NMBGMR Open-file Geologic Map 214
Last Modified June 2011
NEW MEXICO BUREAU OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES A DIVISION OF NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY
Hmp3
Qa
Qpe3
Hcr
Qpe4
Qpe4
Qlt3
daf
Qafd
Hcr
Qbt
Qlt1
Qds
daf
Qds
daf
daf
Qbt
Qbt
Qbt
Qbt
Py
Py
Ptm
Qlt2
Py
daf
Qbs
Qot
daf
Hmp3
Qabp
daf
Ptm
Ptd
daf
Ptd
Qd
Qd
daf
Qd
Qd
Ptd
Qac
Ptd
Qd
daf
daf
Ptd
3633000
Qd
daf
Ptd
Ptd
Py
Hmp1
Ptd
Ps
o
Hmp1
Qlt3
16431
Qot
Qbs
Qlt1
Qbs
Qds
Qbs
Qlt3
Qlt2
Qds
Qds
daf
Qds
Qlt1
Qds
Qot
Qds
Qds
Qds
Qds
Hmp3
Qds
Qd
Qds
Hmp2
Qds
Qd
f
Qa
daf
daf
Qbs
Qlt2
Qd
daf
Qlt3
Qds
Qafe
hmp4
Qa
Qd
daf
Qd
daf
Qaf
Psd
Psg
hmp4
Psg
daf
daf
M
Qd
daf
M
Psd
Psg
Psg
daf
Qlt1
Hcr
Qbs
daf
daf
Qbs
Qbs
Qa
Qbs
daf
daf
Qbs
Qa
Qot
daf
Hmp3
Hmp2
Qac
Qa
Qaf
daf
Psd
daf
daf
Psd
Psd
Qbs
Qlt2
Qa
daf
Qa
F
104°22'30"W
559000
560000
561000
562000
Qd
daf
daf
32°45'0"N
Qbs
563000
104°20'0"W
564000
Base from U.S.Geological Survey 1955, from photographs taken 1947, toporgraphy from plane table surveys 1955.
Polyconic projection. 1927 North American datum, UTM projection -- zone 13N
1000- meter Universal Transverse Mercator grid, zone 13, shown in red
Psg
Qd
daf
565000
104°17'30"W
Qd
Qd
f
Qd
daf
Ptm
Qlt3
Ps
Qlt2
Ptd
Ptm
Qd
Ptd
Qd
A'
Qlt1
Qd
daf
Ptm
Py
567000
568000
3624000
Ptd
Py
daf
Ps
Qd
Qd
daf
daf
Ptm
Py
Ptm
Qot
Qd
Qd
Qd
Qds
?
?
Qbt
Ps
Pt
Py
Psr
0.5
0
Young Lakewood terrace alluvial deposits (upper Pleistocene) —Thickness 1.5 to 5 m.
Pye
Pa
290
Ptd
Qd
569000
REFERENCES
Fiedler, A. G., and Nye, S. S., 1933, Geology and ground-water resources of the Roswell artesian basin, New
Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Water-supply Paper 639, 372 p.
Hawley, J. W., 1993, The Ogallala and Gatuña formations in the southeastern New Mexico Region, a progress
report: New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook, 44th Field Conference, p. 261- 269.
Lyford, F. P., 1973, Valley fill in the Roswell-Artesia area, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Open-file Report
73-163, 26 p.
San Andres formation — Cross section only.
Pg
Glorieta sandstone tongue — Cross section only.
McCraw, D. J., 2008, Preliminary geology of the South Spring Quadrangle, Chaves County, New Mexico: N.M.
Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Open-file OF-GM 171, 32 p. + map.
Orchard Park terrace alluvial deposits (upper Pliocene (?) to upper Pleistocene) — According to Fiedler and Nye
(1933), the Orchard Park terrace rises 1.5-3 m above the Lakewood terrace and 10.5-20 m above the Pecos floodplain.
It is comprised of gravels and pebbles of dolomite, limestone, sandstone, chert, and quartzite in a very pale brown
(10YR7/4) to reddish brown (5YR4/4), unconsolidated, moderately sorted, coarse- to fine- grained sand, silty sand, silt,
and sandy clay. Pedogenic carbonate is a strong stage III. Thickness ranges from 3 to 15 m.
