Texas, USAi

Regional Level Types
Texas	State
USA	Country

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Texas is a state in the south-central United States, covering approximately 695,660 km², making it the second-largest U.S. state by both area and population. It is bordered by New Mexico to the west, Oklahoma to the north, Arkansas to the north-east, Louisiana to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south-east, and Mexico to the south and south-west. The capital is Austin, while Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, San Antonio, and El Paso are major metropolitan centres. Texas spans multiple physiographic and geological provinces, giving it exceptional natural diversity.

Geographically, Texas includes a wide range of landscapes. The Gulf Coastal Plain in the east and south consists of low-lying plains, wetlands, and barrier islands. Moving inland, the terrain rises into the Interior Lowlands and Central Texas Hill Country, characterised by rolling plateaux and limestone hills. West Texas includes the Edwards Plateau, the Llano Estacado (High Plains), and the Trans-Pecos region, where rugged mountain ranges such as the Guadalupe Mountains rise sharply from desert basins. Guadalupe Peak (2,667 m) is the highest point in the state. Major rivers include the Rio Grande, Red River, Brazos, Colorado (of Texas), and Trinity.

Geologically, Texas is one of the most diverse states in the USA. Much of the state is underlain by Palaeozoic to Cenozoic sedimentary rocks, forming part of major basins such as the Permian Basin, Gulf Coast Basin, and Fort Worth Basin. These contain thick successions of sandstones, shales, limestones, and evaporites. Central Texas exposes extensive Cretaceous carbonate platforms, while the Llano Uplift reveals Precambrian crystalline basement, including granites and metamorphic rocks. West Texas includes complex Basin and Range–style extensional geology, with fault-bounded basins, volcanic rocks, and intrusions. Quaternary processes have shaped coastal and fluvial landscapes.

Texas is internationally renowned for its energy and mineral resources. The state is one of the world’s leading producers of oil and natural gas, particularly from the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford, and Barnett shale formations. These resources have been central to Texas’s economic development since the early 20th century. Other important resources include helium, sulfur, uranium, lignite, salt, limestone, gypsum, sand, and gravel. Metallic mineral production is limited, though mercury, silver, lead, and zinc were historically mined in the Trans-Pecos region. Texas also hosts notable gem and collector mineral localities, including quartz, calcite, fluorite, and agate.

Historically, Texas has undergone major political transitions, from Indigenous territories and Spanish colonial rule to independence as the Republic of Texas (1836–1845), followed by annexation into the United States. The discovery of oil at Spindletop in 1901 marked a turning point, transforming Texas into a global energy powerhouse. This resource-driven growth reshaped settlement patterns, infrastructure, and industry across the state.

Administratively, Texas is divided into 254 counties, the most of any U.S. state. Its exceptional range of sedimentary basins, uplifts, volcanic provinces, and energy resources makes Texas a cornerstone region for understanding North American geology, petroleum systems, and the long-standing relationship between geology, natural resources, and economic development.

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

356 valid minerals. 16 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals. 1 (FRL) - first recorded locality of unapproved mineral/variety/etc. 1 erroneous literature entry.

Rock Types Recorded

Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities