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Research about New Mexico

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including New Mexico.

At least 775 records · Page 43Linked to original sources
USGS1978

Principal facts for borehole gravity stations in stratigraphic test well ERDA No. 9, Eddy County, New Mexico

Since 1972 the U.S. Geological Survey has been conducting a series of field evaluation studies in southeastern New Mexico for the Waste Management Division of the Department of Energy (formerly U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration). On the basis of these studies, a tentative site for a nuclear waste repository/disposal facility has been selected near the center of the Los Medafios area in Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico (Fig. 1). The proposed host rock for the emplacement of nuclear waste at the potential repository site consists of the bedded evaporite deposits of the Salado Formation. Numerous test holes have been drilled in the Los Medafios area to determine geologic conditions and to obtain geophysical data and rock samples for additional site-evaluation studies. This report tabulates borehole gravity data acquired in one of these test holes, ERDA No. 9, and summarizes the geology of the consolidated rock formations in which gravity observations were made.

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USGS1978

A statistical summary and listing of the spectrographic analyses of heavy mineral concentrate and conventional, sieved stream-sediment samples, Silver City area, New Mexico

Geochemical sampling of a tier of eight 7 1/2-minute quadrangles bordered by latitudes 32° 45'and 33° 00' N. and longitudes 108° 00' and 108° 30' W. was begun in the fall of 1974 and continued seasonally until completion in the fall of 1976. These quadrangles are in southwest New Mexico and include the well-known mineral deposits of the Silver City area. The sampling was designed to gain semidetailed information on the metal-anomaly characteristics of the strongly mineralized area surrounding Silver City, New Mexico, and to seek geochemical clues for the continuation of these mineral deposits beneath overlying Tertiary volcanic rocks to the north. The data obtained within areas of known mineral deposits provide information on the metallogenic processes and metal suites that both relate and distinguish metal systems. Evaluation of this information relative to the regional geologic framework and the distribution of known mineral deposits will result in the identification of additional target areas for exploration, as well as further our understanding of the geochemical characteristics of mineralized areas. Extrapolation of models developed from the study of areas of known, exposed mineralization to areas covered by Tertiary volcanic rocks, such as the northern part of this tier of quadrangles, is a promising procedure for continuing research into geochemical-anomaly characteristics of covered mineral deposits. Preliminary interpretation of the data indicates that the southern part of the area in which Paleozoic-Mesozoic rocks and mineral deposits are exposed, should be reassessed to the classification and genesis of some of the deposits and to the types of mineral commodities that may be present. Some wholly new exploration targets within these areas are also indicated by some of the data. In addition, geochemical clues to buried mineral deposits, possibly representing continuation northward of some features of the Silver City mining district, have been observed in data from the northern, Tertiary volcanic areas. The meanings of these clues are still speculative. For this study, 917 stream-sediment and 921 stream-sediment concentrate samples were collected. The stream-sediment-concentrate samples, which consist of heavy minerals, were split into magnetic and nonmagnetic fractions, each of which was analyzed. This resulted in the analysis of 1,842 heavy-mineral and 917 sieved stream-sediment samples. Analytical results for all of the sample types are summarized statistically on table 1 and tabulated in their entirety on table 2.

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USGS1978

Water resources data for New Mexico, water year 1977

Water resources data for the 1977 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 212 gaging stations; stage and contents for 24 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 69 gaging stations, 15 partial-record stations, 1 reservoir, 3 springs and 161 wells; and water levels for 98 observation wells. Also included are 149 crest-stage partial-record stations and 3 low-flow partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites, not part of the systematic data collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in New' Mexico.

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USGS1978

Temperature in streams of New Mexico for the period October 1964 to September 1969

Harmonic equations were developed to describe stream temperatures at 144 sites in New Mexico using periodically observed water temperatures collected from October 1964 through September 1969. The harmonic equations explained at least 80 percent of the variability at 70 of the sites. Standard errors of estimate ranged from 1.3 to 5.4 degrees Celsius and averaged 3.1 degrees Celsius. Stream-temperature characteristics are defined in terms of the mean, amplitude, and phase coefficients of the harmonic equations. The characteristics vary widely throughout the State, hence are described areally by regionalized regression equations. Regional equations developed to describe the mean temperature characteristic accounted for at least 84 percent of the variability and had standard errors of estimate less than 13 percent. Only one equation was adequate for describing the amplitude. That equation was for streams having drainage areas less than 2,500 square miles and in the northwestern part of the State. No equation was developed for the phase coefficient. Stream-temperature characteristic profiles are used to describe the trends of the three characteristics along major streams. (Woodard-USGS)

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USGS1978

Guidebook to Rio Grande rift in New Mexico

Discusses the details of geologic features along the rift zone. Included are short papers on topics relative to the overall region. These papers and the road logs are of special interest to any one pursuing further study of the rift. This book is a comprehensive guide to the middle and late Cenozoic geology of the Rio Grande region of Colorado and New Mexico. Though initially used on field trips for the International Symposium on Tectonics and Magmatism of the Rio Grande rift, the guidebook will be useful to anyone interested in the Cenozoic history of the 600-mi-long area extending from central Colorado to El Paso, Texas.

New Mexico↗
USGS1978

Discrimination of fluvial and eolian deposits by number-frequency analysis of sediments of sand through silt size from a point bar, Rio Puerco, New Mexico

Fluvial and eolian deposits are interbedded in ephemeral-stream, arid-region point bars in the channel of the Rio Puerco, west of Albuquerque, N. Mex. Number frequency distributions of grain size for both types of deposits were obtained using an electronic automatic image analyzer for a suite of 10 samples. The number-frequency results were superior to weight-frequency (sieve) results in discriminating between eolian units and fluvial units in a vertical point-bar sequence. The image-analysis technique also identified those fluvial deposits whose size distributions have been altered significantly by winds, as well as fluvial deposits that do not show a prominent eolian-process component.

New Mexico↗
USGS1978

Dating Quaternary faults in the southwestern United States by using buried calcic paleosols

Calcareous soils are widespread on upper Pliocene to upper Pleistocene unconsolidated surflcial deposits in semiarid portions of the southwestern United States. Where these soils are related to faults, the soils may provide a means for quantitatively estimating timing and amounts of Quaternary faulting. Soil age estimates are based on the amount of pedogenic CaCO 3 (g/cm 2 -soil column) that has accumulated from soil processes, whereas rates of calcic-soil formation were calibrated by the K-Ar dating method, tephrochronology, vertebrate paleontology, and regional soil studies. The County Dump fault, west of Albuquerque, N. Mex. cuts a 500 000-yearold datum, the Llano de Albuquerque. The downdropped block of this fault contains a sequence of faulted younger deposits and intercalated calcic paleosols. Soil ages, and hence fault ages, can be calculated by measuring the total pedogenic calcium carbonate content in a section of buried paleosols and by using an independently established maximum soil formation rate of 0.35 g CaCO 3 • cm -2 • 10 -3 yr -1 for the Albuquerque area. This particular fault segment has had four discrete episodes of movement in the past 500 000 yr, the most recent of which occurred about 20000 yr B.P. Recurrence intervals on the segment are 90 000-190 000 yr, but the composite recurrence interval for all fault movements in this area may be less by several orders of magnitude. This technique of quantifying soil properties and calculating ages of relict soils can be used to estimate ages of Quaternary deposits and associated surfaces, to correlate such features over broad regions, and to analyze regional trends in calcic-soil formation.

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