Pye
Yeso formation, undifferentiated — Cross section only.
McCraw, D. J. and Land, L. A., 2008, Preliminary geology of the Lake McMillan North Quadrangle, Eddy County,
New Mexico: N.M. Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Open-file OF-GM 167, 32 p. + map.
Pa
Abo formation, undifferentiated — Cross section only.
McCraw, D. J., Rawling, G., and Land, L. A., 2007, Preliminary geology of the Bitter Lake Quadrangle, Chaves
County, New Mexico: N.M. Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Open-file OF-GM 111, 32 p. +
map.
Qd
570000
View looking north of eastern edge of a small warped synclinal basin developed in Yates formation (Py). The outermost
oldest exposed bed of gypsum on the far right curving from truck in the distance resurfaces roughly 20 m away to the
left out of the photo. Younger interbedded redbeds and gypsum making up the majority of the photo also resurface to
the left within this bed. Photo by D. McCraw.
Psa
Older Lakewood terrace alluvial deposits (upper to middle Pleistocene) —Thickness ~2 to 9 m.
32°45'0"N
104°15'0"W
1 MILE
Geologic contact. Solid where exposed or known, dashed where
approximately known, dotted where concealed or inferred.
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources
New Mexico Tech
801 Leroy Place
Socorro, New Mexico
87801-4796
[575] 835-5490
This and other STATEMAP quadrangles are available
for free download in both PDF and ArcGIS formats at:
http://geoinfo.nmt.edu
9578
Oil & gas exploration well used in cross section construction.
3,000’
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources
Open-file Geologic Map 214
Qot
Qlt1
Qlt2
Qlt3
Qa
Pt
Pt
Py
Psr
Py
Pqg
Pqg
4,000 ft
ASL
1100
9
4
1005
8
1
1000
Inclined bedding showing degrees of dip.
E
Bend In
Section
2942
4,000 ft
ASL
A’
8
11
W
Eastern Permian uplands
2936
QUADRANGLE LOCATION
Artesia - Vacuum Arch. Subsurface anticlinal arch warping Permian
and older strata.
Pecos River floodplain
7275
Trace of anticline axial plane associated with evaporite collapse.
LAKE MCMILLAN NORTH ILLINOIS CAMP
Pecos River terraces
A
9718
Trace of syncline axial plane associated with evaporite collapse.
NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM OF 1929
Pecos River
CONTOUR INTERVAL 20 FEET
9464
1 KILOMETER
Mapping of this quadrangle was funded by a matching-funds grant from the STATEMAP program
of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Act, administered by the U. S. Geological Survey,
and by the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, (Dr. Peter A. Scholle,
Director and State Geologist, Dr. J. Michael Timmons, Geologic Mapping Program Manager).
GEOLOGIC CROSS SECTION
Location of geologic cross section.
9328
Magnetic Declination
May 2004
10º 15' East
At Map Center
0
A'
9768
NEW MEXICO
RED LAKE
0.5
A
9931
7000 FEET
1
6000
1643
5000
9296
9320
4000
9217
DAYTON
Spring
SPRING LAKE
Lake
3000
9256
1
ARTESIA
2000
9305
1000
7132
0
DIAMOND MOUND
9578
1000
ARTESIA NE
Ps
3,000’
Psr
Pqg
Pqg
Geologic map of the Spring Lake quadrangle,
Eddy County, New Mexico.
May 2011
by
David J. McCraw, Lewis A. Land, and Shannon Williams
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801
Psg
Psa
EXPLANATION OF MAP SYMBOLS
ESPUELA
Psd
Pqg
1:24,000
1
Ptd
Ptm
3625000
Ptd
Qa
Qd
Kelley, V. C., 1971, Geology of the Pecos country, southeastern New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources Memoir 24, 78 p.
Lower Permian Formations
Qd
Qd
Ptm
Qot
Queen and Grayburg formations, undifferentiated (Guadelupian) — Cross section only.
Youngest Lakewood terrace alluvial deposits (upper Pleistocene) — Thickness <1 to 1 m.
Qd
Qd
Qd
Seven Rivers formation, gypsiferous facies (Guadelupian) — White to gray, occasionally yellow to red massive gypsum
interbedded with thin- to medium-bedded, light gray dolomite and red gypsiferous siltstone, often containing gypsum
nodules, and yellowish sandstone, which often exhibit soft sediment deformation. Commonly fractured, occasionally
forming caverns, with many low amplitude folds varying in scale from meters to kilometers. Thickness unknown.
