114.1.N.
NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Guidebook
of the
ALBUQUERQUE COUNTRY
Edited by
Stuart A. Northrop
TWELFTH FIELD CONFERENCE
October 6, 7, and 8, 1961
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 * TWELFTH FIELD C O N F E R E N C E
1
CONTENTS
President's Message .......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Executive and Field Conference Committees .................................................................................................................... 4
Publications of the New Mexico Geological Society .......................................................................................................... 5
Schedule -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
A Few Words from the Editor ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Physiographic Setting ........................................................................................................................................................ 7
Photo mosaic maps of Sandia, Lucero, and Jemez areas, central New Mexico ............................... Lowell E. Bogart
8
ROAD LOGS
Sandia Mountains and vicinity
First day, Friday, October 6 ----------------------------------------------------------- Vincent C. Kelley and Charles B. Read
14
West of Albuquerque in the Rio Puerco, Rio San Jose, and Lucero areas
Second day, Saturday, October 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------ V. C. Kelley and C. B. Read
33
Jemez Mountains and vicinity
Third day, Sunday, October 8 ------------------------------------------ V. C. Kelley, E. H. Baltz, Jr., and R. A. Bailey
47
2
NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
% TW ELFTH FIELD CONFERENCE
PAPERS
P h ysi o g ra p h y, c lim at e, a n d ve g et at i on of t he Al b uq u e rqu e re g io n ----------------------------------------------------- Roger Y. A n d e rso n
63
S a nd i a Ca ve ..................................................................................................................................................................... Frank C. Hi bb e n
72
I n di a ns, a nci e nt an d m o d e rn, i n t he Al b u qu e rqu e c o u nt ry ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S i dn e y R. Ash
75
Hist o ry of th e A l bu q u e rq u e re g i on ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fra nk D. Reeve
82
Ch ro n ol o gic al res um e of s om e e a rl y g eo l og ists in t he Al b u qu e rq ue co u nt ry ------------------------------------- S tu a rt A . No rt h ro p
85
A bs ol ut e ge o lo g ic t im e sca le ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 89
P rec am bri an rocks of th e A lb u q u e rq u e c o unt ry ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. Paul F it zsim m ons
90
P e nns yl van i an rocks i n no rth -ce nt ral Ne w Me xi co ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fra nk E. K ottl o wski
97
Mi ssiss ip p ia n a n d P en ns yl va n i an f ossi ls of t h e Al b u qu erq u e c o u nt ry ---------------------------------------------------- S t u a rt A . No rt h ro p 1 0 5
P e rm ia n st rat a of c e nt ral New Me xi c o --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. L . Boars 113
T riass ic a nd Ju rassic rocks o f t h e A lb u q ue rq ue a re a ................................................................ ....................................... Cl a y T . Sm ith 121
Cre tac e o us ro cks o f t he Al bu q u e rqu e c o u nt ry .................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1 2 9
L a te Ce n o zo ic s e dim e nts of t h e l o we r Jem e z Ri ve r re g ion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Z a n e S p i e g e l 1 3 2
O ut li n e of t h e g eo l og y of t he J em e z Mo unt a ins , Ne w Me xi c o ------------------------------ C. S . Ro s s , R. L. Sm ith, and R. A. Bailey 139
St ruct u ral p rob l em s of t h e Ri o G ran d e t ro ug h in t he Al b uq u e rq ue co u nt ry -------------------------------------------------------- A n o n ym o u s 1 4 4
T h e Ri o G ra n d e t rou g h n ea r A l bu q u erq u e, Ne w Me xic o ........................................ H. R. Joesting, J. E. Case, and L. E. Cordell 148
E a rt hq u ak es of c e nt ra l Ne w Me xi c o ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ S t u a rt A . No rt h ro p 1 5 1
E a rt hq u ak e res e a rc h at Ne w Me xi co I nstit ut e of M i n i n g a n d T ech n ol o g y ------------------------- A . R. Sanford and C. R. Holm es 153
T h e n e w U. S. Co ast an d Ge o d et ic S u rve y Se ism ol o gica l L a bo rat o ry at A l bu q u erq ue ---------------------------------------------------------- 1 5 4
Mineral resources of Bernalillo, Sandoval, and Santa Fe Counties, New Mexico
