ell as the groundwater. The main purpose we use this for is to drill wells into so that we may obtain the water that we use in our homes. Atmosphere: This is the outer shell and it is made up of the air. It extends outward at least 200 miles from the surface of the crust, but half of its mass is within 12 miles of sea level. The atmosphere is important to all living things because it gives us oxygen which is the important factor to process life. (Intro to Petroleum Geology of the Permian Basin) The feature that makes up our lovely West Texas region A.K.A. the Permian Basin, is three rock types. These are found exclusively in the Big Bend, and Marathon regions. These rock types are Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic. These are found throughout most of the Permian Basin area. Here are some brief definitions in which you may define these rock types. These definitions come from the book(Intro to Petroleum Geology of the Permian Basin) . Igneous Rocks: formed by the cooling and solidfication of molten material called magma.Sedimentary Rocks: formed from particles that were deposited by water, air, or ice. Metamorphic Rocks: formed from sedimentary and igneous rocks, but altered by heat, pressure, and fluids to a different form and mineral composition. Erosion as mentioned earlier has played a huge role in defining and shaping our scenic view and landscapes of West Texas. When looking up at one of these magnificent ancient volcanoes, you can estimate pretty much exactly how much rock has been weathered, eroded and removed from this part of the country. Another example of erosion is pretty much given at the bottom of every mountain found in West Texas. You can see it in the talus piles and even in the dry climate of this part of the state. (Roadside Geology of Texas). ...