Psg
daf
Qd
Qd
daf
Seven Rivers formation, dolomitic facies (Guadelupian) — Light gray to yellowish to pink, thinly to thickly bedded,
vesicular to massive dolomite interbedded with pink dolomitic siltstone, yellowish sandstone and thin beds of milky
gypsum. Thickness 1 to 3 m.
Psd
Pqg
daf
Qd
daf
Qd
3626000
Qd
daf
daf
Qa
Qd
566000
Ptm
daf
Qd
Ptm
Qa
Ptm
Ptm
f
10054
11009
Ptm
Ptd
Psd
f
Ptm
daf
Qd
Qd
Qd
10008
daf
daf
Ptd
Qd
Py
daf
daf
Qd
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
Qlt3
Ptd
daf
Psd
daf
Qbs
Psd
Qd
Lakewood terrace alluvial deposits (upper to middle Pleistocene) — The Lakewood terrace, with an elevation of 6
to 9 m above the floodplain, flanks the inset Pecos floodplain and extends up many of its tributaries. Following McCraw,
et al. (2007) and McCraw and Land (2008), three distinct, low-lying (upper to uppermost middle(?) Pleistocene)
“Lakewood terraces” are recognized. The highest and oldest of which (Qlt1) would be Fiedler and Nye’s original. Surface
tread elevations above the floodplain for these three are: <1-2 m, 2-6 m, and 6-9 m, respectively. They are comprised
of occasional gravels and pebbles, brown (10YR5/3) to dark yellowish brown (10YR3/4), unconsolidated, moderately
sorted, coarse- to fine- grained sand, silty sand, silt and sandy clay. Pedogenic carbonate increases from stage I to stage
II+ (occasionally III) from Qlt3 to Qlt1. Mostly non-gypsiferous.
daf
Yates formation, mixed gypsiferous facies (Guadelupian) — Very light gray, massive to vesicular gypsum interbedded
with pink dolomite, green to white and orange to red siltstone and minor sandstone. Folded into domes and basins on a
meter to several decimeter scale. Forms caverns. Outcrop exposures poor. Thickness increases westward from 2 to 50
m.
Py
Alluvial terraces of the Pecos River and its tributaries were first described in the classic study of Fiedler and Nye (1933).
They recognized 3 terraces flanking the floodplain: (from lowest to highest) the Lakewood, the Orchard Park, and the
Blackdom. All three terraces are present on the Spring Lake quad.
3627000
Tansill formation, mixed silty gypsiferous facies (Guadelupian) — Interbedded mixed gray silty dolomite, siltstone
and gypsum, and yellowish sandstone with sublitharenite and orange-red chert grains. Thickness 2 to 50 m.
Ptm
Ptd
Qd
Ptd
Psd
Psg
daf
hmp4
3624000
daf
Qd daf
daf
daf
daf
Ptd
Ptd
daf
Qd
Pecos Valley alluvial terrace complex
Qd
daf
daf
daf
daf
Qd
Qd
daf
daf
daf
daf
Ptm
Ptd
daf
daf
Qd
Qd
daf
daf
daf
daf
Tansill formation, dolomitic facies (Guadelupian) — Light gray dolomite forming the basal part of the section, grading
upward into interbedded mixed facies. Thickness <1 to 3 m.
View looking north-northwest of northernmost exposure of Ptd as it plunges beneath the alluvim. The roadside businesss
on the north side of U.S. Highway 82 sits on alluvial fan (Qaf) east of the modern Pecos River meanderbelt (hmp4). Photo
by D. McCraw.
Ptm
daf
daf
daf Qd
Qd
daf
Qpe3
Old Holocene meander belt deposits (lower to middle Holocene) — Very pale brown (10YR7/4) to reddish
brown (2.5YR4/6), unconsolidated, moderately sorted, occasionally pebbly (dolomite, limestone, sandstone,
chert, and quartzite), coarse- to fine-grained sand, silty sand, and sandy clay. Thickness 3-5 m.
daf
daf
daf daf
Ptm
Ptd
Qpec2
Qpe4
Older Holocene meander belt deposits (upper to middle Holocene) — Very pale brown (10YR7/4) to
reddish brown (2.5YR4/6), unconsolidated, moderately sorted, occasionally pebbly (dolomite, limestone,
sandstone, chert, and quartzite), coarse- to fine-grained sand, silty sand, and sandy clay. Unit lies immediately
west of Hmp3. Thickness 3-5 m.
