NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Guidebook
of
WEST-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO
Edited by
James E. Weir, Jr. ond Elmer H. Boltz
TENTH FIELD CONFERENCE
October 15, 16, and 17, 1959
PER.
EPOCH
a RECENT
PLEISTOCENE
PLIOCENE
>.
(X MIOCENE
OLIGOCENE
ct EOCENE
w
I - PALEOCENE
WC NEW MEXICO
Alluvium- Poison G
Spring deposits
Santa Fe gr
?
?
?
Datil Volcanics
? —? —
Boca fm
?
?
7
Bidah
ochi
_
NW NEW MEXICO
Alluvium
Alluvium
—.7
Chui ss
ka
?
fm
?
SW NEW MEXICO
Bidohochi
fm
Gila cal
7
-?
? -?-
?
Volcanics
7
San Jose fin
Not meento fm
Ow ?Alamo
—
EC ARIZONA
Alluvium
—
Animas fm
Bolson deposits
1– COLORADOAN
w
rc
V
DAKOTAN
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•
Gallup
escado U.
t
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Dakota fm
1R
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VIRGIL
MISSOURI
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Dakota fm
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cc
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•
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Canyon fm
Brushy Basin sh
Westwater Canyon ss
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tt Wash ss
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water
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'
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\
- - -C o r r e a ss
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---------*
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c
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Moenkopi fm
fm
I
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Glorleto ss
Cutler fm (NE)
Los
ValIos
IS)
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Ysidro
(N)
Yeso m f
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Sopa; f m
(S
W)
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L
chime
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Fbint mem
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mem
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Lo
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ccl
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Coconino ss
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Middle mem
4
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fm N M
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Lower mem
.
.
Sandia fm
cr,'
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°
Paradox fm
E
bi'1' Pinkerton Trail fen
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fm
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fm
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MIDDLE
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gr
1
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?
?
fm
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dale
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len
?
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nle
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Entrada fm
Carmel fm
&
W
ATOKA
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CHESTER
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OSAGE
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0 UPPER
to
CO
?
Pictured Cliffs ss
Lewis sh
Cliff House ss
Menefee fm
Point Lookout ss
Men fm
efee Point Lookout ss
Crevasse
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fm
..,
0
O
0
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?
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co
sh
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7
?
f
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and
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gr
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?
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?
nics
?
Intrusive rocks
NOMENCLATURE CHART
Troy
qtz
Is
Montoya gr
El Paso gr
Bliss ss
(N)
–
NEW
MEXICO
GEOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
<>
TENTH
FIELD
CONFERENCE
CONTENTS
Frontispiece — Inscription Rock with quotation …………………………………………………………………………….1
Nomenclature chart for area of field trip and adjacent areas ----------------------------------------------------------- II
President's Message ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Acknowledgements ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Eleventh Field Conference --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Executive and Field Conference Committees ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
List of publications of the Society ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7
Jack Frost Memorial --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Schedule for Field Conference --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
Foreword ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
Index map and Conference route ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12
ROAD LOGS
Log for Thursday, October 15
Socorro to Grants …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13
Log for Friday, October 16
Grants to Gallup ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25
Log for Saturday, October 17
Gallup to Socorro ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37
Supplementary road log
Ramah to McGaffey ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34