(e xc l usi ve of o il a n d g as ) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- W o l f g a n g E. Elston 155
Mi n e ral o gic al n ot es o n t h e ura n i um de p osi ts of t h e G ra nts a n d La g u na d ist ricts ---------------------------- A b ra h a m Ro s e n zwe i g 1 6 8
Ch eck lis ts of m in e rals fo r m in i ng d ist ric ts an d ot h er l oc al iti es n e ar Al b uq u e rqu e ................................ .... S t u a rt A . No rt h ro p 1 7 2
P et rol e um e xp l o ra ti o n i n a pa rt of n orth- c e nt ral Ne w Mexi c o ---------------------------------------------------------------- E d wa rd C. Beaumont 175
G r o u n d- wa t e r g e o l o g y o f t h e R i o G r a n d e t r o u g h i n n o r t h- c e n t r a l N e w M e xi c o , wi t h
s ecti o ns o n t he Jem e z ca l dera an d t h e L uce ro u p l i f t ------------------------------------------------------------------------ F ra n k B . Titus, Jr. 186
A bst racts of t ec h nic al p a p ers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 9 3
IN POCKET
Geologic map of the Albuquerque country
b y
Stuart A. Northrop and Arlette Hill
T e c t o n i c m a p o f a p a r t o f t h e u p p e r R i o G r a n d e a r e a , N e w M e xi c o
b y
V. C. Kelley
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 <> T W E L F T H F I E L D C O N F E R E N C E
3
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
THE BROAD VIEW
— — is important to all
geologists, regardless of their
s t a t u s wi t h i n t h e s c i e n c e , a n d r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e i r d e g r e e
o f p ro f e s s i o n a l s p e c i a l i za t i o n . T o p ro vi d e t h i s vi e w i s t h e
distinct privilege of the only non-affiliated Geological
Society serving New Mexico. W e take this seriously
enough to consider it a duty.
The Twelfth Field Conference of the New Mexico Geo l o g i c a l S o c i e t y b ri n g s u s b a c k f ro m f a r- f l u n g a n d c o m p re hensive forays into the far corners of the State — and som e
a d j a c e n t a re a s — b a c k t o t h e e n vi ro n s o f t h e g re a t p o p u l a t i o n c e n t e r, A l b u q u e rq u e . He re , t h ro u g h t h e e f f o rt s o f p ro fessional and student geologists, a wide variety of geologic,
m i n e ra l o g i c , p a l e o n t o l o g i c , a n d p h ys i o g ra p h i c i n f o rm a t i o n
i s c o n t i n u a l l y u p d a t e d a n d e xp a n d e d . I n e v e r y d i r e c t i o n ,
new data add to a better understanding of familiar
g e o logic features and of their interrelated importance.
Under the able guidance of Charles B. Read of the
Un i t e d S t a t e s G e o l o g i c a l S u rve y, 5 t h p re s i d e n t o f t h e S o ciety, as general chairman of the Conference, and of
Stuart A. Northrop of the Geology Department at the
University of New Mexico, 3rd president of the Society, as
editor of the Guidebook, we will have a n authoritative
look at a variety of features at the very heart of New
M e xi c o g e o l o g y . T h e t r i p l e a d e r s a n d t h e g u i d e b o o k a u t h o r s a re o u t s t a n d i n g s t u d e n t s o f t h e i r p h a s e s o f g e o l o g i c
interest and of their areas of investigation.
T o e v e r y g e o l o g i s t i n N e w M e x i c o , a n d i n t h e s u rr o u n d i n g t e r r i t o r y , t h i s C o n f e r e n c e wi l l b e a v a l u a b l e
e xp e r i e n c e i n r e -o r i e n t a t i o n , a n d t h e g u i d e b o o k wi l l b e
a n indispensable addition to his professional library.
The committee's ingenuity in operating this Conference
f ro m A l b u q u e rq u e a s a h u b , wi t h a re t u rn t o t h e c i t y e a c h
e ve n i n g , wo rk s t o t h e a d va n t a g e o f a l l p a rt i c i p a n t s .
S c h e duling on a week end permits more of our friends to
whom g e o l o g y i s a n a vo c a t i o n t o c o m e " ro c k- h o u n d i n g "
wi t h u s . T h i s i s a n i d e a l f i e l d t r i p i n m a n y r e s p e c t s . W e
e xp r e s s o u r g r a t i t u d e t o t h e m a n y c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s ,
a u t h o r s , a n d t ri p l e a d e rs wh o s e e f f o rt s m a k e i t s o . Mu c h
wo rk wa s done, also, by members who shared the serious
responsibilities of the Society, but whose names do not
appear in these formal listings.
These conscientious workers find their reward in your
enthusiastic attendance, and your appreciative acceptance
and use of the guidebook. They gain, also, in ability and
e f f e c t i v e n e s s i n t h e i r o wn f i e l d o f e n d e a v o r t h r o u g h t h e
e xp e r i e n c e o f t h i s c o o p e r a t i v e e f f o r t . T h i s i s t h e wa y a n
e f f e c t i v e s c i e n t i f i c s o c i e t y wo r k s , a n d t h i s i s t h e r e a s o n
it is effective.