Qd
Qd
daf
Qd
daf
Ptd
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
Qd
daf
Psg
daf
Qd
Psd
daf
Salado formation, mixed gypsiferous facies (Guadelupian) — Irregular masses of gypsum, dolomite, and salt in
outcrops with chaotic bedding orientations. Exposed in eastern part of quadrangle. Thickness unknown.
daf
Qd
Qd
Qd
Qd
daf
Qd
daf
3628000
daf
daf
daf
Qd
daf
daf
Qd
daf
daf
Ptd
269
Ps
Pecos River braided alluvial deposits (upper Pleistocene to lower Holocene) — Gravels and pebbles of dolomite,
limestone, sandstone, chert, and quartzite in a reddish brown (2.5YR4/6) to light reddish-brown (5YR6/4), unconsolidated,
poorly to moderately sorted, coarse- to fine-grained sand, silty sand, sandy clay, and clay. Braided channels and bars
typify the surface of Qabp elsewhere, but on the Spring Lake quad, its largely featureless. Mostly buried by Holocene
meanderbelt. Thicknesses vary (based upon Lyford, 1973) from about 5 to 30 m.
Qabp
daf
Ptd
Qd
Ptd
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
Qd
daf
Qd
daf
daf
Psd
daf
Qd
daf
daf
daf
F
Py
daf
daf
daf
Ptd
Qd
daf
daf
daf
Psd
daf
daf
Qd
Ptd
Qd
daf
F
Qlt3
3625000
daf
daf
daf
Ptm
daf
32°47'30"N
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
Qd
daf
daf
Qd
Qa
Hcr
daf
daf
Psg
Qaf
daf
daf
4
Psd
daf
daf
Qaf
Hmp3
daf
Psd
daf
daf
Qd daf
Qd
Ptm
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
Qbs
daf
Py
daf
Qd
daf
daf
daf
Qd
daf
Ptd
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
Ptm
Qd
daf
daf
daf
daf
Qd
daf
daf
daf
Qd
Qa
Qaf
Qa
daf
M
Qaft
daf
Qd
Qa
3626000
Qd
daf
Qlt2
Floodplain alluvial backswamp deposits (Historic to upper Pleistocene) — Light reddish-brown (5YR6/4) to very
dark gray (7.5YR3/1), unconsolidated, well-sorted, silty sand, sandy clay, and clay in low-lying, poorly drained areas.
These areas commonly received only fine-grained, slack-water flood deposition, prior to channelization. Thicknesses
range from 3-15 (?) m.
Qbs
Qd
daf
daf
daf
daf
Qd daf
daf
Qd
Qd
daf
daf
Qd
daf
Qa
daf
Ptd
Qd
Py
daf
daf
Qd
daf
daf
3629000
daf
daf
daf
daf
Qd
daf
daf
daf
Psd
M
Qd
Ptd
Py
daf
258
Permian Artesia Group
Young meanderbelt deposits (upper Holocene) — Very pale brown (10YR7/4) to reddish brown
(2.5YR4/6), unconsolidated, moderately sorted, occasionally pebbly (dolomite, limestone, sandstone, chert,
and quartzite), coarse- to fine-grained sand, silty sand, and sandy clay. Unit primarily lies immediately west
of hmp4 in the center of the floodplain. Thickness 2-5 m.
Qabp
Holocene crevasse splay deposits (middle to upper Holocene) — Very pale brown (10YR7/4) to reddish brown
(2.5YR4/6), unconsolidated, graded sand and silty sand closest to the channel bank breached by the crevasse to sandy
clay at the distal margins. Thickness <1 to 2 m.
