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At least 901 records · Page 50Linked to original sources
USGS2003

Hydrologic properties and ground-water flow systems of the Paleozoic rocks in the upper Colorado River basin in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, excluding the San Juan Basin

The hydrologic properties and ground-water flow systems of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in the Upper Colorado River Basin were investigated under the Regional Aquifer-System Analysis (RASA) program of the U.S. Geological Survey in anticipation of the development of water supplies from bedrock aquifers to fulfill the region's growing water demands. The study area, in parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, covers about 100,000 square miles. It includes parts of four physiographic provinces--the Middle Rocky Mountains, Wyoming Basin, Southern Rocky Mountains, and Colorado Plateaus. A variety of landforms, including mountains, plateaus, mesas, cuestas, plains, badlands, and canyons, are present. Altitudes range from 3,100 to 14,500 feet. Precipitation is distributed orographically and ranges from less than 6 inches per year at lower altitudes to more than 60 inches per year in some mountainous areas. Most of the infrequent precipitation at altitudes of less than 6,000 feet is consumed by evapotranspiration. The Colorado and Green Rivers are the principal streams: the 1964-82 average discharge of the Colorado River where it leaves the Upper Colorado River Basin is 12,170 cubic feet per second (a decrease of 5,680 cubic feet per second since construction of Glen Canyon Dam in 1963). On the basis of their predominant lithologic and hydrologic properties, the Paleozoic rocks are classified into four aquifers and three confining units. The Flathead aquifer, Gros Ventre confining unit, Bighorn aquifer, Elbert-Parting confining unit, and Madison aquifer (Redwall-Leadville and Darwin-Humbug zones) make up the Four Corners aquifer system. A thick sequence, composed mostly of Mississippian and Pennsylvanian shale, anhydrite, halite, and carbonate rocks--the Four Corners confining unit (Belden-Molas and Paradox-Eagle Valley subunits)--overlies the Four Corners aquifer system in most areas and inhibits vertical ground-water flow between the Four Corners aquifer system and the overlying Canyonlands aquifer. Composed of the uppermost Paleozoic rocks, the Canyonlands aquifer consists, in ascending order, of the Cutler-Maroon, Weber-De Chelly, and Park City-State Bridge zones. The Paleozoic rocks are underlain by a basal confining unit consisting of Precambrian sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks and overlain throughout most of the Upper Colorado River Basin by the Chinle-Moenkopi confining unit, which consists of Triassic formations composed mostly of shale. The largest values of porosity, permeability, hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity, and artesian yield are exhibited by the Redwall-Leadville zone of the Madison aquifer and the Weber-De Chelly zone of the Canyonlands aquifer. The former consists almost entirely of Devonian and Mississippian carbonate rocks: the latter consists mostly of Pennsylvanian and Permian quartz sandstone. Unit-averaged porosity in hydrogeologic units composed of Paleozoic rocks ranges from less than 1 to 28 percent. Permeability ranges from less than 0.0001 to 3,460 millidarcies. Unit-averaged hydraulic conductivity ranges from 0.000005 to 200 feet per day. The composite transmissivity of Paleozoic rocks ranges from 0.0005 to 47,000 feet squared per day. Artesian yields to wells and springs (excluding atypical springflows) from these hydrogeologic units range from less than 1 to 10,000 gallons per minute. The permeability and watersupply capabilities of all hydrogeologic units progressively decrease from uplifted areas to structural basins. Recharge to the Paleozoic rocks is provided by direct infiltration of precipitation, leakage from streams, and ground-water inflows from structurally continuous areas west and north of the Upper Colorado River Basin. The total recharge available from ground-water systems in the basin from direct precipitation and stream leakage is estimated to be 6,600,000 acre-feet per year. However, little of this recharge directly enters the Paleozoic rocks

Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming↗
USGS1985

Water-level changes in the Ogallala aquifer, northwestern Oklahoma.