References cited in road logs ------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------
51
NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
o
T ENT H FI ELD CO N-r- ERENLt
STRATIGRAPHY
Mississippian strata on the east side of the Datil Plateau ------------------------------------------ A. K. Armstrong 52
Pennsylvanian rocks on the northeast edge of the Datil Plateau ---------------------------------- F. E. Kottlowski 57
Stratigraphy of the outcropping Permian rocks in the southern part of the
San Juan Basin, New Mexico ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------63
Triassic stratigraphy in the state line region of west-central New Mexico and
east-central Arizona ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ M. E. Cooley 66
Jurassic rocks of the Zuni Mountains ------------------------------------------------------------------------ C. T. Smith 74
Cretaceous sediments of the North Plains and adjacent area, McKinley, Valencia and
Catron Counties, New Mexico ------------------------------------------------------------------------- K. L. Gadway 81
Historical background of the type locality of the Tres Hermanos sandstone member of the
Mancos shale------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. H. Dane 85
Tertiary stratigraphy of northern Catron County, New Mexico---------------------------------------- M. E. Willard 92
List of stratigraphic names used in northwest and central New Mexico --------------------- C. Lochman-Balk 100
GENERAL GEOLOGY
Structure and geomorphology of west-central New Mexico ------------------------------------ J. P. Fitz,simmons 112
Plio-Pleistocene sediments and climates of the San Augustine Plains, New Mexico ------------Fred Foreman,
K. H. Clisby, and P. B. Sears 117
Discussion -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------C. E. Stearns 120
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY
Regional geology as related to the petroleum potential of the Lucero region,
west-central New Mexico --------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. A. Wengerd 121
Uranium in the Datil Mountains—Bear Mountains region, New Mexico -------------------------------------------- 135
Geological summary of the Magdalena mining district, Socorro County, New Mexico -------------- S. R. Titley 144
PAPERS OF GENERAL INTEREST
El Morro — New Mexico's historic headland ---------------------------------------------------------------- E. P. Lohr 149
The Indians of west-central New Mexico ---------------------------------------------------------------------- S. R. Ash 154
Abstracts of technical papers presented at 13th Annual Meeting ................................................................ 157
N E W M E X I C O G E O L O G I C A L SOCIETY • T E N T H FIELD C O N F E R E N C E
NINE YEARS • • •
. . . and ten field trips ago the New Mexico Geological
Society undertook the first in this series of annual field
c o n f e r e n c e s . T h r o u g h t h e s e e n d e a v o r s we h a v e s a m p l e d
t h e g e o l o g y o f a l l t h e p a r t s o f N e w M e xi c o , a n d h a v e , o n
o c c a s i o n , ve n t u re d i n t o t h e n e i g h b o ri n g s t a t e s . W e o f t h e
S o c i e t y f e e l t h a t we h a v e m a d e a p e r m a n e n t a n d
s i g n i f ic a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e g e o l o g i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g
o f t h e a re a s vi s i t e d . F u rt h e rm o re , we s h o u l d l i k e t o
b e l i e ve t h a t b y a d d i n g t o t h e k n o wl e d g e a n d f o c u s i n g t h e
a t t e n t i o n o f o u t s i d e rs o n t h e s e a re a s we h a ve a l s o
c o n t ri b u t e d t o t h e i r economic development.
The conferences quickly pass. The derived benefits
l i n g e r o n . T h e s e o n -t h e -s p o t g a t h e ri n g s o f g e o l o g i s t s
p rov i d e a n a t m o s p h e r e c o n d u c i v e t o f r a n k d i s c u s s i o n o f
the geologic problems at hand. And equally important,
they provide an opportunity to obtain an intangible
sense of feeling for an area, something most difficult
f o r m o s t o f us to achieve from a distance. Perhaps t he
m ost im portant c o n t r i b u t i o n s , a n d c e r t a i n l y t h e m o s t
lasting, are to be found in the by -products of the field
c o n f e r e n c e s . . . the guidebooks.
The guidebooks of this Society and other geologic
societies in the Rocky Mountain and Southwest regions have
provided an im portant segm ent of the literature. In addition to having provided several thousand miles of road
log, the guidebooks have given the profession an untold
n u m b e r o f f i n e t o p i c a l a n d g e n e ra l a rt i c l e s i n g e o l o g y a n d
related fields. A few years ago bibliographers did not
recognize the guidebooks as an official medium of
p u b l i c a t i o n ; t o d a y t h e g u i d e b o o k s a re t o b e f o u n d i n t h e
major
geologic
libraries
of
the
nation.
and
are
indispensable parts o f t h e p e r s o n a l l i b r a r i e s o f
g e o l o g i s t s w o r k i n g i n t h e R o c k i e s a n d t h e S o u t h we s t .
Many of us know the value of these publications as
foundations for acquaintanceship i n u n f a m i l i a r a r e a s .
I n d e e d , t h e r e a r e m a n y a r e a s i n which guidebook
papers constitute the only m odern source of geologic
information.