Hcr
Qd
Ptm
daf
Qd
Qd
daf
daf
daf
Qd
daf
daf
daf
daf
o
daf
Psd
Qd
daf
Qd
daf
Py
Qd
daf
Psd
daf
daf
Qbs
Qlt3
daf
Psd
daf
Qa
daf
daf
Qd
o4
Ptm
daf
Qd
Qd
Ptm
Ps
Ptd
daf
daf
daf
daf
daf
Qd
Psd
daf
Qd
daf
Qd
Qd
daf
Ptd
Qd
Qlt3
daf
daf
5.3
23.0
250
PALEOZOIC
Historic meanderbelt deposits (Historic to upper Holocene) — Occasional pebbles of dolomite, limestone,
sandstone, chert, and quartzite in a very pale brown (10YR7/4) to reddish brown (2.5YR4/6), unconsolidated,
moderately to well-sorted, coarse- to fine-grained sand in the former modern channel and adjacent bar crests,
grading to silty sand and sandy clay with distance from this channel. Several reaches of the Pecos River
on the quad have been channelized by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation during the mid 20th Century. The
northernmost section of the Kaiser Channel extends into the southernmost part of the quad. Meanderbelt
thicknesses commonly range from 1 to 5 m.
Qlt3
Qbs
780
Quaternary sinkhole deposits, primarily caused by collapse (Historic to middle Pleistocene) — Complexes of
unconsolidated, well- to poorly-sorted, coarse- to fine-grained sands to clay, alluvial, colluvial, eolian, and occasional
lacustrine deposits within closed depressions. Colors variable. Thickness <1 to 3 m.
Qds
Qp
Depressions and Permian
sinkholes
bedrock
Ps
Qd
Ptd
daf
Ptd
daf
Qd
Qd
Qd
Qd
daf
Qd
Qa
Qlt3
Qlt3
Qd
Qa
Qd
Qd
Qd
Psd
daf
Qlt3
Qlt3
Qlt3
Qd
Qaf
Hmp3
daf
o1
Py
Psd
M
3627000
Psg
Qd
daf
Psd
Qd
daf
o
Qd
Qlt1
Qds
f29421
5
Psd
7275
daf
Qd
daf
Qd
Qd
Ptm
Psg
Psg
Qbs
Qds
daf
Qd
Qd
Qlt3
Hmp1
Qlt3
Ptd
f29368
Qd
Qlt3
daf
Qlt3
3630000
Ptd
Qd
Psg
Qaf
Qlt3
daf
Qd
Ptd
daf
Qlt3
Ptd
Qd
Qa
Qlt3
Qlt3
Ptm
Qa
Qds
Py
Hmp2
Ptd
Ptm
Ptm
Qd
Qd
daf
Py
Qd
daf
daf
Qd
Qd
Ptd
Ptd
Qd
daf
Py
Ptd
daf
Ptm
Hmp3
daf
Qd
Ptd
daf
Ptd
3631000
Ptd
daf
Qd
Qlt3
Qd
Psg
Qds
Qac
Ptd
Ptm
Psd
Qd
Ptd
Qd
Qd
Ptm
Ptd
Qds
Qds
Qds
Qd
Py
Qlt3
daf
Ptd
Qds
Qds
Ptm
daf
Qds
Qlt2
3628000
Psd
Qd
3
Qd
Qa
Psd
Qds
Qlt3
Qd
Qbs
Qds
Qbs
Qd
daf
o
Ptm
daf
Qd
14
Qlt3
7
Qa
Qds
daf
Qds
Qac
Qaf
Hmp3
daf
Qlt3 Ptm
Qd
6
Qa Qaf
Qafe
Qot
Qbs
Qd
Ptd
Ptd
9718
Ptd
Qds
Qlt3
f
Py
Qd
Qa
Hmp3
Qafe
Qlt1
Hmp3
Ptd
Qd
Qd
Qa
hmp4
Ptd
Ptd
daf
Qa
Psd Psg
daf
Ptd
Ptm
Py
Psg
o
f
Qa
9768
Qds
Qac
f
Qd
Qd
Qbs
Qd
Ptd
Qd
Qd
o
Qac
Hmp3
9464
daf
3632000
daf
daf
Ptd
Psg
Psd
Psg
Ptd
Qd
Qd
Py
Qaf
Qds
Qlt1
Qot
daf
daf
o
f
9328
Qds
f
Qd
daf
6
daf
Py
Psd
Ptd
Ptd
F
Qbs
Qot
7132
Qd
Qd
hmp4
Hmp3
Ptd
Qd
Qd
Ptd
F
Qlt2
f9217
Ptm
Qd
Py
daf
Ptd Qd
Ptd
daf
Ptm
o
f
9320
Hcr
Qlt3
Qa
Qlt1
o
Psg
Qbs
Qac
Qd
daf
Psd
f
f9256
32°47'30"N
Qafl
9931
Qot
3629000
Psd
Psg
f9296
f9305
Qbs
Ptd
Qd
Qd
3
Psd
Qd
Hmp2
Qlt1
3631000
daf
Qd
daf
Qd
Hmp3
Qbs
Qd
Qd
Qd
Pecos River meanderbelt alluvial deposits (Historic to lower Holocene) — At the onset of the Holocene, the Pecos
