Geology topics
Research about New Mexico
Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including New Mexico.
Mine and prospect map of the Chama River Canyon Wilderness and contiguous roadless area, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
No abstract available.
Mineral resource potential map of the Chama River Canyon Wilderness and contiguous roadless area, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
The Chama River Canyon Wilderness and Roadless Area have a moderate to high potential for the presence of small deposits of copper with associated uranium and silver. These deposits, as yet undetected, would occur in the Permian Cutler Formation and in the lower part of the Triassic Chinle Formation, rock units that are, for the most part, present only in the subsurface. The presence of these deposits is inferred because such deposits occur in rocks of equivalent age in adjacent areas. Gypsum, of probable minable quality and quantity, occurs throughout the area. Oil and gas are possibly present in Pennsylvanian strata in the subsurface, although no drilling in the study area has tested this hypothesis. Other commodities, including noncopper-related uranium, kaolinite, chromium, vanadium, manganese, and bitumen, although present locally in anomalous concentrations, do not appear to constitute potential resources for these commodities.
Mineral resource potential and geologic map of Guadalupe Escarpment Wilderness Study Area, Eddy County, New Mexico
No abstract available.
Mineral resource potential map of the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Study Area, Taos County, New Mexico
No abstract available.
Seismicity map of the State of New Mexico
The data shown on this map and listed in table 1 are for earthquakes that were originally included in a study of seismic risk in the United States (Algermissen, 1969). This data file has been recompiled and updated through 1980. Some revisions of epicenters and intensities in the original file have been made, and intensities have been assigned to earthquakes that previously had none assigned. Only earthquakes that had epicenters within the boundary of the state are listed in table 1, even though earthquakes that had epicenters in bordering states or countries may have been felt or may have caused damage in the state. Intensity values were updated from data sources that were not available at the time or original compilation. Some epicenters were relocated on the basis of new information. The data shown in table 1 represent best estimates of the epicenter, magnitude, and intensity of each earthquake on the basis of historical and current information. Some of the aftershocks from large earthquakes are listed, but not all, especially for the earthquakes that occurred before seismic instruments were universally used.
Water resources of the Zuni Tribal Lands, McKinley and Cibola counties, New Mexico
An evaluation of the water resources of the Zuni Tribal lands in west-central New Mexico was made to determine the yield, variability, and quality of water available to the Pueblo of Zuni. This study is needed to aid in orderly development of these resources. Rocks of Permian to Quaternary age supply stock, irrigation, and domestic water to the Zuni Indians. The Glorieta Sandstone and San Andres Limestone (Glorieta-San Andres aquifer) of Permian age and sandstones in the Chinle Formation of Triassic age provide most of this water supply. Water in the Glorieta-San Andres aquifer is confined by minimal-permeability shales and is transmitted through the aquifer along interconnected solution channels and fractures. Water-level and water-quality information indicate greater hydraulic conductivities along the southern boundaries of Zuni Tribal lands. Well yields from the Glorieta-San Andres aquifer are as much as 150 gallons per minute and aquifer transmissivity ranges from 30 to 1,400 feet squared per day. Long-term, water-level declines of as much as 29 feet have been measured near pumping centers at Black Rock. Multiple-well aquifer tests are needed to further define aquifer properties (storage, transmissivity, and leakage from confining units) and the effects of well design on well yields. Dissolved-solids concentrations in water from the aquifer ranged from 331 to 1,068 milligrams per liter. Calcium and sulfate are the predominant ions. Water in sandstones of the Chinle Formation is confined by adjacent shales and is transmitted along interconnected fractures. Well yields range from 5 to 125 gallons per minute and aquifer transmissivity ranges from 40 to 1,400 feet squared per day. Water-level declines of as much as 27 feet have been measured near Zuni Village. Dissolved-solids concentrations in water from the aquifer ranged from 215 to 1,980 milligrams per liter. Sodium and bicarbonate are the predominant ions. Other sources of ground water are used primarily for livestock watering by means of windmills, with the exception of buried alluvial channel deposits along the Rio Pescado. These deposits provide domestic and irrigation water through springs and wells to Pescado and Black Rock. The Bidahochi Formation of Miocene and Pliocene age could potentially provide an additional supply of water chemically suitable for most uses. Seismic-reflection techniques are being used to locate buried channels eroded in the rocks underlying the Bidahochi Formation. These buried channels may contain thicker sections of saturated sands and gravels that could be developed for stock and domestic use.
