Geology Commons^™

Geology Of The Southern Part Of The Ortiz Mountains Santa Fe County, New Mexico, John W. Peterson

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The Ortiz Mountains lie in a belt of early Tertiary intrusive centers adjacent to the Rio Grande depression of north-central New Mexico. Tertiary organic activity and subsequent erosion have etched this mountain group into considerable relief.

Intrusive activity occurred during early Tertiary Espinaso time and resulted in emplacement of sills and dikes of a central stock. Correlation of volcanism with intrusive phases is difficult. Most volcansim probably occurred during the later part of Ortiz igneous activity. An elongate vent is exposed in the eastern part of the mountains and structurally occupies the highest position in the group.

The principle igneous …

Geology Of The Northern Part Of The Ortiz Mountains, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, Otis M. Mcrae

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The northern part of the Ortiz Mountains of north-central New Mexico consists of a tilted fault block of Cretaceous Mancos shale and Mesaverde formation intruded by latite-andesite porphyry sills and laccoliths and a nepheline-bearing augite manzonite stock. Igneous activity started with the development of a volcanic vent in what is now the central part of the mountains. Volcanic debris from the vent want removed from the area by erosion and provided sedimentary material for the late [ ] Espinaso volcanics of the adjoining areas. Intrusion of the latite-andesite porphyry sills and laccolite followed extrusive igneous activity, as demonstrated by the …

Geology Of The Northern End Of San Pedro Mountain, Rio Arriba And Sandoval Counties, New Mexico, Osler C. Hutson

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The structural complexity of this area provided the initial stimulus for this study. With encouragement from Dr. Vincent C. Kelley, the study of this area was undertaken as a master's thesis project. The field work necessary to the project was begun in February, 1957 and completed during the summer of 1957. Mapping was accomplished with the aid of aerial photographs scaled two inches equals one mile. Data were transferred from photographs to a U.S. Soil Conservation Service planimetric map. Strati graphic sections were measured with Brunton compass and a 50-foot steel tape.

Microstratigraphic And Sedimentational Studies Of An Early Man Site Near Lucy, New Mexico, Jerry Harbour

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The purpose of the study has been to interpret the sedimentary record of the Lucy site deposits in order to establish a climatic sequence into which various cultural zones, especially the Sandia, may be placed, and to date this climatic sequence as accurately as possible. A second purpose has been to establish the reliability of the Pleistocene Lake Estancia shore levels as a regional floating chronology of climatic events, and to correlate the Lucy site sediments with this regional chronology. By means of the Lucy site artifacts, this chronology is partly fixed in time, so as a result of the …

The Mineralogy And Paragenesis Of The Lone Star Deposit, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, Lawrence K. Lustig

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The Lone Star deposit is located in La Bajada Canyon in western Santa Fe County, New Mexico. The exposed sedimentary rocks of the area range in age from the Cretaceous to recent. Four unconformities are present which are the result of erosional levels established during the Tertiary. The host rock of the deposit is the Cieneguilla liburgite formation. The Cieneguilla consists mainly of thin embedded limburgite flows and conglomerate of Miocene age. The Lone Star deposit lies in this conglomerate at a depth of approximately 150 feet from the top of the Cieneguilla.

The Geology Of The Tecolote Hills Area, Lincoln County, New Mexico, Donald E. Rawson

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The Tecolote Hills in the north-central Lincoln County, New Mexico, consist of Permian, Triassic, and Cretaceous sedimentary strata intruded by early Tertiary (?) sills, dikes, and laccoliths. A partial section of the Permian Yeso formation, measured thickness 380 feet, is exposed and is overlain conformably by the Glorieta sandstone member of Permian San Andres formation. This sandstone thins, at least locally, to the south and intertongues with San Andres limestone. The maximum thickness of the Glorieta sandstone is about 215 feet. It is overlain by a 300-foot thickness of San Andres rocks, further divisible into a lower limestone member and …

Insoluble Residue Study Of Pennsylvanian Strata Exposed In San Juan Canyon, San Juan County, Utah, James A. Smith

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The purpose o! this investigation is to correlate strata in the Pennsylvanian rocks exposed in the canyon of the San Juan River from Raplee anticline to Slickhorn Gulch through a binocular study cf rock samples and their insoluble residues. Three days were spent in field reconnaissance. Laboratory study included preparation of a photo­ geological map and a detailed jnsoluble residue cross section of the area investigated.