The Ogallala aquifer, that part of the High Plains aquifer in Oklahoma, is part of a regional aquifer system that underlies parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. In 1978 the US Geological Survey began a 5- year study of the High Plains regional aquifer system to provide hydrologic information for evaluation of the effects of long-term development of the aquifer and to develop a capability for predicting aquifer response to various ground-water-management alternatives (Weeks, 1978). -from Author

Oklahoma Geology Notes↗
USGS2022

Mapping the altitude of the top of the Dockum Group and paleochannel analysis using surface geophysical methods on and near Cannon Air Force Base in Curry County, New Mexico, 2020

The hydrogeology on and near Cannon Air Force Base (AFB) in eastern New Mexico was assessed to gain a better understanding of preferential groundwater flow paths through paleochannels. In and near the study area, paleochannels incised the top surface of the Dockum Group (Chinle Formation) and were subsequently filled in with electrically resistive coarse-grained sediments of the overlying Ogallala Formation, resulting in a preferential groundwater flow path in the form of a paleochannel network. A better understanding of the spatial characteristics of this preferential groundwater flow path is needed to support ongoing efforts to remediate groundwater contamination at Cannon AFB. Therefore, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center, used surface geophysical resistivity methods and data compiled from previous studies to better understand the spatial distribution and characteristics of the paleochannel network incised into the top of the Dockum Group. Previous studies have shown these paleochannels incised into the top of the Dockum Group with increasing resolution, but limited borehole data on and near Cannon AFB continued to make accurately mapping the top of Dockum Group challenging. For this study, surface geophysical resistivity measurements in the form of time-domain electromagnetic soundings made by the U.S. Geological Survey were used in conjunction with data previously published by Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations, and Management and borehole data compiled from the New Mexico Water Rights Reporting System database to prepare an updated map of the top of the Dockum Group that includes the location and characteristics of paleochannels incised into the top of the Dockum Group (Chinle Formation). A total of 149 borehole picks (determinations of the tops and bases of geologic units and their hydrogeologic-unit equivalents) were obtained from previous studies, along with 72 additional borehole picks from the New Mexico Water Rights Reporting System database and 43 picks from newly collected time-domain electromagnetic soundings. The data were gridded and contoured using Oasis Montaj v. 9.8.1. The updated map of the top of Dockum Group has many areas of uncertainty greater than 20 feet, because there are not enough data for the gridding process to reliably determine a value. However, this interpretation of the altitude of the top of the Dockum Group represents a substantial improvement in data resolution compared to previous studies. Two methodologies were used to evaluate paleochannels incised in the top of the Dockum Group across the study area: (1) trend-removal grid analysis and (2) analysis with Esri’s ArcMap Hydrology toolset. These two paleochannel analysis techniques show groundwater flow direction as well as areas having the deepest saturated thickness. Hydrologically, these techniques show where aquifer storage is highest (in the deepest parts of the paleochannel network), as well as the spatial distribution of preferential groundwater flow paths (the paleochannels). The analyses indicate a large paleochannel trending to the southeast, with smaller channels feeding in from the west. Areas where groundwater management could be more beneficial are indicated by locations where these flow lines intersect the deeper parts of the paleochannel.

New Mexico↗
USGS1951

Apache Trail uranium prospect, White Signal district, Grant County, New Mexico

The Apache Trail uranium prospect in the White Signal district, Grant County. N. Mex., was mapped by the Geological Survey in May 1950. Pre-Cambrian granite is cut by a diabase dike and a parallel quartz-hematite vein, both of which strike easterly and dip 60 to 65 degrees north. Small quantities of copper carbonates and bismuth-gold ore have been mined. The quartz-hematite vein is moderately radioactive and, although no uranium minerals were seen, two samples contained about 0.01 percent uranium. The diabase dike locally contains torbernite. Two samples of diabase contained about 0.04 percent uranium.