Geohydrologic framework of the Roswell ground-water Basin, Chaves and Eddy counties, New Mexico
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Annual water-resources review, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, 1982
Ground-water data were collected in 1982 at White Sands Missile Range in south-central New Mexico. Depth-to-water measurements in the Post Headquarters supply wells continued to show seasonal declines. Test wells east of the Headquarters well field continue to show long-term declines as well as seasonal fluctuations. The total amount of water pumped from White Sands Missile Range supply wells was 66,226,600 gallons more in 1982 than in 1981. The difference in the specific-conductance values of the water samples collected from the Post Headquarters supply wells in the winter and summer increased in 1982.
Data for ground-water studies of the San Juan Basin, New Mexico (1982-83)
Ground-water data that can be used for futher hydrologic studies in the San Juan structural basin of New Mexico are reported. Descriptions and a location map of 64 observation wells, a list of water levels measured in the observation wells, water-level hydrographs of 32 wells, 15 partial chemical analyses of water samples from wells, and descriptions and a location map of 264 potential observations wells are included. The latter are wells for which good records exist. Their potential for use as observation wells needs to be verified in the field. (USGS)
Water resources data, New Mexico, water year 1982
Water resources data for the 1982 water year for New Mexico consist of records of discharge and water quality of streams; stage, contents and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality in wells and springs. This report contains discharge records for 197 gaging stations; stage and contents for 25 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 99 gaging stations, and 89 observation wells. Also included are 140 crest-stage partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites, not involved in the systematic data collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in New Mexico.
Preliminary evaluation of Ivermectin for control of Psoroptes ovis in Desert Bighorn Sheep
No abstract available.
Geohydrologic framework of the Roswell ground-water basin, Chaves and Eddy Counties, New Mexico
This report describes the geohydrology of the Roswell ground-water basin and shows the long-term hydrostatic-head changes in the aquifers. The Roswell ground-water basin consists of a carbonate artesian aquifer overlain by a leaky confining bed, which, in turn is overlain by an alluvial water-table aquifer. The water-table aquifer is hydraulically connected to the Pecos River. Ground-water pumpage from about 1,500 wells in the basin was about 378,000 acre-feet in 1978. Irrigation use on about 122,000 acres accounted for 95 percent of that pumpage.
U-Pb ages of uranium ores in the Churchrock uranium district, New Mexico
No abstract available.
Anasazi solar marker: The use of a natural rockfall
The midday "sun dagger" solstice and equinox marker on Fajada Butte in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, is formed by three sandstone slabs that collimate sunlight onto two spiral petroglyphs. The slabs appear to be the result of a natural rockfall and not a construct of the Chacoan Anasazi. Although neither the rockfall nor the petroglyphs can be dated accurately, it is likely that the petroglyphs were designed after the rockfall by people who observed the details of the light pattern for several annual cycles.
Stratigraphic framework and coal correlation of the Upper Cretaceous Fruitland Formation, Bisti-Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah area, San Juan Basin, New Mexico
This report illustrates and describes the detailed stratigraphic framework and coal correlation of the Upper Cretaceous Fruitland Formation exposed in isolated badlands and along washes within a 20-mile outcrop belt in the Bisti-Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah area, southwestern San Juan Basin, Nex Mexico (see index). The stratigraphic framework showing the vertical and lateral distributions of rock types and the lateral continuity of coal beds is illustrated in cross sections. The cross sections were constructed from 112 stratigraphic sections measured at an average distance of 0.4 mi apart. Each section contained key marker beds (sandstone, coal, and tonstein) that were physically traced to adjacent sections. Each measured section was "hung" on multiple marker beds arranged in a geometric best-fit method that accounts for the differential compaction and facies associations of the deposits.