The members of the executive committee welcome you.
W e k n o w yo u wi l l e n j o y t h e c o m ra d e s h i p a n d d i s c u s s i o n s
with friends of m utual interest. W e believe you will be
inspired by inspection of geologic phenomena from Pre c a m b ri a n t o Re c e n t , a n d f ro m s t ra t i g ra p h i c a n d s t ru c t u ra l
to igneous and m ineralized. W e hope you will be
s t i m u l a t e d b y t h e i n v i g o r a t i n g c l i m a t e f r o m wa r m , l o w
d e s e r t s to cool, majestic pine-clad mountains.
J o i n u s , t o o , n e xt M a y a t o u r T e c h n i c a l M e e t i n g i n
Albuquerque. And plan ahead for our next Field Confer e n c e . O u r d e l a y e d p l a n s wi t h t h e A r i z o n a G e o l o g i c a l
S o ciety should develop, and will take us into the "Tonto
Rim " c o u n t r y f r o m we s t e r n m o s t- c e n t r a l N e w M e xi c o i n t o
e a s t - central Arizona.
Richard D. Holt, President
New Mexico Geological Society
4
NE W ME XI CO G E O LO G I CA L S O CI E T Y
* T W E LF T H F I E LD CO NF E RE NCE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Ri c h a rd D. Ho l t
P re s i d e n t
Humble Oil and Refining Co.
E l m e r H. B o l t z, J r.
V i c e-P re s i d e n t
U. S. Geological Survey, Water Resources
Di vi s i o n
F ra n k B . T i t u s , J r.
S e c re t a ry
U. S. Geological Survey, Water Resources
Di vi s i o n
W olfgang E. Elston
T re a s u re r
De p a rt m e n t o f G e o l o g y, Un i ve rs i t y o f Ne w
Me xi c o
F ra n k E . K o t t l o ws k i
P a s t P re s i d e n t
Ne w Me xi c o B u re a u o f Mi n e s a n d Mi n e ra l
Re s o u rc e s
FIELD CONFERENCE COMMITTEES
Ch a rl e s B . Re a d
G e n e ra l Ch a i rm a n
U. S . G e o l o g i c a l S u rve y, P a l e o n t o l o g y a n d
Stratigraphy Branch
Guidebook Committee
S t u a rt A . No rt h ro p
Editor
Departm ent of Geology, University of New
Mexico
Road Logging Committee
V i n c e n t C. K e l l e y
Ch a i rm a n
De p a rt m e n t o f G e o l o g y, Un i ve rs i t y o f
New Mexico
Ro y A . B a i l e y
U. S. Geological Survey
E l m e r H. B a l t z, J r.
U. S. Geological Survey, W ater Resources
Division
Registration Committee
F re d e ri c k J . K u e l l m e r
Ch a i rm a n
N e w M e xi c o B u r e a u o f M i n e s a n d M i n e r a l
Resources
Caravan Committee
Frank E. Kottlowski
Sam Thompson, Ill
Co - Ch a i rm a n
Ne w Me xi c o B u re a u o f Mi n e s a n d Mi n e ra l
Resources
Co - Ch a i rm a n
Humble Oil and Refining Co.
Advertising Committee
James L. Albright
Ch a i rm a n
Pubco Petroleum Corp.
Finance Committee
Wolfgang E. Elston
De p a rt m e n t o f G e o l o g y, Un i ve rs i t y o f Ne w
Mexico
Catering Committee
S. Eugene Buell
Ch a i rm a n
U. S . G e o l o g i c a l S u rve y, W a t e r Re s o u rc e s
Division
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 • TW ELFTH FIELD CONFERENCE
5
PUBLICATIONS OF THE NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
by Roger Y. Anderson and John W . Harshbarger;
2 0 5 p a g e s , 1 0 5 i l l u s t r a t i o n s , h a r d b i n d i n g . P r ep a r e d i n c o o p e r a t i o n wi t h t h e A r i zo n a G e o l o gical Society. $8.50
10.
G u i d e b o o k o f we s t-c e n t ra l Ne w Mexico; Tenth
Field Conference, 1959; edited by James E. W eir,
J r . a n d E l m e r H . B o l t z , J r . ; 1 6 2 p a g e s , 8 3 i l l u strations, hard binding. $8.50
11.
G u i d e b o o k o f R i o C h a m a c o u n t r y [ N e w M e xi c o
and Colorado]; Eleventh Field Conference, 1960;
e d i t e d b y E d wa r d C . B e a u m o n t a n d C h a r l e s B .
Re a d ; 1 2 9 p a g e s , 3 5 i l l u s t ra t i o n s , h a rd b i n d i n g .
$8.50
12.