The value of the field conference and the resultant
literature cannot be denied. There is another side,
h o we v e r .
Complaints
are
becoming
increasingly
common to the effect that the various geological
s o c i e t i e s a r e s p o n soring too many field trips, that these mobile
conferences
3
are becoming too complex and elaborate, and that the
i n creased frequency has resulted in a lessening of the
quality o f p a p e r s a c c o m p a n y i n g t h e g u i d e b o o k s . T h e
f r e q u e n c y of these excursions definitely is a point for
concern. There are tim es when it would seem that one's
entire professional career could be devoted to the attendance of
conferences.
F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e m a n p o we r n e e d e d t o c a r r y o u t t h e
preparation of the various phases of the field conference
s e ri o u s l y t a xe s t h e s t a f f s o f t h e p u b l i c a n d p ri va t e
o rg a n i z a t i o n s u p o n wh i c h t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s f a l l . I t i s
also bec om i ng prohi bi t i ve bot h i n t erm s of t i m e and
m o n e y t o a t t e n d a l l t h e f i e l d t r i p s o n e wo u l d l i k e t o
attend. As for the complaint that the freguency of these
c o n f e r e n c e s i s d ra i n i n g t h e re s e rvo i r o f g e o l o g i c t h o u g h t
and accomplish m ent at a rate greater than it is being
replenished, I do not see this as a particularly serious
threat. Certainly a num ber of the very worthwhile
papers presented in the guidebooks would have never
found their way to press had it not been for the
e x p r e s s o p p o r t u n i t y a f f o r d e d b y a t ri p i n a s p e c i f i c
a re a — a n d t h e s o m e t i m e s n o t s o g e n t l e coaxing and urging of
guidebook editors.
W h i l e we a l l r e c o g n i z e t h e v a l u e o f t h e f i e l d c o n f e r ence, we m ust at the sam e tim e consider the problem . The
solution I do not pretend to have. Perhaps it lies in
closer coordination between the officers of the various
s o c i e t i e s i n p l a n n i n g f i e l d c o n f e re n c e s a n d i n a re d u c t i o n
of the num ber of trips , offered by each society. The answer
c o u l d l i e i n a m o r e f a v o r a b l e b a l a n c e b e t we e n f i e l d
c o n f e re n c e s a n d s t a t i c c o n f e re n c e s ; o r i t c o u l d b e t h a t
an eff ort s houl d be m ade t o s i m pl i f y t he t ri ps ei t her
through brevity or a shedding of some of the frills.
No n e o f u s is anxious to s ee a reduction in the
g e o l o g i c l i t e r a t u r e ; perhaps we should direct our
society's efforts toward m ore o f t h e s y m p o s i u m -t y p e
p u b l i c a t i o n s , o r p e r h a p s a p r o f e s sional journal.
W hether we as individuals feel that there is a pro blem, we must recognize that in the minds of a considerable
s e g m e n t o f t h e m e m b e rs o f t h e p ro f e s s i o n o n e d o e s e xi s t .
F o r t h i s r e a s o n a l o n e , we a s r e s p o n s i b l e m e m b e r s o f t h e
g e o l o g i c p ro f e s s i o n m u s t b e c o n c e rn e d , a n d i f i t a p p e a rs
a f t e r c a re f u l re vi e w a n d e va l u a t i o n t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n c a l l s
for action, then we m ust act collectively in a m anner which
will prove to be beneficial to our profession.
Edward C. Beaumont
President
4
NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * TENTH FIELD CONFERENCE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Society is indebted to those of its members and friends who have given their time and resources
to stage this field conference. Both commercial and public organizations diverted their staffs to prepare
the guidebook and organize the field trip. Special commendations are due the staffs of the Mobil Oil Company in Albuquerque for general arrangements and preparations; the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources for a major part in preparing the road logs; and the staff of the Ground Water Branch
of the United States Geological Survey in Albuquerque for compiling the guidebook.