A Sandstone Channel In The Mesaverde Group Near Cuba, New Mexico, Marshall E. Parry

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

This work was undertaken to study the distribution, trends, relationships and origin of certain sandstone lentils in the Cliff House formation and the Mesaverde group.

Correlation Of Reef Calcarenites Of The Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation, San Juan County, Utah, Jack Jordan

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

This thesis is a summation of lithologic analyses of three stratigraphic sections: the Danvers 1-X Harris-Federal test, the Honaker Trail locality, and the Raplee locality in San Juan Canyon, San Juan County, Utah (FIg. 1) In these localities, the Paradox Formation as defined by Wengerd and Strickland (1954, p.2169) has been studied, inasmuch as the formation is known to contain limestone bioherms ("reefs") (Wengerd, 1951) in conjunction with biostromal strata.

Geology And Ground-Water Resources Of The Portales Valley Area, Roosevelt And Curry Counties, New Mexico, Sherman E. Galloway

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Since 1910, and particularly since the closing years of World War II, considerable development of the ground water occurring in the valley fill has been made for irrigation purposes. This increase in development has resulted in a progressive decline of the water levels in this area. The results of this study indicate that the water occurring in the valley fill is the only water of good chemical quality occurring in the Portales Valley that can be obtained in quantities that are sufficient for normal irrigation, municipal, industrial, stock, and domestic uses, and that if the present rate of ground water …

Geology Of The Rinconada Canyon Area, Valencia County, New Mexico., John Mohar Jr.

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Within this area are found two small domes superimposed upon the McCarty syncline. North dome, the larger of the two, is located at the head of Rinconada Canyon. South dome is located in the southern part of the area near the mouth of the canyon. Thus far the mineral resources of the area have been of little economic value. There are, however, large deposits of commercial uranium deposit at depth which cannot be disregarded.

Geology Of The Central Front Of The Fra Cristobal Mountains, Sierra County, New Mexico, Richard C. Jacobs

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

This report includes about seven square miles of the central front of the Fra Cristobal Mountains. The area contains rocks from Precambrian, Cambrian, Pennsylvanian, and Quaternary Age. Fragmentary exposures of the Permian sedimentary rocks are also present.

Geology Of The White Rock Mountain Area, Gunnison County, Colorado, David L. Gaskill

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The White Rock Mountain area in central-western Colorado is included in the northwest corner of the Crested Butte quadrangle and the extreme southwest corner of the Aspen quadrangle. Mineral deposits were recognized in the early seventies, and in the literature the area is referred to as the Elk Mountain District.

Geology Of The Canjilon Cauldron Sink Near Bernalillo, Sandoval County, New Mexico, Felix E. Mutschler

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Canjilon Hill is located on the west side of the Rio Grande, about 2 3/4 miles north-northwest of Bernalillo. Exposed on the hill is a local unit of breccia, conglomerate, and sandstone, which forms an elongate saucer-shaped body 4100 feet long, 2200 feet wide and 280 to 500+ feet thick. Unlike the underlying Santa Fe formation these strata contain an abundance of large angular basalt pebbles, cobbles, and boulders. In this paper these strata are termed the Canjilon formation of the Santa Fe group. Structural and sedimentological evidence suggest that the Canjilon formation was deposited in a subsidence depression initiated …

Paleozoic Stratigraphy Of The Mud Springs Mountains, Sierra County, New Mexico, John Davis Hill

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

This thesis gives a history of the terminology of each of the formations found in the Mud Springs Mountains as well as a discussion of the characteristics of each. The Mud Springs Mountains Section of Paleozoic rocks is 3660 feet thick. Parts of all the Paleozoic systems are represented except the Silurian and Mississippian. The Bliss sandstone is 145 feet thick, the lower 65 feet being late Cambrian and the upper 80 feet being early Ordovician. The El Paso limestone of early Ordovician age is 460 feet thick.