New Mexico↗
USGS2021

Surficial geology of the northern San Luis Valley, Saguache, Fremont, Custer, Alamosa, Rio Grande, Conejos, and Costilla Counties, Colorado

The San Luis Valley and associated underlying basin of south-central Colorado and north-central New Mexico is the largest structural and hydrologic basin of the Rio Grande Rift and fluvial system. The surrounding San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains reveal evidence of widespread volcanism and transtensional tectonism beginning in the Oligocene and continuing to the present, as seen in fault displacement of Pleistocene to Holocene deposits along the eastern basin-bounding Sangre de Cristo fault system and fault zones along the western margin of the basin. The San Luis basin can generally be subdivided into northern and southern basins at the structural and physiographic high terrain of the San Luis Hills in the center of the basin, proximal to the Colorado-New Mexico stateline. The northern San Luis Valley can be subdivided into two subbasins at approximately the latitude of the Great Sand Dunes and San Luis Lakes, where the endorheic northern subbasin surface and subsurface flow currently accumulate in a series of playa lakes. To the south of this playa region, the Rio Grande has captured basin hydrology into a through-going fluvial system cutting through the San Luis Hills, carving the Rio Grande gorge, and ultimately flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. This surficial geologic map of the northern San Luis Valley, paired with the Alamosa, CO 1:100,000-scale geologic map (U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3342) provides new and compiled geologic mapping that characterizes basin deposits and locates the traces of active faults, with the goal to provide geospatial data for future investigations related to western North American neotectonics, Pleistocene paleoclimate, and related geomorphic processes. In addition, present natural and anthropogenic water bodies have been located and updated for hydrologic modeling and water-usage investigations.

Colorado↗
USGS2021

Hydrogeologic framework and groundwater characterization in selected alluvial basins in the upper Rio Grande basin, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, United States, and Chihuahua, Mexico, 1980 to 2015

Increasing demand for the limited water resources of the United States continues to put pressure on resource management agencies to balance the competing needs of ecosystem health with municipal, agricultural, and other uses. To meet these needs, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a multiyear study to evaluate water resources in the upper Rio Grande Basin in the southwestern United States. The upper Rio Grande Basin extends from south-central Colorado, through New Mexico, into west Texas near Fort Quitman, including parts of Chihuahua, Mexico. The upper Rio Grande Basin consists of a sequence of alluvial basins that formed in the Rio Grande rift approximately 30 million years ago. This report describes the hydrogeology of the upper Rio Grande Basin and how the groundwater resources in the basin have changed from 1980 to 2015. The hydrogeologic framework includes the horizontal delineation of the alluvial basins within the upper Rio Grande Basin from the headwaters in Colorado to Fort Quitman, Texas, including part of Mexico. Groundwater-level measurements from existing State and Federal data were used to construct groundwater-level altitude and groundwater-level change maps. Of the 2,699 wells with groundwater-level data used in this study, 1,055 wells had data for only a single 5-year period, 703 wells had data for 50 percent or more of the 35 years of the study, and only 57 wells have 5-year groundwater-level data for the entire study period. The median decline in water levels in the upper Rio Grande Basin was 0.13 foot (ft) per 5-year period, and declines were measured in 53 percent of the 703 wells that contained data for 50 percent or more of the study period. Rates of groundwater-level decline greater than 1 ft per 5-year period were measured in 17 percent of the wells, greater than 2 ft per 5-year period, in 3 percent of the wells, and greater than 3 ft per 5-year period, in 1 percent of the wells. Overall, groundwater levels rose in 6 percent of the 703 wells that contained data for 50 percent or more of the study period, and in 4 percent of the wells, groundwater levels rose by 1 ft or more per 5-year period. Groundwater-level changes in wells with consecutive 5-year measurement periods exhibited the most variability in the Española, Middle Rio Grande, and Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos alluvial basins. The largest declines in groundwater-level altitudes in individual wells were observed in the Española alluvial basin during 1995–2000, in the Palomas alluvial basin during 2010–2015, and in the Jornada del Muerto alluvial basin during 2005–10. The largest rises in groundwater-level altitudes in individual wells were observed in the Española alluvial basin during 2005–10, in the Middle Rio Grande alluvial basin during 1995–2000, and in the Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos alluvial basin during 1980–85. Changes in groundwater storage throughout the study period varied by alluvial basin, likely based largely on changes in groundwater withdrawals because of increased demands during drier periods and population growth. All alluvial basins except the Tularosa-Hueco alluvial basin were evaluated for changes in groundwater storage from 1980 to 2015. Extremely limited data availability in 2010–15 for the Tularosa-Hueco alluvial basin led to this 5-year period being dropped from the groundwater-level change map and storage analysis for this basin. In the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado, efforts to reverse groundwater depletion in the unconfined aquifer recovered approximately 250,000 acre-feet in storage between late 2013 and early 2018, following the implementation of a “pay-to-pump” groundwater program. However, severe drought that persists in the upper Rio Grande Basin, particularly in southern Colorado, has undone some of the conservation efforts. Within the Española alluvial basin, groundwater storage varied because municipal demand increased the demand on groundwater resources and conservation efforts were implemented. A groundwater-flow model evaluated for the Española alluvial basin indicated declines in groundwater storage from 1947 through 1982. Groundwater storage decreased in the Española alluvial basin in 1980–85, 1985–90, 1990–95, 1995–2000, and 2005–10 and increased in 2000–05 and 2010–15 leading to groundwater storage in 2015 about even with that in 1985. Based on gridded groundwater-level altitudes, groundwater storage decreased in the Middle Rio Grande Basin from 1980 to 2015, except for during the 1980–85, 2000–05, and 2010–15 periods with an overall cumulative storage decrease from 1980 to 2015. Groundwater-flow models evaluated for the Middle Rio Grande alluvial basin showed groundwater storage in the Middle Rio Grande alluvial basin has been reduced since the mid-1950s through the end of the study period except for a brief recovery (reduction in storage outflow) in the mid-1980s. Simulated groundwater storage has also decreased in parts of the Palomas and Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos alluvial basins, and the northern part of the Conejos-Médanos alluvial basin starting in 1995 (excluding 2005 and 2007) and in the Tularosa-Hueco alluvial basin from the early 1940s to the end of the study period. Groundwater storage increased in the Mesilla/Conejos-Médanos alluvial basin during 1980–85 and slightly during 1990–95 and then decreased in the other 5-year periods. Groundwater storage in the Tularosa-Hueco alluvial basin increased from 1985 to 1990, but otherwise decreased, leading to an overall net groundwater-level decline in this part of the basin from 1980 to 2010.

Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Chihuahua↗
USGS2006

Statistical characteristics of storm interevent time, depth, and duration for eastern New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas

The design of small runoff-control structures, from simple floodwater-detention basins to sophisticated best-management practices, requires the statistical characterization of rainfall as a basis for cost-effective, risk-mitigated, hydrologic engineering design. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation, has developed a framework to estimate storm statistics including storm interevent times, distributions of storm depths, and distributions of storm durations for eastern New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The analysis is based on hourly rainfall recorded by the National Weather Service. The database contains more than 155 million hourly values from 774 stations in the study area. Seven sets of maps depicting ranges of mean storm interevent time, mean storm depth, and mean storm duration, by county, as well as tables listing each of those statistics, by county, were developed. The mean storm interevent time is used in probabilistic models to assess the frequency distribution of storms. The Poisson distribution is suggested to model the distribution of storm occurrence, and the exponential distribution is suggested to model the distribution of storm interevent times. The four-parameter kappa distribution is judged as an appropriate distribution for modeling the distribution of both storm depth and storm duration. Preference for the kappa distribution is based on interpretation of L-moment diagrams. Parameter estimates for the kappa distributions are provided. Separate dimensionless frequency curves for storm depth and duration are defined for eastern New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Dimension is restored by multiplying curve ordinates by the mean storm depth or mean storm duration to produce quantile functions of storm depth and duration. Minimum interevent time and location have slight influence on the scale and shape of the dimensionless frequency curves. Ten example problems and solutions to possible applications are provided.