Guidebook of the Albuquerque country [New
M e x i c o ] ; T w e l f t h F i e l d C o n f er e n c e ; e d i t e d b y
Stuart A. Northrop; hard b i n d i n g .
$9.50.
T h e s e p u b l i c a t i o n s a re a va i l a b l e b y m a i l (p l e a s e a d d 2 5 ¢
for handling and postage) from the New Mexico Bureau
of Mines and Mineral Resources, Cam pus Station, Socorro,
N e w M e x i c o . A l s o o v e r -t h e -c o u n t e r s a l e s a t e i t h e r t h e
B u re a u o f Mi n e s o r t h e De p a rt m e n t o f G e o l o g y, Un i ve rs i t y
of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Checks should be m ade
payable to the New Mexico Geological Society. Geolo g i c m a p s a c c o m p a n y i n g c e r t a i n g u i d e b o o k s a r e a v a i lable by mail or over the counter at the Bureau of Mines,
Socorro, as follows:
(a) Geologic map of the Sierra County region, New Mex ico; compiled by Vincent C. Kelley; accompanies
Guidebook of the Sixth Field Conference. $1.00
( b) Geologic map of the Rio Chama country; compiled
b y Cl a y T . S m i t h a n d W i l l i a m R. Mu e h l b e rg e r; a cc o m p a n i e s G u i d e b o o k o f t h e E l e ve n t h F i e l d Co n f e rence. $0.50
(c) Geologic map of the Albuquerque country; compiled
b y S t u a rt A . No rt h ro p a n d A rl e t t e Hi l l ; a c c o m p a n i e s
G u i d e b o o k o f t h e T we l f t h F i e l d C o n f e r e n c e . $ 1 . 0 0
Guidebook of the San Juan Basin [covering
n o r t h a n d e a s t s i d e s ] , N e w M e x i c o a n d C o l orado; First Field Conference, 1950; edited by
Vincent C. Kelley and others; 153 pages, 40 il lustrations. (Out of print)
Guidebook of the south and west sides of the
S a n J u a n B a s i n , N e w M e xi c o a n d A r i z o n a ; S e c ond Field Conference, 1951; edited by Clay T.
S m i t h a n d C a s we l l S i l v e r ; 1 6 3 p a g e s , 6 9 i l l u s trations. (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)
G u i d e b o o k o f s o u t h we s t e rn Ne w Me xi c o ; F o u rt h
F i e l d Co n f e re n c e , 1 9 5 3 ; e d i t e d b y F ra n k E . K o t t l o ws k i a n d o t h e r s ; 1 6 5 p a g e s , 6 7 i l l u s t r a t i o n s .
$5.00
Guidebook of southeastern New Mexico; Fifth
Field Conference, 1954; edited by T. F. Stipp;
213 pages, 83 illustrations. $5.00
G u i d e b o o k o f s o u t h- c e n t r a l N e w M e xi c o ; S i xt h
F i e ld C o n f e r e n c e , 1 9 5 5 ; e d i t e d b y J . P a u l F i t z s i m m o n s ; 1 9 3 p a g e s , 7 0 i l l u s t ra t i o n s . P re p a re d
wi t h t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f t h e R o s we l l G e o l o g i c a l
Society. $7.00 (Only a few copies left)
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
0
SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 5
5:00 - 10:00 p.m .
Registration, New Mexico Union, University of New Mexico Cam pus, Albuquerque,
New Mexico.
Friday, October 6
Caravan assem bles on East Central (U. S. 66 -East) at Juan Tabo Road.
7:30 a.m .
Saturday, October 7
7:30 a.m .
Caravan assembles on West Central (U. S. 66-West), 3 miles west of Rio Grande
bridge.
Sunday, October 8
Caravan assem bles on San Mateo Blvd., N.E., at Montgom ery Road.
7:30 a.m.
Field Conference ends near Santa Fe.
0
6
NE W
ME XI CO
G E O LO G I CA L
S O CI E T Y
*
T W E LF T H
F I E LD
CO NF E RE NCE
A FEW WORDS FROM THE EDITOR
A glance at the accompanying geologic map (in
pocket) will reveal that Albuquerque is not at the geographic center of the map-area. One of the chief
r e a s o n s f o r t h i s i s t h a t t h e U. S . G e o l o g i c a l S u rve y' s
re vi s e d m a p o f t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n q u a r t e r o f t h e S t at e h a s
n o t y e t b e e n p u b l i s h e d . T h e m a p f r o m wh i c h t h e
G u i d e b o o k m a p wa s c o m p i l e d i s Da n e a n d B a c h m a n ' s
(1 9 5 7 ) " P re l i m i n a ry g e o l o g i c m a p o f t h e n o r t h w e s t e r n
part of New Mexic o" (U. S. Geol. Survey Misc. Geol.