Affiliations of trip leaders and authors of papers in the guidebook are diverse and to' these people
and their respective academic, oil, mining, public service, and other types of organizations go the Society's
gratitude for contributing the heart and soul of the guidebook. Some of the papers in this guidebook were
contributed anonymously, and to the writers of these papers go the Society's appreciation for work without benefit of personal credit.
The Society expresses thanks to the Navajo, Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni Indians for permission to cross
their lands in the course of the field trip. Also the Society is grateful to the National Park Service for hospitality and help at El Morro National Monument.
ELEVENTH FIELD CONFERENCE
The decision about the frequency of future field conferences, and wheter the New Mexico Geological Society will divert some effort to other professional pursuits, rests squarely with the members. Discuss these matters and be prepared to give your opinions to the executive committee on demand and at a
meeting, probably in Gallup, during the tenth field trip.
If the majority of the members want a field trip in 1960, it can be staged in northeastern New Mexico,
north-central New Mexico, or it can be a re- run (with slight modification) of an early field trip staged by
the Society, perhaps one of those for which the guidebook is now out of print. As a member or friend of the
Society, please give some careful consideration to the above and to the thoughts set forth in the President's
message.
NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY <> TENTH FIELD CONFERENCE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Edward C. Beaumont
President
Consultant
Frank E. Kottlowski
Vice-President
James E. Weir, Jr.
Secretary
A. A. Koenig
Treasurer
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources
U. S. Geological Survey,
Ground Water Branch
Sinclair Oil & Gas Company
Rex Alcorn
Past President
Sun Oil Company
FIELD CONFERENCE COMMITTEES
Robert E. Ostrander
General Chairman
Mobil Oil Company
Guidebook Committee
James E. Weir, Jr.
Co-Editor
Elmer H. Baltz
Editor
W. D. E. Cardwell
Editor
Co-
Associate
U. S. Geological Survey,
Ground Water Branch
U. S. Geological Survey,
Ground Water Branch
U. S. Geological Survey,
Ground Water Branch
Reviewing Sub-Committee
U. S. Geological Survey,
Ground Water Branch
U. S. Geological Survey,
Ground Water Branch
Texaco, Inc.
Frank B. Titus, Jr.
Sam W. West
James R. Scurlock
U. S. Geological Survey,
Ground Water Branch
U. S. Geological Survey,
Ground Water Branch
Mobil Oil Company
Alfred Clebsch, Jr.
John R. Rapp
Francis L. Fitter
U. S. Geological Survey,
Ground Water Branch
U. S. Geological Survey,
Ground Water Branch
U. S. Geological Survey,
Surface Water Branch
Gene C. Doty
Robert L. Cushman
S. Eugene Buell
Road Logging Committee
Roy W. Foster
Chairman
James A. Smith
Advisor
Frank E. Kottlowski
Robert E. Ostrander
John A. Schilling
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources
Texaco, Inc.
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources
Mobil Oil Company
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources
New Mexico Institute of Mining
and Technology
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources
Clay T. Smith
Robert H. Weber
Max E. Willard
Trip Arrangements Committee
Edward C. Beaumont
Chairman
Consultant, Albuquerque
5
6
NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY <> TENTH FIELD CONFERENCE
Housing and Registration Sub-Committee
Antonius J. Budding
Chairman
New Mexico Institute of Mining
and Technology
Caravan Sub-Committee
Charles B. Read
Co-Chairman
Frank B. Titus, Jr.
Co-Chairman
U. S. Geological Survey,
Fuels Branch
U. S. Geological Survey,
Ground Water Branch
Catering Sub-Committee
Gerald N. Keller
Chairman
Sunray Mid-Continent
Oil Company
Publicity Committee
Roy H. Dubitzky
Chairman
Standard Oil Company of Texas
Advertising Committee
Chester M. Garrett, Jr.
Chairman
Sinclair Oil & Gas Company
Finance Committee
Afton A. Koenig
Vincent C. Kelley
Chairman
Advisory Committee
Department of Geology,
University of New Mexico
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources
Humble Oil & Refining Company
Frank E. Kottlowski
Richard D. Holt
TRIP LEADERS
Frank E. Kottlowski
Augustus K. Armstrong
Vincent C. Kelley
Sherman A. Wengerd
Robert H. Weber Clay
T. Smith
Sam W. West
Irving McNeil, Jr.
