Tertiary rocks, including sandstone, conglomerate, shale, pyroclastics, tuff, and lava, are preserved in Big Bend National Park and in a much larger area to the west and northwest. Some of the rocks have distinctive characteristics that enable recognition by their lithology.

Since production of fluorspar began in northern Coahuila, Mexico, in 1950-51, thousands of tons of high-grade ore have been mined from numerous deposits situated 5 to 75 miles south of the Rio Grande.

The rim rock of the Vieja Rim, the quartz pantellerite of Lord, is named the Bracks Rhyolite.

The Tascotal Mesa quadrangle is in southeastern Presidio and southwestern Brewster counties, Trans Pecos Texas. Bandera Mesa and Tascotal Mesa are reached most easily from Marfa, 50 miles north, by the Marfa-Lajitas road which traverses the quadrangle from north to south.