I n v . M a p 1- 2 2 4 ) , wh i c h d i s t i n g u i s h e s m o re t h a n 7 8
s t ra t i g ra p h i c u n i t s . I t s e e m e d t o s o m e o f u s t h a t a m a p
designed for use on a field conference, in conjunction
wi t h a road l og, s houl d be k ept as simple as possible.
T h u s , t h e G u i d e b o o k m a p e m p l o ys o n l y 1 0 s t r a t i g r a p h i c
units. (In the planning stages, we referred to our map
a s a " 6 0 - m i l e- a n -h o u r m a p . " )
It has not been possible to cover all aspects of the
geology of the Albuquerque country in this Guidebook.
The Guidebook does not pretend to be a c om pendium
of all that is known of the geology of the area. Many
significant facets are described in one or more chapters,
but several short articles m ight have been prepared to deal
wi t h c e r t a i n o t h e r a s p e c t s . T h e g e o l o g i c l i t e r a t u r e i s
v o l um inous and m any im portant published papers are
neither c i t e d i n t h e t e xt n o r e v e n i n c l u d e d i n t h e s e v e r a l
lists of references. At one tim e we thought of com piling
a c o m p l e t e b i b l i o g ra p h y —a s o rt o f m a s t e r b i b l i o g ra p h y —
f o r t h e G u i d e b o o k , b u t t h i s wo u l d h a v e e n t a i l e d s o m u c h
r e p e t i t i o n t h a t we a b a n d o n e d t h e i d e a .
G e o g r a p h i c N a m e s . — M a p- m a k e r s s e e m t o d e l i g h t i n
c h a n g i n g g e o g r a p h i c n a m e s i n t h e S o u t h we s t . N o t e t h e
following changes in nam es of certain features in the area
on U. S. G. S. maps from 1928 to 1960.
Darton's Geologic Map
(1928)
Ladron Pk
Mesa Chivato
Nacim iento Mts
San Pedro Mtn
(near Cuba)
San Pedro Mts
(near Golden)
Valle Mts
New Mexico Base Map
(1960)
Ladron Mts
Cebolleta Mts
Sierra Nacimiento
San Pedro Mountains
[error]
[not named]
Jemez Mountains
T h e L a d ro n Mo u n t a i n s , j u s t s o u t h o f t h e s o u t h e d g e o f t h e
G u i d e b o o k m a p , h a v e a l s o b e e n r e f e r r e d t o a s S i e r r a L adron and Sierra Ladrones. The Jemez Mountains have
b e e n c a l l e d t h e S i e rra d e l o s V a l l e s ; t h e l a t t e r t e rm i s
p rop e rl y a p p l i e d t o o n l y a p a rt o f t h e m o u n t a i n s
s u rm o u n t i n g t h e J e m e z P l a t e a u . T h e g re a t d e p re s s i o n a t
the summit of the Jem ez Plateau has been called Jem ez
crater, Jemez caldera, Valles crater, Valles caldera, and
is often referred t o by m any l oc al peopl e as t he V al l e
G r a n d e . A c t ually, Valle Grande is sim ply one of several
valleys occupy ing the caldera, as pointed out by Ross,
Sm ith, and Bailey in their article in the Guidebook.
Editorial P o l i c y. —E d i t o ri a l p o l i c i e s a n d p ra c t i c e s c h a n g e
c o n t i n u a l l y. I n s o m e o f t h e S o c i e t y' s g u i d e b o o k s , t h e e d i t o rs h a ve g i ve n c o n t ri b u t o rs a f re e h a n d , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e
format of citing references. In view of the commendable
a t t e m p t s i n r e c e n t y e a r s t o s t a n d a r d i z e t h e o r d e r o f c i t at i o n i n b i b l i o g ra p h i c l i s t s (s e e " S u g g e s t i o n s t o a u t h o rs o f
the reports of the U. S. Geological Survey," 5th ed., p.
107) and also to standardize the abbreviations used in
citations (ibid., p. 111 -118), your editor has made a
valiant attempt to achieve some degree of uniformity in
this Guidebook. He apologizes to certain author s for
m a k i n g e xt e n s i ve a l t e ra t i o n s i n f o rm a t , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e i r
lists of references. Practically every reference has been
checked for the nam e of the author, the date, the title, the
s o u rc e (p e ri o d i c a l , s e ri e s , e t c . ), t h e vo l u m e n u m b e r, a n d
pages. The bibliographies are thus believed to be relative ly free of errors.
