
S A N TA
ELENA
CANYON
PROTECTED
1.4mi
2.3km
Dominguez
Trailhead
27.5mi
44.3km
Loop
Camp
Johnson
Ranch
Solis
Jewels
Camp
6.0mi
9.7km
3932ft
1199m
Woodsons
AREA
Talley
Tight Squeeze
22
Figure 10
Big Bend National Park Orthoimagery
NorthEast of Dagger Flat
1iversity of Houston
Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
CBTH Ptojed
httpJ/cbth.uh.edu/
Projedion;
GCS V113S 1984
Datum:D_WGS_1984
Data Source.USGS
http J/pub>.u>g>.govi>rn/3142
1:25,000
0.5
1
0
-- -====----Kilometers
N
2
GeologicalFeatures of the Big Bend Nati onalPark
are shown over a OEM ( 30 meter Resolution
i
meter above:
- High : 27
- Low: 37:
23
103°7'30"W
103°5'0"W
103°2'30"W
³
29°37'30"N
BigBend National Park Topographical Map
North ( Dagger Flat Area )
29°32'30"N
29°35'0"N
800
Figure 11
Legend
CBTH Project
http://cbth.uh.edu/
Projection:
GCS_WGS_1984
Datum: D_WGS_1984
0
1
1:30,000
2
DEM
meter above S.L.
4
Kilometers
Data Source: USGS
High : 2719
Low : 372.294
24
103°25'0"W
103°24'0"W
103°23'0"W
103°22'0"W
103°21'0"W
103°20'0"W
103°19'0"W
103°18'0"W
103°17'0"W
103°16'0"W
103°15'0"W
103°14'0"W
103°13'0"W
Tsr
Qya1
Geological Map (Chisos
Mountains )
Tctm
Tsp
Tia
29°16'0"N
QTa
Qia1
Qls
Qrf
Tsi
29°15'0"N
Tcas
Figure 12
Kp
Tbr
Kb
Legend
Tsd
NameLabel
< Ka >Aguja Formation (Upper Cretaceous)
< Kb >Boquillas Formation, undivided (Upper Cretaceous)
< Kj >Javelina Formation (Upper Cretaceous)
Tcl
29°14'0"N
Tfb
< Kp >Pen Formation (Upper Cretaceous)
Tsb
Tbi
< QTa >Very old alluvium (early Pleistocene and Pliocene)
< Qaw >Active tributary wash and river deposits (latest Holocene)
< Qc >Colluvium and colluvial-fan deposits (Holocene and Pleistocene)
Qc
< Qia >Intermediate alluvial deposits, undivided (late and middle Pleistocene)
Tse
< Qia1 >Younger of the intermediate alluvial deposits (late to middle Pleistocene)
Qya
Qoa
< Qia2 >Older of the intermediate alluvial deposits (middle Pleistocene)
< Qls >Landslide deposits (Holocene and Pleistocene)
29°13'0"N
< Qoa >Old alluvial deposits, undivided (middle to early? Pleistocene)
< Qrf >Rock fall deposits (Holocene and late Pleistocene)
Tir
< Qs >Spring deposits (Holocene and Pleistocene)
< Qya >Young alluvial deposits, undivided (Holocene to late Pleistocene)
< Qya1 >Younger of the young alluvial deposits (Holocene)
Qia
Ti
< Qya2 >Older of the young alluvial deposits (Holocene to late Pleistocene)
< TKbp >Black Peaks Formation (Paleocene to Upper Cretaceous)
Tcbm
< Ta >Basin fill deposits (Miocene)
29°12'0"N
< Tbi >Intrusive rocks, undivided, Burro Mesa Formation (Oligocene)
< Tbr >Rhyolite member, Burro Mesa Formation (Oligocene)
< Tbw >Wasp Spring member, Burro Mesa Formation (Oligocene)
Ka
< Tcac >Alamo Creek Basalt Member, Younger part of Chisos Formation (Eocene)
< Tcas >Ash Spring Basalt Member, Younger part of Chisos Formation (Eocene)
Tcks
Tbw
< Tcbm >Bee Mountain Basalt Member, Younger part of Chisos Formation (Oligocene)
Tqv
< Tcks >Siltstone unit, Older part of Chisos Formation (Eocene)