Maurice E. Cooley
William H. Tonking
John W. Harshbarger
Kathryn H. Klisby
Sinclair Oil & Gas Company
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources
Department of Geology,
University of New Mexico
Department of Geology,
University of New Mexico
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources
U. S. Geological Survey,
Ground Water Branch
U. S. Department of Interior,
National Park Service
Northern Arizona Society of
Science and Art,
Flagstaff, Arizona
Standard Oil Company of Texas
Department of Geology,
University of Arizona
Department of Geography and
Geology, Oberlin College,
Oberlin, Ohio
NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * TENTH FIELD CONFERENCE
PUBLICATIONS
OF THE
NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Guidebook of the San Juan Basin, New Mexico and Colorado ; First
Field Conference, 1950; edited by Vincent C. Kelley et al.; 153 pages,
40 illustrations. (out of print)
Guidebook of the south and west sides of the San. Juan Basin, New
Mexico and Arizona ; Second Field Conference, 1951; edited by Clay T.
Smith and Caswell Silver ; 163 pages, 69 illustrations. (out of
print)
Guidebook of the Rio Grande country, Central New Mexico ; Third
Field Conference, 1952 ; edited by Ross B. Johnson and Charles B.
Read ; 126 pages, 51 illustrations. (out of print)
Guidebook of southwestern New Mexico ; Fourth Field Conference,
1953 ; edited by Frank E. Kottlowski et al.; 156 pages, 67 illustrations.
$5.00
Guidebook of southeastern New Mexico ; Fifth Field Conference, 1954;
edited by T. F. Stipp ; 213 pages, 83 illustrations. $5.00
Guidebook of south-central New Mexico ; Sixth Field Conference,
1955; edited by J. Paul Fitzsimmons ; 193 pages, 70 illustrations.
Prepared with the cooperation of the Roswell Geological society. $7.00
Guidebook of southeastern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, New Mexico
(Raton Basin) ; Seventh Field Conference, 1956; edited by A. Rosenzweig; 154 pages, 61 illustrations. $7.00
Guidebook of southwestern San Juan Mountains, Colorado (Four
Corners Area) ; Eighth Field Conference, 1957; edited by Frank E.
Kottlowski ; 258 pages, 109 illustrations. $7.00
Guidebook of the Black Mesa Basin, Northeast Arizona ; Ninth Field
Conference, 1958. Edited by Roger Y. Anderson and John W. Harshbarger. 205 pages, 105 illustrations, hard binding. Prepared in
cooperation with the Arizona Geological Society. $8.50
Available by mail (25a charge) from New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources, Socorro ; and over the counter at the Bureau of Mines, or
at the Geology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
7
8
NE W
ME XI CO
G E O LO G I CA L
S O CI E T Y
*
T E NT H
F I E LD
Alentorium
JOHN ALEXANDER FROST
(1896 - 1958)
CO NF E RE NCE
N E W M E X I C O G E O L O G I C A L S O C I E T Y .0 ' T E N T H F I E L D C O N F E R E N C E
W ith the death of John A. (Jack) Frost on December
18, 1958 the m em bers of the New Mexico Geological
Society lost a good friend and the Society a valued
m e m ber. He died at the age of 62 after a successful
profession al career in the oil and gas industry of the Southwest.
Frost was born at Dover, Oklahoma on April 27,
1 8 9 6 . H e wa s g r a d u a t e d f r o m O k l a h o m a S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y
i n 1 9 1 7 wi t h a B a c h e l o r o f S c i e n c e d e g r e e i n M e c h a n i c a l
E n g i n e e ri n g , a n d i n 1 9 2 4 wa s g ra n t e d a Ma s t e r' s d e g re e .
During W orld W ar I he serve d two years in the United
States Navy and was discharged with a rating of Machinist's
Mate, First Class.