I n c i d e n t a l l y , t h e e d i t o r h a s n o t f o l l o we d G e o l o g i c a l
S u r v e y s t y l e i n e v e r y p a r t i c u l a r . F o r e xa m p l e , h e p r e f e r s
"New Mexico" to the Survey's fam iliar abbreviation "N.
M e x. " H e d o e s n o t c a r e f o r t h e S u r v e y ' s u s e o f " N . M e x.
U n i v . " , b u t p r e f e r s " U n i v . N e w M e xi c o " ( p a r t l y b e c a u s e
the institution near Las Cruces now calls itself "New Mexico
State University"). He has generally shortened "New
Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology S tate Bureau of
Mi n e s a n d Mi n e ra l Re s o u rc e s " t o " Ne w Me xi c o B u r. Mi n e s
and Mineral Res." The editor has a distinct aversion to the
recently adopted capitalization of stratigraphic term s, such
as system, group, and formation, in "Permian System,"
" S a n t a F e Gro u p , " " Ma d e ra L i m e s t o n e . " A g a i n , t h e e d i t o r
sees no necessity for the hyphen in such color terms as "light
g r a y " o r " r e d d i s h b r o wn " wh e n u s e d a s m o d i f i e r s b e f o r e
t h e n o u n . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , h e h a s re t a i n e d t h e h yp h e n
i n s uc h t erm s as " ol i ve - green" and " choc ol at e - brown. "
(The reader will find som e inconsistencies in hyphening of
color terms between chapters edited early and those edited
l a t e . ) W ri t e rs h a ve b e e n a l l o we d i n d i vi d u a l p re f e re n c e i n
some cases; some prefer "Abo Pass" and others, "Abo
pass;" some prefer "Sandia Crest" and others, "Sandia
crest." Some prefer "aligned" and others, "alined."
The Geological Survey has long frowned on citation of
theses and dissertations on the grounds that "unpublished
t hes es generally are not c onvenient ly available. " Howe v e r , s u c h m a t e r i a l i s n o w b e c o m i n g a v a i l a b l e i n m i c r ofilm form. In this Guidebook frequent citation of unpubl i s h e d t h e s e s i s m a d e . W e b e l i e ve t h a t s u c h a g re a t s t o re house of information should not go unmentioned.
Every paper submitted for the Guidebook has been
read by Charles B. Read, and the editor has profited great ly by his long experience with field conferences and guide books.
Stuart A. Northrop
7
NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY <> TWELFTH FIELD CONFERENCE
PHYSIOGRAPHIC SETTING
According to the well-known Fenneman map, "Physical Divisions of the United States" (U. S. Geol. Survey,
1930), within a radius of 90 miles of Albuquerque there
are three major physiographic divisions, four provinces,
and seven sections, as follows:
INTERIOR PLAINS major division
Great Plains province
Raton section (13g)
Pecos Valley section (13h)
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SYSTEM major division
Southern Rocky Mountains province (16)
(not subdivided into sections)
INTERMONTANE PLATEAUS major division
Colorado Plateaus province
Navajo section (21d)
Datil section (21f)
Basin and Range province
Mexican Highland section (22d)
Sacramento section (22e)
Characteristics of the sections are as follows:
Raton section: trenched peneplain surmounted by dissected lava-capped plateaus and buttes.
Pecos Valley section: late mature to old plain.
Southern Rocky Mountains province: complex mountains of various types; intermont basins.
Navajo section: young plateaus; smaller relief than
the Canyon Lands section (21c) of Colorado and Utah.
Datil section: lava flows entire or in remnants; volcanic necks.
Mexican Highland section: isolated ranges ( largely
dissected block mountains) separated by aggraded desert
plains.
Sacramento section: mature block mountains of gently tilted strata; block plateaus; bolsons.
The only section well represented in the State that
does not approach to within 90 miles of Albuquerque is
the High Plains (13d), about 150 miles east of Albuquerque. The Canyon Lands section (21c) barely enters
the State at the northwest corner; this is about 175 miles
from Albuquerque.
Note that the Rocky Mountains terminate between
Santa Fe and Las Vegas, despite a National Geographic
Society map that shows them extending clear across New
Mexico and terminating in West Texas. (It is reliably reported that the reason for this was that the Society had
many members residing in Texas who liked to think that
their State included a bit of the Rockies! These people still
invade New Mexico and Colorado to fish.) Of course,
it all depends on the point of view. Structurally, the
Sandia-Manzano Range may partake of some of the characteristics of the Southern Rocky Mountains province, but
Fenneman's classification stresses physiography, and the
Rio Grande depression, the Sandia-Manzano Range, and
the Estancia bolson certainly resemble Basin and Range
physiography—with "isolated ranges ( largely dissected
block mountains) separated by aggraded desert plains."