River switched from a braided regime to a meandering one, and proceeded to build four distinguishable meanderbelts
on top of the basal, upper Pleistocene Pecos River braided alluvial valley-fill (Qabp). Consisting of channel, channel
bar, point bar, and natural levee deposits, undivided, these meanderbelts are differentiated based upon cross-cutting
relationships observed in the field, as well as aerial photographic work into an historic unit (hmp4) and three older
Holocene units (Hmp1-3). These older Holocene units reveal a pattern of progressive meanderbelt shifting from west to
east across the floodplain.
Qd
2
Qd
Psd
Ptd
Qd
Ptd
Qd
daf
Qac
daf
o
f
Psg
daf
(Historic map unit labels are given a lower case “h” to differentiate them from Holocene map units.)
Ptd
daf
Qd
daf
Hmp3
3630000
Qd
Qd
Qlt1
Ptd
Ptm
Hcr
f9578
A
Qd
Ptm
daf
Ptd
Ptd
Qd
Ptd
Qd
Ptd
Qds
Psd
daf
3632000
daf
daf
Qd
daf
Qlt2
Qlt1
Qac
Qds
Psd
Qd
Pecos River alluvial valley floor
32°50'0"N
Younger Quaternary alluvial piedmont deposit (upper to uppermost middle Pleistocene) — Thickness
2 to 4 m.
Quaternary depression fill, undifferentiated (Holocene to middle Pleistocene) — Unconsolidated, well-sorted, finegrained (fine sands to clay) complexes of alluvial, colluvial, eolian, and occasional lacustrine deposits within closed
depressions. Colors variable. Depressions are created by either gradual subsidence or sudden collapse followed by
gradual subsidence of underlying gypsiferous carbonate terrane. These complexes are often significantly modified by
stream erosion and deposition, playa deposition, deflation, and mass wasting. Depression fills have been active since the
middle Pleistocene and are usually 1-3 m thick but can reach thicknesses in excess of 30 m.
3633000
daf
128
Youngest Quaternary alluvial piedmont deposit (upper Pleistocene) — Thickness 1 to 3 m.
Quaternary depression fill and sinkhole deposits
Qd
Qd
Ptd
Ptd
daf
7
Qbs
Qd
Qd
Qd
Qpe3
Qaf,
Qafd,
Qafe,
Qafh,
Qafl,
Qaft
hmp4
Hmp3 Hcr
Hmp2
Hmp1
Pecos Valley alluvial Eagle Creek piedmont
terrace deposits
alluvial deposits
Qlt1
1.8 Ma
daf
F
Qaf
Qlt3
Qpe4
Quaternary playa deposits (upper Pleistocene to Holocene) — Pinkish white (7.5YR8/2), unconsolidated, well-sorted,
fine-grained sand, silt, and clay Thickness unknown (≥ 1m).
Qp
daf
Qd
32°50'0"N
3634000
Qd
daf
Qafh
hmp4
Qa
Ps
6
daf
Qd
Ptm
daf
daf
daf
Qd
Qd
Qd
Qd
daf
Qd
Ptm
o
daf
daf
daf
Qd
Qbt
daf
3634000
daf
Quaternary alluvial channel swale and/or depression fill deposits of the Eagle Creek piedmont alluvial complex
(upper Pleistocene to Holocene) — Light brown (7.5YR6/4) to pinkish gray (7.5YR6/2), unconsolidated, poorly sorted,
fine-grained sand, silt, and clay with mostly carbonate gravels and pebbles occupying thin (<1-1.5 m) channels, swales,
and coalescing depressions draining the Eagle Creek piedmont complex (QTpe).