E xc e p t f o r a b ri e f p e ri o d i n t h e o i l f i e l d s F ro s t ' s c i vi l ian service was all as a petroleum engineer in the service of
the United States Geological Su rvey, Conservation Division,
Oil and Gas Leasing Branch. He reported for duty at
Ca s p e r, W yo m i n g i n 1 9 2 7 , a n d s e rve d a s d i s t ri c t e n g i n e e r
at Thermopolis, W yoming 1927 - 1929; Farmington, New
Me xi c o , 1 9 2 9 1 1 9 4 2 ; Ro s we l l , Ne w Me xi c o , 1 9 4 2 - 1 9 4 3 ,
and Artesi a, New Mexico, 1943 - 1958, where he was
stationed at the time of his death, after having spent
34 years in Government Service. During the latter part
of this period he ranked as Deputy Oil and Gas Supervisor.
W h i l e i n t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e G e o l o g i c a l S u r v e y h e wa s
e n gaged prim arily in the supervision of oil and gas
operations o n p u b l i c , a c q u i re d , a n d I n d i a n l a n d s . Hi s
d u t i e s i n c l u d e d inspection and supervision of operations
on leases with the p u r p o s e o f p r e v e n t i n g w a s t e ,
d a m a g e t o o i l , g a s , a n d wa t e r- b e a ri n g f o rm a t i o n s , a n d
t h e s e c u ri n g o f c o m p l i a n c e wi t h l e a s e c o n t r a c t t e r m s .
H i s k n o wl e d g e o f d r i l l i n g a n d p r o d u c i n g o p e r a t i o n s a n d
his fair, courteous, and tactful treatm ent of all
o p e r a t o r s w a s r e c o g n i z e d , a n d e a r n e d for him the respect
of the entire oil indus try of the region.
W hile stationed at Farmington Frost's alertness and
zest for inquiring into new and unusual things led to the
discovery in 1943 at the Rattlesnake field, of helium gas
wh i c h l a t e r s u p p l i e d t h e B u re a u o f Mi n e s h e l i u m re c o ve ry
plant at Shi prock, New Mexico. He was com m ended by the
Secretary of the Interior and granted a meritorious
p r o motion for his work in this project and since his death he
has b e e n g i v e n a C i t a t i o n f o r M e r i t o r i o u s S e r v i c e b y t h e
D e partment of the Interior.
A s i d e f r o m t h e o i l a n d g a s i n d u s t r y F r o s t wa s b e s t
k n o wn f o r h i s a v o c a t i o n s wh i c h h e p u r s u e d wi t h e n e r g y
a n d s u c c e s s . O n e o f t h e s e wa s b o a t i n g d u r i n g v a c a t i o n s
down the San Juan and Colorado Rivers, from Mexican
Hat, Utah, to Lee's Ferry, Arizona. He made eighteen
trips in all, usually guiding a party of ten or more in severalb o a t s . H i s
s k i l l i n c o n d u c t i n g t h e s e p a r t i e s t h r o u g h t h i s rugged,
9
uninhabited region without serious m ishap brought h i m
re n o wn a s a c a p a b l e e xp l o re r a n d ri ve rm a n . O n t h e s e
trips he was frequently accom panied by geologists who
studied the rocks of the canyon and nearby areas. Their
i n ve s t i g a t i o n s h a ve p l a ye d a p a rt i n t h e e n c o u ra g e m e n t o f
oil and gas development in southern San Juan County,
Utah.
Frost loved the deserts and mountains of the
s o u t hwe s t a n d t o o k m a n y p h o t o g ra p h s o f t h e i r s c e n i c
f e a t u re s . His color photographs were exhibited upon
request at m any gatherings and were accompanied by
appropriate comments wh i c h g a v e e v i d e n c e o f h i s
k n o wl e d g e o f t h e n a t u r a l f e at u r e s a n d t h e e a r l y
i nhabi t ant s of t he regi on. S om e of Frost's other
i n t e r e s t s i n c l u d e d i m p r o v i n g h i s k n o wl e d g e o f g e o l o g y ,
p o l i s h i n g s t o n e s , w o o d c a r v i n g , a n d m e t a l working. In
his shop he constructed a working scale m odel o f a S a n t a
F e l o c o m o t i ve t h a t a ro u s e d m u c h c o m m e n t a n d admiration.