/A
D
0 -
I V
1
r
-
ii
•••
-----
1 —
\ '-., /
''''''',
kc".f
MIL
—
)---
1
_
-
',4 1
S
---,,,- i
i
, 7- . ,v)-i , •
,
Li-)
Fe
.
-
)
7 •••• --""
,-"---:•
I
(1-----4
am, ale
A
i7 N
•
1f
\ j1 2 ._
7,,•
,,,,
/
i
_I
Il x
I
,
,--- ,
,
---,,
0
i
Lad ii
I
<
13 ti
\
1
I 'IC
'-->
Fipswell
,
=limo.
A416-A
,
C \ „E ,
,
22
i
e
,...p
ih.ww.
,:.,
\
T.
_
..„... ..,
'7'
1
Scale
100
7 000 000
00
300
Sur.
300 KILOMETERS
Physiographic divisions of New Mexico.
Adapted from Fenneman (1930).
0—
MILES
8
NE W ME XI CO G E O LO G I CA L S O CI E T Y
* T W E LF T H F I E LD CO NF E RE NCE
PHOTO MOSAIC MAPS OF SANDIA, LUCERO,
AND JEMEZ AREAS, CENTRAL NEW MEXICO
LOWELL E. BOGART
Bogart and Wilson, Photogeologists, Albuquerque
INTRODUCTION
This paper is intended to dem onstrate use of m osaics
in reconnaissance mapping of land form, rock type, and
r e g i o n a l s t r u c t u r e . T h e p h o t o m a p p r o v i d e s a n e xc e l l e n t
base for compilation of geologic data. All the qualities
o f a m a p a r e c o m b i n e d wi t h t h e i n f i n i t e d e t a i l o f a p h o t o graph to present geologic data in a completeness unap p r o a c h a b l e wi t h l i n e d r a wi n g .
Three maps are presented, one for each trip of the
three- day conference. They are: Figure 1, Sandia
M o u n tains- Hagan Basin Area; Figure 2, Lucero Area; and
Figure 3 , J e m e z A r e a . W h e r e p o s s i b l e , t h e r o u t e
t r a v e r s e d a n d stops are shown.
Each map delineates land forms that are clearly
e xp re s s e d b y re a s o n o f ro c k t yp e , e l e va t i o n , o r s t ru c t u re .
Lithologic type and stratigraphic position are shown only in
t h e b ro a d e s t s e n s e . S t ru c t u ra l g ra i n i s m a p p e d i n a d e t a i l
dependent upon degree of expression visible on aerial
photographs.
It must be emphasized that all data presented here
re s u l t f ro m m o s a i c i n t e rp re t a t i o n wi t h o u t b e n e f i t o f s t e re o s c o p i c s t u d y. A c c o rd i n g l y, t h e p o s i t i o n , o r e ve n p re s e n c e ,
of some data on the maps may precipitate controversy.
With this pleasant thought, we plunge into the three areas.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks are due Sinclair Oil and Gas Company and
the Ground W ater Br anch of the U. S. Geological Survey
for loan of m osaics. Gratitude is extended Charles de
S u t t e r f o r a i d i n g e o l o g i c a n n o t a t i o n a n d G e n e D. W i l s o n
for critical review of the paper.
SANDIA MOUNTAINS-HAGAN BASIN AREA
Figure 1, bounded by 35°00', 35°30' N. Lat. and 106°
0 0 ' , 1 0 6 ° 3 0 ' W . L o n g . , i n c l u d e s t h e S a n d i a -S a n P e d ro -O r t i z Mo u n t a i n s c h a i n a n d b o rd e ri n g b a s i n s . Ro c k s ra n g i n g
in age from Precambrian to Recent crop out.
Geomorphology
T h e S a n d i a M o u n t a i n s t r e n d N -S a l o n g t h e we s t e r n
s i d e o f t h e m a p . P r e c a m b r i a n g r a n i t e o c c u p i e s t h e we s tern face of the mountains and is partially buried by allu vi a l f a n s t o t h e we s t . G ra n i t e t e rra n e i s c h a ra c t e ri s t i c a l l y
j o i n t e d . D e n d r i t i c d r a i n a g e e r o d e s g r a n i t e i n t o a t e xt u r e
of spines and pinnacles. Superposed upon the gran ite
and dipping eastward into the Tijeras and Hagan coal
b a s i n s i s a s e d i m e n t a ry s e q u e n c e f ro m P e n n s yl va n i a n t o
Cretaceous in age. The Pennsylvanian limestone that forms
the dip slope of the Sandia Mountains supports dense
tree cover.