The Instability Of Folded Structures, Robert Del Mar

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Folded structures are not necessarily stable through geologic time. "Unfolding" is defined as the changes in attitude through with folded structures go subsequent to their creation by tectonic means, other than by faulting alone. The principal types of unfolding, together with their causes, are: (1) the effect of gravity on isolated structures, and the effects of loading and unloading insofar as the gravitational force is concerned; (2) basining action and its effect on unloading; (3) the action of vertical forces on folded structures; (4) migrating or "wave" folds in relation to unfolding.

Geology Of The Southern Part Of The Fra Cristobal Range, Sierra County, New Mexico, Samuel Thompson Iii

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Emphasis has been placed in this work on the structural features of the southern part of the Fra Cristobal Range in order to extend the studies in the Caballo Mountains area and the McRae Canyon area. By mapping in detail the structure of the Fra Cristobal range it is hoped that a better understanding of the adjoining Rio Grande and Jornada del Muerto depressions may be reached. As an added contribution, a Permian section was measured as these rocks are relatively undeformed and very well exposed in some parts of the range.

The field mapping was done in the spring …

Records Of Wells Drilled For Oil And Gas In New Mexico, George H. Dixon

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

This report contains information compiled from data in the files of the U.S. Geological Survey, the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, and oil and gas companies on nearly 3,000 of the more than 13,000 wells drills in New Mexico prior to September 1, 1953. The tabulation is believed to include all unsuccessful wildcat test wells, most of the unsuccessful field extension wells, and most of the discovery wells for the various producing areas, even though they may be shut or abandoned at the present time. In addition, the list contains some deep tests and some wells representative …

Geology Of East Grants Ridge, Valencia County, New Mexico, Herbert C. Johnston Jr.

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The field investigation for this report was initiated in October 1952 and was continued intermittently until February 1953. The area was mapped on the scale of 1/31680 with the aid of aerial photographs and Soil Conservation Service planimeteric base map 173. This scale was later enlargened to 1/15840. Rock and mineral specimens were studied with the aid of a hand lens, and the oil immersion method was used to identify some minerals. No thin sections were made. Sedimentary rocks were mapped to complete the geologic picture. No detailed sedimentary sections were measured as emphasis was placed on the Cenozoic igneous …

The Crystal Structure Of Ceni, Joseph J. Finney

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

X-ray diffraction methods were used to determine the cell constants and structure of CeNi. The unit cell is orthohombic. The spcae group is probably Cmcm with a_O=3.77 +/- 0.01, b_O=10.46 +/- 0.02, c_O=4.37+/- 0.01 A. The cell formula is Ce₄Ni_4. The observed density if 7.51 grams/cm³ and the calculated density is 7.65 grams/cm³, a deviation of 1.8%.

Paleontology And Stratigraphy Of The Upper Cretaceous Rocks Between Mount Taylor And The Rio Puerco, New Mexico, Kenneth D. Sharp

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The area covered in this report lies between Mt. Taylor and the Rio Puerco, and embraces approximately 675 square miles. Much of it is readily accessible by either paved highways or improved roads. The general region is a land of numerous mesas, the largest of which is Mesa Chivato. Sandstones form prominent ridges while shales and alluvium form the valleys. Many volcanic plugs stand out as landmarks.

Stratigraphy And Paleontology Of The Carboniferous Rocks Of The Cedro Canyon Area, Manzanita Mountains, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Ernest Szabo

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The discovery of an extension into the Cedro Canyon area, in the northern Manzanita Mountains, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, of strata similar in lithology and stratigraphic position to known pre-Pennsylvanian rocks of nearby areas is included in this report. No diagnostic fossils have been found in these newly discovered strata and therefore definite age assignment can not be made.

The Pennsylvanian strata are dominantly marine and exhibit unusual lighologic variations. These variations are attributed to the environment of a transgressing sea on an unstable shelf.

Measured sections indicate that it is possible to subdivide these strata according to series on …

Stratigraphic Relationships Of Cretaceous And Early Tertiary Rocks Of A Part Of Northwestern San Juan Basin, Elmer H. Baltz Jr.