Frost was civic minded and enjoyed knowing and
wo rk i n g wi t h p e o p l e . A t o n e t i m e h e wa s a d o p t e d i n t o t h e
Na va j o I n d i a n T ri b e a n d g i ve n t h e n a m e o f " Ho s t e e n Y a zz i " ( C h i e f S h o r t M a n ) . H i s s o n wa s n a m e d " H o s t e e n
Y a zz i B e g a y " ( C h i e f S h o r t M a n ' s S o n ) . T h e N a v a j o s
c a m e t o k n o w h i s we l l a n d a p p r e c i a t e d h i s s y m p a t h y
wi t h t h e i r a f f a i rs a n d h i s s t ra i g h t f o rwa rd m a n n e r i n h i s
d e a l i n g s wi t h them.
Frost held important offices in the Lion's Club, and was
a c h a r t e r m e m b e r i n t h e R o s we l l G e o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y a n d
t h e N e w M e xi c o G e o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y . I n t h e l a t t e r
o r g a n i za t i o n h e s e rve d a s S e c re t a ry -T re a s u re r 1 9 5 2 1953,
and
V i c e- P r e s i d e n t
1 9 5 7- 1 9 5 8 .
He
made
c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o s everal guidebooks of the various
geological societies on the s u b j e c t s o f t h e n a t u ra l
fe a t u re s , h i s t o ry, a n d d e ve l o p m e n t of the Southwest
F ro s t i s s u rvi ve d b y h i s wi d o w, Mrs . Na n a F ro s t , wh o
r e s i d e s a t A r t e s i a ; h i s s o n , F r a n k E d wa r d F r o s t o f
A l b u querque; his daughter, Ruth Elaine Myers (Mrs.
Charles D. M y e r s ) o f D e n v e r ; a n d t w o b r o t h e r s , E l l i s
M a r k F r o s t o f Am arillo, Texas; and Rueben L. Frost of
W ilm ington, North Carolina.
Frost led a good life and left a clean trail behind him .
W e regret that he was not permitted to complete his
professional career and to enjoy a long and happy
r etirement.
T. F. STIPP
Roswell, New Mexico
June 25, 1959
NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
TENTH FIELD CONFERENCE
11
Foreword
The Tenth Annual Field Conference of the New Mexico Geological Society traverses a region which has received little
attention by geologists. Mining in the mountains south of Magdalena has been an industry of some note for decades, but
only recently has the petroleum geologists' interest in west-central New Mexico been aroused. As in all parts of New
Mexico, there are geologic problems of interest to those working in any branch of the geological sciences.
The structure of most of west-central New Mexico is simple. Broad folds typical of the Colorado Plateau province
account for the main part of the structural deformation in the region. The eastern part of the field-trip area is characterized by complex block faulting and, locally, overthrusting on the western margin of the Rio Grande trough.
Rocks exposed in the field-trip area range in age from Precambrian to Recent, and consist of sedimentary, metamorphic,
intrusive igneous, and volcanic types.
In the subsurface somewhere near the southern part of the field-trip area a thick wedge of Cambrian, Ordovician,
Silurian, and Devonian rocks present in southern New Mexico pinches out. These rocks are overlapped by Pennsylvanian
rocks which thin northward onto an ancient positive area—the ancestral Zuni uplift. Permian rocks are present throughout
most of the region and are overlain by Triassic rocks. A thick sequence of Jurassic rocks present in the northern part of the area wedges out to the south. Cretaceous rocks, deposited during transgressions and regressions
of a great seaway, crop out over much of the region. Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic rocks of considerable thickness
blanket the southernmost part of the area, and basalt flows of Tertiary and Quaternary age can be seen from almost
any hill.