29°11'0"N
< Tcl >Undifferentiated lava flows, Younger part of Chisos Formation (Eocene)
< Tcme >Mule Ear Spring Tuff Member, Younger part of Chisos Formation (Oligocene)
< Tcrt >Rhyolite tuff unit, Older part of Chisos Formation (Eocene)
< Tcstr >Sandstone, tuff, and rhyolite unit, Older part of Chisos Formation (Eocene)
Tqi
< Tctm >Tule Mountain Trachyandesite Member, Younger part of Chisos Formation (Oligocene)
Tcy
Ta
Tcstr
Tqd
Tcrt
Tib
< Tcy >Younger part, undivided, Chisos Formation (Oligocene and Eocene)
< Tdd >Dominguez Mountain dike swarm (Oligocene)
< Tdi >Dominguez Mountain intrusive rocks, undivided (Oligocene)
29°10'0"N
< Tdm >Dominguez Mountain mafic lava flows (Oligocene)
Qia2
< Tfb >Basaltic flow (Oligocene)
< Ti >Intrusive rocks, undivided (Oligocene to Eocene)
< Tia >Andesitic and other intermediate composition intrusive rocks, undivided (Oligocene to Eocene)
< Tib >Basaltic and other mafic composition intrusive rocks, undivided (Oligocene to Eocene)
< Tir >Rhyolitic and other felsic composition intrusive rocks, undivided (Oligocene to Eocene)
Qya2
< Tqd >Sierra Quemada ring dike (Oligocene)
Tt
< Tqi >Sierra Quemada intrusive rocks, undivided (Oligocene)
29°9'0"N
Kj
< Tqv >Sierra Quemada vent breccia (Oligocene)
< Tsb >Boot Rock member, South Rim Formation (Oligocene)
Tdi
< Tsd >Ring dike, South Rim Formation (Oligocene)
< Tse >Emory Peak rhyolite member, South Rim Formation (Oligocene)
Tdm
< Tsi >Intrusive rocks, undivided, South Rim Formation (Oligocene)
< Tsp >Pine Canyon rhyolite member, South Rim Formation (Oligocene)
< Tsr >Outflow deposits, undivided, South Rim Formation (Oligocene)
³
< Tt >Trachytic lava, undivided (Oligocene)
Projection Information :
NAD_1927_UTM_Zone_13N
Projection: Transverse_Mercator
GCS_North_American_1927
Datum: D_North_American_1927
1:45,000
0
1
2
4
Kilometers
6
CBTH Project: http://cbth.uh.edu/
25
103°22'30"W
103°20'0"W
103°17'30"W
103°15'0"W
103°12'30"W
2100
103°25'0"W
Chisos Mountains
³
29°15'0"N
Figure 13
1500
1500
1700
1100
1700
29°10'0"N
29°12'30"N
1300
Legend
site3boundaries
0
site_2
1:45,000
0 0.5 1
CBTH Project
http://cbth.uh.edu/
Projection:
GCS_WGS_1984
Datum: D_WGS_1984
Data Source: USGS
2
Kilometers
0
8
DEM
meter above S.L.
High : 2719
Low : 372.294
26
103°17'0"W
103°16'0"W
103°15'0"W
103°14'0"W
103°13'0"W
103°12'0"W
103°11'0"W
29°33'0"N
Geological Map
(Rosillos Mountains )
Figure 14
29°31'0"N
29°32'0"N
³
1:25,000
0
0.5
1
2
3
29°30'0"N
Kilometers
Legend
Geological Features
Feature Symbol & Name
< TKbp >Black Peaks Formation (Paleocene to Upper Cretaceous)
< Kb >Boquillas Formation, undivided (Upper Cretaceous)
< Ti >Intrusive rocks, undivided (Oligocene to Eocene)
< Kbu >Buda Limestone (Upper Cretaceous)
< Tirm >Syenite of Rosillos Mountains (Oligocene)
27
103°17'30"W
103°15'0"W
103°12'30"W
Rosillos Mountains
³
Figure 15
29°32'30"N
1000
1200
29°30'0"N
1100
1600
1600
Legend
site_2
DEM
1:25,000
0
CBTH Project
http://cbth.uh.edu/
0.5
1
meter above S.L.