Alluvial-fan deposits, undivided (Historic to uppermost Pleistocene) — Predominantly carbonate gravels to pebbles,
often in stringers, in a brown (7.5YR4/2) to pinkish gray (7.5YR6/2), unconsolidated, poorly sorted, and coarse- to
fine-grained sand to silty sand. Two large fans built by both historic former channels of Eagle Creek (Qafe), and by
Tumbleweed Draw (Qaft), debouch from these western tributaries onto the western floodplain margin, interfingering with
and/or spreading out onto Pecos floodplain deposits. Thicknesses decrease from tributary mouths from ≥ 6 m to < 1 m at
their distal margins. Fans debouching onto the floodplain from eastern tributaries vary considerably in thickness from <1
m for small fans and up to ~8 m at the apices of fans built by large tributaries (e.g., Hart Canyon , Qafh, and Logan Draw,
Qafl). Many of these fans have been truncated and their deposits removed by the eastward migrating Pecos River from
meander belts Hmp2 to hmp4 (e.g., Dog Canyon , Qafd).
Qaf
Qd
Qac
Eagle Creek alluvial piedmont deposits (Upper to middle Pleistocene) — Eagle Creek (or Eagle Draw further west)
heads on the easternmost flank of the southern Sacramento Mountains in San Andres Formation (Psa) rocks and flows
east to the Pecos River. Where it leaves the Permian highlands, it has built a large piedmont alluvial complex, which
coalesces with the Rio Felix to the north and the Rio Peñasco to the south. This piedmont complex grades to and onto
the Pecos Valley alluvial terraces. Oldest, highest remnant surfaces may be as old as Pliocene, which possibly grades
to a river system which forms Gatuña formation deposits today. It is comprised of gravels that are almost exclusively
limestone derived from Psa, supported in a matrix of light brown (7.5YR6/3), unconsolidated, moderately sorted, coarseto fine- grained sand, silty sand, silt (largely calcareous), and sandy clay. On the Spring Lake quad, only the two youngest
piedmont deposits (Qpe3-4) are mapped. Topographic expression between these deposits are often to subtle to practically
non-existent. Distinction is often based upon a stronger developed pedogenic carbonate (Qpe3 = stage III – II+; Qpe4 =
stage II). Qpe4 grades to Qlt3.
Quaternary alluvial channel swale and/or depression fill deposits originating from either Eagle Creek or Rio
Peñasco piedmont complexes extending across Pecos Valley terraces (upper Pleistocene to Holocene) — Light
brown (7.5YR6/4) to pinkish gray (7.5YR6/2), unconsolidated, poorly sorted, fine-grained sand, silt, and clay, occasional
carbonate pebbles, occupying thin (<1-1.5 m) channels, swales, and coalescing depressions.
Qac
Qa
Qot
Qafh
daf
3635000
Ps
Ptm
9
Py
Qd
Hmp1
Qlt1
Qd
daf
Qa
Qot
Hmp2
Qd
Qbt
Qd
Qot
Qot
Qpec2
Py
Qbt
Qd
Qbt
Qabp
Qpe3
daf
Ptm
Ps
daf
Qa
Eagle Creek alluvial piedmont complex
Quaternary tributary alluvium and valley-fill alluvium, undifferentiated (Historic to uppermost Pleistocene) —
Brown (7.5YR4/2) to pinkish gray (7.5YR6/2) (tributaries) to light reddish-brown (5YR 6/4) to reddish brown (2.5YR4/6)
(Pecos floodplain valley-fill), unconsolidated, moderately sorted, pebbly sand, silt, and clay. Varies considerably in
thickness from <1 to 3 m in tributaries and up to 10-12 m in the floodplain.