The history of west-central New Mexico is of interest to almost all people acquainted with the region. For untold
centuries it has been the dwelling place of the Indians. Artifacts of the Folsom and Sandia cultures, believed to be from
7,000 to 25,000 years old, have been found in the San Augustin Plains. Camp sites of the Cochise people, a group of
wandering seed-gatherers,, also are found in this area. Ruins of pueblos ranging in age from more than 1,000 years to
as recent as Spanish colonial time are present in many places, and Pueblo Indians ' still inhabit the region. The Navajo.
and Apache people are thought to have arrived in the Southwest in the Twelfth or Thirteenth centuries and are flourishing
at present. The cultural contributions ()I the Indians are apparent and their influence is noted on people ranging from
the most gullible tourist who pays to see the "ancient" cliff dwelling (built as a movie set), to the artist, ethnologist,
and archaeologist.
Early Spanish explorers, beginning in 1539 with Fray Marcos de Niza, traversed the region converting, enslaving, and
colonizing, and the mark of Spain is still strong upon the land.
Engineers, naturalists, and geologists came with the U. S. Army following the Mexican War and such famous geologists
as G. K. Gilbert made treks through the region and wrote vividly of what they saw.
Thus, it may be said that the route of the Tenth Annual Field Conference is through one of the most interesting regions in North America. The caravan will trave,I mainly over roads not usually seen by the tourist; through the abode
of the Indian and domain of the geologist.
We feel that the excellent technical quality of the road log and the papers in this guidebook will make it a valuable
addition to your personal and organizational libraries, and sincerely hope you enjoy the field conference.
James E. Weir, Jr.
Elmer H. Baltz
Editors
d ate
SALT LAKE
Stop 2
6
C
c
US 66
QUEMADO
Stop I
3
DATIL
(1
■
08
z ,r
0
0
S
.4i
top 4
estop
ACOMA
••t Stop 5
US 60
_\
Stop I
KELLY
C)
0\
15 20 miles
MAGDALENA
L M c KINLEY CO 1
iSt o p 3
Lunch Stop
161%.
`fir•
Assembly Point
(Second Day)
GRANTS
10
SOCORRO
Assembly Point
(First Day)
SANDOVAL C0_ _
BERNALILLO CO.
' ' ' ' ' 0 FIRST DAY—ROUTE AND STOPS
mo=m=im 0 SECOND DAY—ROUTE AND STOPS
CD THIRD DAY—ROUTE AND STOPS
'
SAN RAFAEL
Slo te
ICE
CAVE
VALENCIA CO
CATRON CO.
Stop 2
Lunch Stop
NAT MON.
EL MORRO
VALENCIA CO.
PAGE_ _ M KINLEY_ CO,
M GAFFEY
t-)8
WINGATE
FENCE LAKE
r)
Lunch Stop
ATARQUE
ZUNI
WHITE WATER T.P.
GALLUP
Assembly Point
(Third Day)
10
NE W
ME XI CO
G E O LO G I CA L
S O CI E T Y
•
T E NT H
F I E LD
CO NF E RE NCE
SCHEDULE
W ednesday, October 14
Registration, Research Building, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology,
5 : 0 0 - 9 : 0 0 p.m .
Sccorro, New Mexico.
6:00 - 10:00 p.m .
Open house on Campus of the Institute, Socorro.
Thursday, October 15
6:45 a.m .
Friday, October 16
6 : 4 5 a.m .
Assem ble caravan in south parking lot of Research Building, New Mexico Institute of
Mining and Technology, Socorro. PLEAS E BE PROMPT. This day's trip dem ands that
we hold to a tight schedule.
Caravan assembles on west side of Grants along U. S. Highway 66. Caravan leaves
at 7:00 a.m.
6:30 p.m .
C ocktail hour at El Rancho Hotel, G a l l u p .
8:00 p.m .
Banquet at El Rancho Hotel. Perhaps one short technical paper wi l l be given, plus ,an
open discussion regarding next field trip and other m atters of vital interest to
m em bers and friends of the Society.
Saturday, October 17
6:45 a.m .
Caravan assem bles on U. S. Highway 66 westbound in G a l l u p . Caravan leaves at
7:00 a.m . PLEASE BE PUNCTUAL. Field trip ends back in Socorro late in the
afternoon. However, attendees travelling west after f i e l d trip m ay wish to leave the
caravan about 3:00 p.m . on U. S. Highway 60 about 1.5 m iles west of Quem ado.