The Texas Coastal Zone is marked by diversity in geography, resources, climate, and industry. It is richly endowed with extensive petroleum reserves, sulfur, and salt, seaports, intracoastal waterways, a mild climate, good water supplies, abundant wildlife, rich agricultural lands, commercial fishing resources, unusual recreational potential, and large tracts of uncrowded land.

Geologic map that depicts the surface geology of Colorado, Lavaca, and Gonzales Counties, and parts of Hays, Caldwell, Bastrop, Fayette, Austin, Waller, Fort Bend, Wharton, Matagorda, Jackson, Victoria, De Witt, Karnes, Wilson, and Guadalupe Counties, Texas. The 7-page booklet indicates geologic formations, abbreviations, and ages.

Lignite or low-rank coal is a major energy resource in Texas, providing energy since 1850. Prior to 1930, and the advent of abundant natural gas and oil, lignite was a major energy source. Today it is again assuming a substantial role in energy generation with the operation or scheduled construction by 1980 of lignite-fueled, steam-electric plants (up to 1500-megawatt capacities) near Alcoa, Fairfield, Athens, Mt. Pleasant, and Tatum. Future utilization of Texas lignite is likely in the production of synthetic gases, liquid fuels, and chemical feed stocks.

Geothermal energy is rapidly becoming recognized, both in the United States and abroad, as a viable source of energy which can supplement fossil fuels for electric power generation. Exploration and development of geothermal reservoirs is intensifying in the western United States and Mexico, and will continue to expand as petroleum supplies diminish and costs increase. Although geothermal energy is commonly perceived as a new and exotic energy source, it is neither.