Qa
o
daf
Qd
Qd
Qbt
Qa
Qafh
Hcr
daf
Qot
Qbt
Qbt
Qot
Qot
daf
Qbt
Qbt
daf
Qd
daf
M
Hmp2
daf
Qa
3636000
Ptd
Qd
M
Qot
Qd
daf
Qd
Qd
Qlt3
Qbt
Py
Hmp2
Qd
Qd
Qd
Qbt
Qd
Holocene
11
Disturbed land and/or artificial fill (Historic) — Dumped fill and areas affected by human disturbances, mapped where
deposits or extractions are areally extensive. Especially notable are the numerous constructed oil and gas well pads. Also
includes the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Kaiser Channel of the Pecos River, as well as other straightened reaches.
daf
Ptd
M
daf
Qpe3
Qd
Hmp3
Hmp1
Qbt
Ptd
Qd
Qd
Qbs
Hcr
daf
Qbt
Qa
Alluvium, lacustrine, and anthropogenic deposits
Qd
Historic
upper
M
M
hmp4
3636000
12
M
Py
Ptd
0 ka
Pecos River
alluvial valley floor
middle
Qpe3
Qpe4
Qd
daf
Alluvial and
lacustrine deposits
lower
Qd
Qbt
Blackdom terrace alluvial deposits (middle to lower Pleistocene) —The Blackdom terrace occurs in isolated remnants
primarily atop the Permian Yates formation (Py), 25-42 m above and east of the Pecos floodplain. It is comprised of gravels
and pebbles of dolomite, limestone, sandstone, chert, and quartzite in a very pale brown (10YR7/4) to reddish brown
(5YR4/4), unconsolidated, moderately sorted, coarse- to fine- grained sand, silty sand, silt, and sandy clay. Pedogenic
carbonate is III-III+. Thickness ~17 m.
Qbt
QUATERNARY and NEOGENE
Ptm
Ptm
Qa
Py
CENOZOIC
3637000
daf
CORRELATION OF MAP UNITS
Salado
Fm
F
Qpe4
Qac
daf
Qd
Qlt3
Qpe3
Qd
Qa
Qa
Qbs
Ps
Py
daf
DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS
Qd
Yeso
Fm
Qac
Hmp3
daf Py
Py
Abo
Fm
Qa
Qpe4
Hmp2
Qabp
Py
daf
32°52'30"N
Qp
Qaf
Py
Pleistocene
Qpe3
Hmp1
Qd
570000
Miocene Pliocene
Qa
Qd
Ptm
Qd
M
Qds
daf
Qa
M
M
Qpe4
M
Qa
Qd
104°15'0"W
569000
Artesia Group
San Andres
Seven Yates Tansill
QueenFm
Grayburg Fms Rivers Fm Fm Fm
Qaf
Ptm
568000
Permian
Qbs
Py
567000
Quaternary
daf
hmp4
Qpe4
566000
M
Qpe3
104°17'30"W
565000
Neogene
Qlt3
Qac
3637000
3635000
564000
M
Qds
563000
o
Qds
104°20'0"W
562000
Paleozoic
561000
M
32°52'30"N
560000
M
559000
M
104°22'30"W
2,000’
COMMENTS TO MAP USERS
A geologic map displays information on the distribution, nature, orientation, and age relationships
of rock and deposits and the occurrence of structural features. Geologic and fault contacts are
irregular surfaces that form boundaries between different types or ages of units. Data depicted
on this geologic quadrangle map may be based on any of the following: reconnaissance field
geologic mapping, compilation of published and unpublished work, and photogeologic interpretation.
Locations of contacts are not surveyed, but are plotted by interpretation of the position of a given
contact onto a topographic base map; therefore, the accuracy of contact locations depends on the
scale of mapping and the interpretation of the geologist(s). Any enlargement of this map could cause
misunderstanding in the detail of mapping and may result in erroneous interpretations. Site-specific
conditions should be verified by detailed surface mapping or subsurface exploration. Topographic
and cultural changes associated with recent development may not be shown.
Cross sections are constructed based upon the interpretations of the author made from geologic
mapping, and available geophysical, and subsurface (drillhole) data. Cross-sections should be used as
an aid to understanding the general geologic framework of the map area, and not be the sole source
of information for use in locating or designing wells, buildings, roads, or other man-made structures.
The map has not been reviewed according to New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources
standards. The contents of the report and map should not be considered final and complete until
reviewed and published by the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. The views and
conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as
necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the State of New Mexico, or
the U.S. Government.
2,000’
Psa
Psa
Psa
Psa
1,000’
1,000’
Pg
Pg
Pg
Pg
0’ SL
Pye
Pye
0’ SL
Pye
Pye
-1,000’
-1,000’