New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas↗
USGS1960

Occurrence of strontium in natural water

The regions where the stable strontium content of surface waters is relatively low (less than 0.50 ppm) include the Pacific Northwest, Northeastern United States, and the Central Lowlands, Particularly the Lower Mississippi basin and the Western Gulf Coast area. Moderate concentrations of strontium (0.50 to 1.5 ppm) are found in streams of Southeastern United States, most of the Great Plains Region, the Western Mountain and Plateau Regions, and California. Relatively high concentrations of strontium occur in the surface waters of an area that includes Northern and Western Texas and Southern New Mexico and Arizona. Exceptions to the above distribution are due to local geologic conditions.

Circular↗
USGS2003

Using Logistic Regression To Predict the Probability of Debris Flows Occurring in Areas Recently Burned By Wildland Fires

Logistic regression was used to predict the probability of debris flows occurring in areas recently burned by wildland fires. Multiple logistic regression is conceptually similar to multiple linear regression because statistical relations between one dependent variable and several independent variables are evaluated. In logistic regression, however, the dependent variable is transformed to a binary variable (debris flow did or did not occur), and the actual probability of the debris flow occurring is statistically modeled. Data from 399 basins located within 15 wildland fires that burned during 2000-2002 in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and New Mexico were evaluated. More than 35 independent variables describing the burn severity, geology, land surface gradient, rainfall, and soil properties were evaluated. The models were developed as follows: (1) Basins that did and did not produce debris flows were delineated from National Elevation Data using a Geographic Information System (GIS). (2) Data describing the burn severity, geology, land surface gradient, rainfall, and soil properties were determined for each basin. These data were then downloaded to a statistics software package for analysis using logistic regression. (3) Relations between the occurrence/non-occurrence of debris flows and burn severity, geology, land surface gradient, rainfall, and soil properties were evaluated and several preliminary multivariate logistic regression models were constructed. All possible combinations of independent variables were evaluated to determine which combination produced the most effective model. The multivariate model that best predicted the occurrence of debris flows was selected. (4) The multivariate logistic regression model was entered into a GIS, and a map showing the probability of debris flows was constructed. The most effective model incorporates the percentage of each basin with slope greater than 30 percent, percentage of land burned at medium and high burn severity in each basin, particle size sorting, average storm intensity (millimeters per hour), soil organic matter content, soil permeability, and soil drainage. The results of this study demonstrate that logistic regression is a valuable tool for predicting the probability of debris flows occurring in recently-burned landscapes.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1996

Analysis of ground-water data for selected wells near Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, 1950-95

Ground-water-level, ground-water-withdrawal, and ground- water-quality data were evaluated for trends. Holloman Air Force Base is located in the west-central part of Otero County, New Mexico. Ground-water-data analyses include assembly and inspection of U.S. Geological Survey and Holloman Air Force Base data, including ground-water-level data for public-supply and observation wells and withdrawal and water-quality data for public-supply wells in the area. Well Douglas 4 shows a statistically significant decreasing trend in water levels for 1972-86 and a statistically significant increasing trend in water levels for 1986-90. Water levels in wells San Andres 5 and San Andres 6 show statistically significant decreasing trends for 1972-93 and 1981-89, respectively. A mixture of statistically significant increasing trends, statistically significant decreasing trends, and lack of statistically significant trends over periods ranging from the early 1970's to the early 1990's are indicated for the Boles wells and wells near the Boles wells. Well Boles 5 shows a statistically significant increasing trend in water levels for 1981-90. Well Boles 5 and well 17S.09E.25.343 show no statistically significant trends in water levels for 1990-93 and 1988-93, respectively. For 1986-93, well Frenchy 1 shows a statistically significant decreasing trend in water levels. Ground-water withdrawal from the San Andres and Douglas wells regularly exceeded estimated ground-water recharge from San Andres Canyon for 1963-87. For 1951-57 and 1960-86, ground-water withdrawal from the Boles wells regularly exceeded total estimated ground-water recharge from Mule, Arrow, and Lead Canyons. Ground-water withdrawal from the San Andres and Douglas wells and from the Boles wells nearly equaled estimated ground- water recharge for 1989-93 and 1986-93, respectively. For 1987- 93, ground-water withdrawal from the Escondido well regularly exceeded estimated ground-water recharge from Escondido Canyon, and ground-water withdrawal from the Frenchy wells regularly exceeded total estimated ground-water recharge from Dog and Deadman Canyons. Water-quality samples were collected from selected Douglas, San Andres, and Boles public-supply wells from December 1994 to February 1995. Concentrations of dissolved nitrate show the most consistent increases between current and historical data. Current concentrations of dissolved nitrate are greater than historical concentrations in 7 of 10 wells.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS2013

