GUIDEBOOK OF
PALO DURO CANYON
West Texas State University Geological Society
DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES
The Department of Geosciences (geology, geography, anthropology) is housed in the Science Center on the campus of West Texas State University. Additional departmental space is found in the Killgore Research Center and Old Main. The Department offers a program of study leading to a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in geology and geography and a Bachelor of General Studies degree in anthropology. Most students are enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in geology degree, designed to meet the needs of students preparing for a professional career in geology. It requires a minimum of 39 semester hours of geology, plus supporting coursework in other sciences, mathematics, and technical writing or cartography. The Department also offers a Master of Science degree in geology. Recent thesis topics include Geology of Fortress Cliff Quadrangle, Randall County, Texas and Sedimentology and Petrology of the Javelina Formation, Big Bend National Park, Brewster County, Texas.
Members of the departmental faculty have a wide range of academic interests and come from a variety of colleges and universities. Special interests of the faculty include stratigraphy, biostratigraphy, geomorphology, sedimentology, structural geology, tectonics, igneous and metamorphic petrology, petroleum geology, paleontology, cartography, archaeology, and Indians and their culture of the south central United States. In addition, the Department retains a broad concern for earth-science education, and offers courses in introductory earth science and geology to meet student needs in the University general education and in teacher education.
The Department supports students with teaching and graduate assistantships, undergraduate laboratory assistants, and scholarships. Information regarding degree programs and financial aid can be obtained from the Department of Geosciences, West Texas State University, Box 938, Canyon, Texas 79016 or by calling the departmental office at 806-656-2581.
FOREWORD
The West Texas State University Geological Society was organized in 1958 by students of the Department of Geology. The objective of the Society is to promote interest in geology as an academic subject and as a professional career. In order to present the concepts of geology to interested groups, the Palo Duro Canyon Guidebook is sponsored by the WTSU Geological Society.
The Geological Society is indebted to Professor Jack T. Hughes and to Mr. Jerry Harbour for their work in the first edition of this guidebook.