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Emilie & Albert
Friedrich Wilderness Park
    21395 Milsa Road | San Antonio TX | 78256

Geology of Friedrich Wilderness Park
by Dr. George Veni and Associates
August, 2004
Click one of the terms below for more
about this feature of Friedrich Park Geology:
Lithology. This term refers to a rock's type. This web page describes not only the rocks to help you identify them in the field, but explains their origin, age, and the fossils they may contain.

water trail after a good rain The balcony effect caused by alternating layers of hard and soft limestone. It inspired the Spanish word "Balcones" as the name for the escarpment and fault zone that extend through the region.

Structure. This term refers to how a rock has been fractured, tilted, bent, or otherwise deformed after it was deposited. This web page describes the regional structural setting of Friedrich Park and the types of structures that can be seen in the park.

Geomorphology. This term refers to how the land is shaped, and this web page describes the forces that created the park's steep valley walls, nearly level valley floors and ridgetops, and other landforms.

Hydrogeology. This term refers to the study of water that moves though the Earth. Since the San Antonio area's major sources of water come from the ground, this page describes how they occur, and how they relate to the region and the park.

Additional Info

Specific sources for additional information on general and Texas geology are described in each of the linked web pages:

Bureau of Economic Geology This is the single greatest source of information on Texas geology. Many of the reports are highly specialized, but the Geologic Atlas of Texas series of geologic maps, plus fieldtrip guidebooks, and various educational publications are very helpful to non-geologists and geologists alike. For specific information on Bexar County, consider buying Rocks, landscapes, and man: urban geology of the San Antonio area, edited by Thomas E. Ewing.

CretaceousFossils.com This website contains a rich variety of information on many of the fossils found in central Texas, but additional details on fossils in general and Texas geology.

Natural Resource Conservation Service Maps and descriptions of soils are available as Texas county reports from this agency.

Texas Natural Resource Information System Provides geographical, geological, biological, & other natural resource information for Texas.

Texas Water Development Board An excellent source for technical reports on water research in Texas. Many can be downloaded for free.

U.S. Geological Survey Detailed geological reports on several topics & areas of Texas. Many fact sheets are published with concise & recent information, often on topics of significant public interest.

Guidebooks to Texas fossils are sold by the Bureau of Economic Geology & many major bookstores. Two books on Texas geology are GeoTexas, by Dr. Eric Swanson, University of Texas at San Antonio, & Roadside Geology of Texas by Darwin Spearing. Both can be found in bookstores. The Roadside series can also be ordered on line at Mountain Press.

design by woodland company | sponsored by Friends of Friedrich Park