New seismic data acquired over known gas hydrate occurrences in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico: Fire In the ice

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) led seismic acquisition in the Gulf of Mexico from April 18 to May 3, 2013, collecting ocean-bottom seismometer (OBS) and high-resolution 2D data at lease blocks Green Canyon 955 (GC955) and Walker Ridge 313 (WR313). This collaborative effort among the U.S Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the USGS was conducted to provide improved imaging and characterization of the known gas hydrate accumulations at these study sites.

Methane Hydrate Newsletter↗
USGS1962

Surface water records of New Mexico, water year 1962

The surface-water records for the 1962 water year for gaging stations, partial- record stations, and miscellaneous sites within the State of New Mexico are given in this report. For convenience there are also included records for a few pertinent gaging stations in bordering States. The records were collected and computed by the Water Resources Division of the U. S. Geological Survey, under the direction of W. L. Heckler, district engineer, Surface Water Branch. This report is the second in a series presenting, annually, basic data on surface-water records by States. Through September 30, 1960, the records of discharge and stage of streams and contents and stage of lakes or reservoirs were published in an annual series of U. S. Geological Survey water-supply papers entitled "Surface Water Supply of the United States." Since 1951 there have been 20 volumes in the series; each volume covered an area whose boundaries coincided with those of certain natural drainage areas. The records in New Mexico were contained in Parts 7, 8, and 9 of that series. Beginning with the 1961 water year, streamflow records and related data will be released by the Geological Survey in annual reports on a State-boundary basis. Dis-tribution of these basic-data reports will be limited and primarily for local needs. The records later will be published in Geological Survey water-supply papers at 5-year intervals. These 5-year water-supply papers will show daily discharge and will be compiled on the same geographical areas previously used for the annual series; however, some of the 14 parts of conterminous United States will be further subdivided. The records for New Mexico will be published in water-supply papers covering Part 7 for stations in the Lower Mississippi River drainage, Part 8 for Western Gulf of Mexico drainage, and Part 9 for Colorado River drainage. For 1960 water year, the WSP Numbers for these parts were 1711, 1712, 1713 respectively. A compilation of records for these parts through 1950 water year is contained in WSP Nos. 1311, 1312, 1313 respectively; a 1951-60 compilation series will have WSP Nos. 1731, 1732, 1733.

New Mexico↗
USGS2020

Structure contour and isopach maps of the Wolfcamp shale and Bone Spring Formation of the Delaware Basin, Permian Basin Province, New Mexico and Texas

A series of structure contour and isopach maps for the Wolfcamp shale and the Bone Spring Formation of the Delaware Basin, Permian Basin Province, were generated in support of the U.S. Geological Survey 2018 assessment of undiscovered continuous oil and gas resources. The interpreted formation tops used to generate the maps are from the IHS Markit® PRODFit™ database, a commercial proprietary database. The maps in this report are reflective of the stratigraphic units on the IHS Markit type log from southeast Eddy County, New Mexico.

New Mexico, Texas↗
USGS1956

Uranium content of ground and surface waters in western Kansas, eastern Colorado, and the Oklahoma Panhande