2
High : 2719
Kilometers
Projection:
GCS_WGS_1984
Datum: D_WGS_1984
Data Source: USGS
Low : 372.294
28
103°39'0"W
103°38'0"W
103°37'0"W
29°13'0"N
103°40'0"W
103°36'0"W
103°35'0"W
103°34'0"W
Tcy
Kj
Tctm
Geological Map
(Terlingua Area )
Kp
Ka
Qaw
29°12'0"N
Figure 16
Qya1
Tcac
³
Qls
Kse
29°11'0"N
Qia2
Qc
1:25,000
Qe
0
Qya2
Qia1
0.5
1
2
Kilometers
Tib
Qiw1
29°10'0"N
Qiw2
Kdc
Qyw1
Qiw3
Legend
Geological Features
Symbol & Name
< Qe >Eolian sand (Holocene)
< Kdc >Del Carmen Limestone (Lower Cretaceous)
< Qyw1 >Younger of the young axial river deposits (Holocene)
< Kgr >Glen Rose Limestone (Lower Cretaceous)
< Tcac >Alamo Creek Basalt Member, Younger part of Chisos Formation (Eocene)
< Kj >Javelina Formation (Upper Cretaceous)
< Qiw1 >Youngest intermediate axial river deposits (late Pleistocene)
< Tctm >Tule Mountain Trachyandesite Member, Younger part of Chisos Formation (Oligocene)
< Qiw2 >Older intermediate axial river deposits (late to middle Pleistocene)
< Tcy >Younger part, undivided, Chisos Formation (Oligocene and Eocene)
< Kse >Santa Elena Limestone (Lower Cretaceous)
< Qiw3 >Oldest intermediate axial river deposits (middle Pleistocene)
< Ksp >Sue Peaks Formation (Lower Cretaceous)
< Ktm >Telephone Canyon Formation and Maxon Sandstone, undivided (Lower Cretaceous)
< Qow >Old axial river deposits (middle to early? Pleistocene)
3
103°40'0"W
103°37'30"W
103°35'0"W
Terlingua Area
29°12'30"N
Figure 17
700
900
1000
29°10'0"N
700
700
Legend
0
CBTH Project
http://cbth.uh.edu/
1:25,000
0.5
1
2
Kilometers
Projection:
GCS_WGS_1984
Datum: D_WGS_1984
Data Source: USGS
³
DEM
meter above S.L.
High : 2719
Low : 372.294
30
29°15'0"N
102°58'0"W
102°57'0"W
102°56'0"W
102°55'0"W
102°54'0"W
102°53'0"W
Kgr
Kbu
Geological Map
(Boquillas Area )
Qia
Qya
Kdc
29°14'0"N
Ktm
Kse
QTa
Figure 18
Ksp
³
29°13'0"N
Kbe
Qia2
Legend
Qc
Geological Features
Qia1
Symbol & Name
< Kbe >Ernst Member, Boquillas Formation (Upper Cretaceous)
29°12'0"N
Qya2
< Kbu >Buda Limestone (Upper Cretaceous)
Qow
< Kdc >Del Carmen Limestone (Lower Cretaceous)
Qiw1
< Kgr >Glen Rose Limestone (Lower Cretaceous)
< Kse >Santa Elena Limestone (Lower Cretaceous)
Qaw
< Ksp >Sue Peaks Formation (Lower Cretaceous)
< Ktm >Telephone Canyon Formation and Maxon Sandstone, undivided (Lower Cretaceous)
< QTa >Very old alluvium (early Pleistocene and Pliocene)
Qya1
29°11'0"N
< Qia >Intermediate alluvial deposits, undivided (late and middle Pleistocene)
Qyw1
< Qiw1 >Youngest intermediate axial river deposits (late Pleistocene)
< Qiw2 >Older intermediate axial river deposits (late to middle Pleistocene)
< Qiw3 >Oldest intermediate axial river deposits (middle Pleistocene)
< Qow >Old axial river deposits (middle to early? Pleistocene)
1:25,000
0
0.5
1
2
Kilometers
3
< Qyw1 >Younger of the young axial river deposits (Holocene)
600
0
0
700
70
600
10
900
900
00
0
0
60
0
80
60
800
900
1000
100
600
80
90
600
0
60
0
900
0
10
900
00
700
00
900
900
80
1000
900
900
10
0
700
60
00
700
0
900
0
700
90
10
90
700
0
80
0
0
0
600
60
80
800
60
70
600
0
800
0
0
800
80
0
600
700
800
600
60
70
80
70
0
0
800
0
70
0
0
60
600
70
0
600
90
800 800
0
60
Legend
0
Boquillos Area
Figure 19
CBTH Project
http://cbth.uh.edu/
Projection:
GCS_WGS_1984
Datum: D_WGS_1984
Data Source: USGS
0
1:25,000
0.5
1
2
Kilometers
³
DEM
boundaries
meter above S.L.