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

No abstract provided.

Geology And Mineralogy Of The Fierro-Hanover District, Grant County, New Mexico., Robert B. O'Sullivan

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The primary purpose of this report is to describe the petrography of the contact pyrometasomatic ores and rocks from the metamorphic aureole near Fierro. In the course of this work the literature pertaining to the area was read in order to compare the features of metamorphism about Fierro with those about Hanover. One two-day reconnaissance was made in the area.

Stratigraphic Analysis Of The Upper Cretaceous Pictured Cliffs Sandstone In Northeastern San Juan County, New Mexico, John W. Caldwell

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The San Juan Basin is located in northwestern New Mexico and southern Colorado and is physiographically a part of the Colorado Plateau province.

The Upper Cretaceous Pictured Cliffs sandstone is exposed around the perimeter of the San Juan Basin and is present throughout the greater part of the Basin in the subsurface. This economically important gas-bearing sandstone is situated in the structural basin in which the strata are upturned on the basinward flanks of the nearby Laramide cliffs.

Five possible origins for the Pictured Cliffs gas are presented: from the underlying Lewis shale, from within the Pictured Cliffs sandstone, from …

The Variegated Member Of The Morrison Formation In The Southeastern Part Of The San Juan Basin, Valencia County New Mexico, William L. Chenoweth

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The strata now designated as Morrison in western New Mexico have been known by a variety of names since the beginning of geological exploration in the West. The nomenclature has become confused due to the many facies that are present. Recent exploration for uranium has renewed interest in the stratigraphy of the Morrison formation.

The Structural Geology Of The Cerrillos Hills Area, New Mexico, Alan E. Disbrow

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The earliest major structural deformation recorded in rocks exposed in the Cerrillos area occurred during the Laramie uplift of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This resulted in an erosional wedging of Upper Cretaceous strata at a rate of 130 feet per mile. Subsequent deposition of the Eocene Galisteo sand, clay, and gravel overstepped this surface in a sourceward direction.

At the beginning of work on this project the major problem was to determine the geological structure of the Cerrillos Hills. It was felt that a large-scale geologic map of an area extensive enough to reveal the structurally complex center of …

The Huego (Gym) Limestone, Luna County, New Mexico, Lowell E. Bogart

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Southwestern New Mexico is characterized by Basin and Range Physiography. Nearly level bolson plains are interrupted irregularly by linear mountain ranges. Sedimentary rocks ranging in age from Cambrian and recent crop out in the mountain areas. Darton (1916) mapped and described a limestone formation, about 1,000 feet thick, which he named Gym limestone. He thought the Gym was restricted in outcrop to Luna County and was distinct from previously described Paleozoic formations. The Gym was originally thought to be Pennsylvanian in age but later on was regarded as Permian. In the restudy of the Gym limestone was the basis of …

Geology Of The Mcrae Canyon Area Sierra County, New Mexico, Hugh P. Bushnell

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Sedimentary Rocks exposed at the surface in the low area between the north-trending Caballo and Fra Cristobal Mountains of south-central New Mexico include the late Cretaceous Mesaverde formation, the late Cretaceous and early Tertiary McRae formation, and the Miocene-Pliocene Santa Fe formation. A thin veneer of Jordana pediment gravel covers the older rocks on the eastern edge of the area.

Paleontology And Stratigraphy Of The Carboniferous Rocks Of The Placitas Region, Northern Sandia Mountains, Sandoval County, New Mexico, Donald Francis Toomey

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

A paleontologic and lithologic study of the Carboniferous rocks of the northern Sandia Mountains demonstrates that this predominantly marine sequence is divisible into several important series which are recognizable elsewhere.

The pre-Pennsylvanian rocks lack diagnostic fossils. However, correlation with a fossiliferous sequence in the southern Nacimiento Mountains, based on similar lithology and stratigraphic position, indicates a middle mississippian Meramec age for these rocks. The thickness ranges from 21 to 81 feet; they consist mainly of limestone associated with basal elastics. This sequence lies directly on Pre-Cambrian rocks. Nine sections have been measured and are shown geographically on three plates.

Unconformably …