During 1954, 1955, and 1956, 324 water samples were collected in western Kansas, eastern Colorado, the Oklahoma Panhandle, and northeastern New Mexico, to determine the uranium content of water from the various rock units and geologic terranes in the region, and to locate areas in which, large amounts of uranium in the water might reflect the presence of nearby uranium accumulations. Three geologic terranes are present in the report area: the Tertiary-Quaternary tuff ace o us terrane, the Upper Cretaceous shale terrane, and the upper Permian through Lower Cretaceous sandstone terrane. The average uranium content of 179 water samples from the tuffaceous terrane, which is composed primarily of tuffaceous, fluviatile rocks ranging in age from Pliocene to Pleistocene, is 6.7 parts per billion. A total of 48 samples from the Upper Cretaceous shale terrane, which is composed almost entirely of shale and limestone of marine origin, contain an average of 20.4 parts per billion uranium , Sandstone, silt stone, and clay stone of terrestrial and near-shore marine origin are the predominant constituents of the upper Permian through Lower Cretaceous sandstone terrane, and the 83 water samples collected from, or related to, rock units of this terrane contain an average of 10.2 parts per billion uranium. The average uranium content figure derived for the tipper Cretaceous shale terrane may not be representative of the uranium content of waters from this terrane throughout the report area because more than half of the samples assigned to the terrane were collected in an area in which most water samples contain relatively large amounts of uranium. Compared to the shale terrane, the tuffaceous terrane and the sandstone terrane are both represented by a greater number of samples collected over a much larger area and the average uranium content figures derived for them are believed to be representative of the uranium content of waters from, or related to, rock units of the two terranes in the report area. The average uranium content figures derived for different rock units, or groups of rock units, subdivided by the source type from which the samples were collected (well, spring, stream, municipal water system, reservoir, or lake), and in some cases by geographic parts of the report area, are believed to be of more potential use in any future hydrogeochemical exploration in the area than are the average uranium content figures derived for the three geologic terranes. The average uranium content of ground-water samples from 12 individual rock units or groups of rock units ranges from less than 1. 0 to 38 parts per billion. Several rock units were sampled over large enough areas to indicate that waters from the same rock unit in different parts of the report area may range widely in average uranium content. Water samples from some of the rock units in the area, particularly those of Triassic and Permian age, contain large amounts of uranium, and in some parts of the report area, such as the Cimarron River area of westernmost Oklahoma and northeastern New Mexico, and the Rule Creek area in Bent and Las Animas Counties, Colo. , most, or all, of the water samples collected contain relatively large amounts of uranium. Further exploration to determine the source of the uranium in the water from these rock units and areas may be worthwhile.

Colorado;Kansas;New Mexico;Oklahoma↗
USGS1963

Surface water records of New Mexico, water year 1963

The surface-water records for the 1963 water year for gaging stations, partial-record stations, and miscellaneous sites within the State of New Mexico are given in this report. For convenience there are also included. records for a few pertinent gaging stations in bordering States. The records were collected and computed by the Water Resources Division of the U. S. Geological Survey, under the direction of W. L. Heckler, district engineer, Surface Water Branch. This report is the third in a series presenting, annually, basic data on surface-water records by States. Through September 30, 1960, the records of discharge and stage of streams and contents and stage of lakes or reservoirs were published in an annual series of U. S. Geological Survey water-supply papers entitled "Surface Water Supply of the United States. ff Since 1951 there have been 20 volumes in the series; each volume covered an area whose boundaries coincided with those of certain natural drainage areas. The records in New Mexico were contained in Parts 7, 8, and 9 of that series. Beginning with the 1961 water year, streamflow records and related data will be released by the Geological Survey in annual reports on a State-boundary basis. Distribution of these basic-data reports will be limited and primarily for local needs. The records later will be published in Geological Survey water-supply papers at 5- year intervals. These 5-year water-supply papers will show daily discharge and will be compiled on the same geographical areas previously used for the annual series; however, some of the 14 parts of conterminous United States will be further subdivided. The records for New Mexico will be published in water-supply papers covering Part 7 for stations in the Lower Mississippi River drainage, Part 8 for Western Gulf of Mexico drainage, and Part 9 for Colorado River drainage. For 1960 water year, the WSP Numbers for these parts were 1711, 1712, 1713 respectively. A compilation of records for these parts through 1950 water year is contained in WSP Nos. 1311, 1312, 1313 respectively; a 1951-60 compilation series will have WSP Nos. 1731, 1732, 1733.

New Mexico↗