Native Plant Society of New Mexico Native Plant Society of New Mexico

September 5, 2026, 10:00 AM

Geologic History of El Paso Recorded in Rocks and Minerals

The geologic history of El Paso is recorded in rocks and minerals that are exposed in
the Franklin Mountains. This presentation will focus on how to identify different local
rock types and ‘read’ their clues about past environments.

Dr. Jason Ricketts is an associate professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental
and Resource Sciences at UTEP. As a geologist, he focuses on brittle tectonics of
Earth’s crust. He is interested in studying how mountains form, the history of faults, and
investigating rocks in the field that record Earth history. Much of his research lies
within New Mexico and western Texas, including El Paso.