High : 2719
Low : 372.294
Fossils - Common fossils found in each formation.
Del Rio:
The Del Rio Formation at Cerro de Cristo Rey yields bivalves (especially Gyrostrea whitneyi and
Ilymatogyra arietina), gastropods, spatangoids, and ammonoids. In thin section we observed
foraminiferans, ostracods, echinoderms, and annelid worm tubes. From the Del Rio Formation at Cerro de
Cristo Rey, Mauldin (1985) and Mauldin and Cornell (1986) determined 52 species of foraminiferans.
The foraminiferal assemblage is dominated by rotaliine foraminiferans (38 species), which constitute 82%
of the individuals. Agglutinated foraminiferans (suborder Textulariina) comprise 12 species and 17% of
all individuals.Two species belong to milioline foraminiferans, constituting 1% of the individuals. These
foraminiferans support correlation of the Del Rio outcrops with the Grayson Formation elsewhere in
Texas.
Figure 2: Ptychodus decurrens (shark tooth) Age: Cenomanian
Stage, Cretaceous Period
Rock unit: Del Rio Formation
Figure 1: Texigryphaea graysonana (Stanton) Age:
Cenomanian Stage, Cretaceous Period
Figure 5: Cretodus semiplicatus
(shark tooth Age: Cenomanian
Rock unit: Del Rio Formation)
Figure 4: Taxon: Mariella (Wintonia)
bosquensis (Adkins) Age: Cenomanian
Figure 3: Cribrantia Texana, Rock Unit: Del Rio
Formation
Boquillas Formation:
Kennedy et al. (1988) described a middle Cenomanian molluscan fauna of bivalves (Ostrea beloiti Logan
and Inoceramus arvanus Stephenson) and diverse ammonoids (including Acanthoceras amphibolum)
from a thin bed of calcarenitic and coquinoidal limestone near the base of the Mancos. Turnšek et al.
(2003) also state that shark teeth (notably Ptychodus) are present in the Mancos Formation at Cerro de
Cristo Rey. Cornell (1997) reported dinoflagellate cysts. We observed dasycladacean algae,
foraminiferans, ostracods, echinoderms, and bryozoans(?) in thin section.
Figure 6: Genus: Inoceramus, Rock Unit: Boquillas
Buda Formation
The Buda Formation yields many gastropods (mostly turritellids) and bivalves, as well as some
ammonoids, dinoflagellates, serpulids, spatangoid echinoderms, crustaceans, corals, and fish teeth (Böse
1910; Young 1979; Cornell 1997; Turnšek et al. 2003). Ammonoids we have collected (and will
document elsewhere) place it in the early Cenomanian zone of Neophlycticeras(=Budaiceras) hyatti
(Young 1979).
Figure 7: Buda Formation: Peloidal bioclastic mudstone containing a few angular quartz
grains, some
Figure 8: Buda Formation: Bioclastic mudstone composed of gray micrite with
Figure 9: Buda Formation, Fine-grained bioclastic
Santa Elena Formation
Figure 10: Santa Elena Formation
Formation
Rock Type
Age
Environment
Santa Elena Formation
Limestone
Mid Cretaceous
Deep Ocean
Del Rio Clay
Shale/Clay
Mid Cretaceous
Shallow Ocean
Buda Limestone
Marly / Limestone
Mid Cretaceous
Deep Ocean
Boquillas Formation
Chalk/Limestone
Mid Cretaceous
Deep Ocean

Big Bend National Park Field trip Guide

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