The South Mountain- San Pedro Mountains -Ortiz Moun t a i n s- C e r r i l l o s H i l l s c h a i n f o r m s a n i n t r u s i v e b e l t . N o t e
the distinctive texture of these areas. All of the peaks
except Cerrillos Hills, at the north end, have coarse, rugged
texture and dendritic drainage. Cerrillos Hills are low,
p a rt i a l l y o b s c u re d a n d e xh i b i t f i n e t e xt u re o n p h o t o s . T h e
well- exposed geom orphology and structure of the porphyry
belt is bounded on the east by the featureless Estancia
Valley.
The barren lowland between Ortiz Mountains and
Sandia Mountains is a synclinal area called the
Hagancoal basin. Strata in the basin are partially
covered by pediment gravel on the eastern side and
faulted against Tert i ary S ant a Fe beds on t he wes t ern
s i d e . No t e t h e dendritic, sharp texture of the drainage
pattern on the San ta Fe formation. This type of drainage
pattern occurs on shales and unconsolidated fine
c l a s t i c s . P r e d o m i n a n t lithology of Santa Fe beds is
sandstone and siltstone which are poorly consolidated.
Characteristic of semi-arid climates, all the uplift areas
a r e s u rro u n d e d a n d p a rt i a l l y o b s c u re d b y a l l u vi a l aprons
of their own erosional debris.
Structure
T h e S a n d i a M o u n t a i n - H a g a n b a s i n a r e a c l e a r l y e xhibits several major structural features. Tijeras fault is
one of major proportion trending NE- SW through Tijeras
Canyon. It appears to have large vertical and horizontal
d i s p l a c e m e n t . A l o n g i t s t ra c e t h e f a u l t f o rm s t h e b o u n d a ry
of several features: an area of metamorphic terrane, the
Tijeras coal basin, and a Precambrian block northeast of
San Antonito.
T h e H a g a n f a u l t f o r m s t h e we s t e r n b o u n d a r y o f t h e
Hagan basin and terminates the north end of the Sandia
Mo u n t a i n s . S a n t a F e b e d s o n t h e we s t a re f a u l t e d a g a i n s t
Cretaceous and older strata to the east.
T h e L a B a j a d a f a u l t e xt e n d s n o rt h wa rd f ro m t h e we s t
side of the Ortiz Mountains. Its throw accounts for the
s a m e Cre t a c e o u s b e d s o n b o t h s i d e s o f t h e f a u l t , d i p p i n g
s t e e p l y e a s t wa r d b u t s e p a r a t e d b y s e v e r a l m i l e s . N o r t h ward, the fault scarp rises to form a prom inent physio graphic feature.
There appears to be a major fault zone along the
topographic saddle occupied by San Antonito and ex tending southeastward into the Estancia Valley. The
T i j e ra s c o a l b a s i n a p p e a rs d o wn f a u l t e d t wo m i l e s s o u t h o f
a
Precambrian
block.
To
the
southeast,
the
P e n n s y l v a n i a n outcrop terminates along this line.
The Tijeras coal basin is a folded wedge of Creta c e o u s ro c k s l yi n g b e t we e n t wo m a j o r f a u l t s . T h ro w o n t h e
Tijeras fault m ust be great because Precam brian basem ent
is several thousand feet below the coal basin whereas
b a s e m e n t i s u p t h r o wn t o 1 0 , 0 0 0 f e e t a b o v e s e a l e v e l i n
the Sandia Mountains a few miles west.
The South Mountain- Ortiz Mountains- Cerrillos Hills
f o r m a b e l t o f i n t r u s i v e p o r p h y r y t r e n d i n g N N E -S S W . S u r rounding the intrusives is a radial dike swarm . The por phyry belt is cut by the Tijeras fault zone at an angle
near 30°.
LUCERO AREA
Figure 2, bounded by 34°30', 35°00' N. Lat. and
107°15', 107°45' W . Long., illustrates the Lucero uplift and
a d j a c e n t b a s a l t -c a p p e d m e s a s . T h e u p l i f t h a s m o n o c l i n a l
west dip and is bordered on the east by a m ajor thrust
fault, Comanche fault.
Geomorphology
The Lucero uplift is dom inated by a NE -trending scarp
of Perm ian beds which plunges northward under
bas alt - capped Mesa Lucero. To the east the scarp
r a p i d l y d e s cends into an open, low relief valley of Permian and
Penn-
Cortilins
/ / I n t r uTs i v e
i
38•1,
FAULT W.
FRACTURE
A DINE
FECAM,
NOER, SPAT I, CONES
EUS/VE. TERTIAR 
I MINERAL
'AE STONE
NI494,11±E
FLO,
CINDER: SPATTER CONES'
T INTRUSIVE,
B
.TRIASSIC
p
PERMIAN
jP
PENNSYLVAMAN
€
I. L M
PRECAMBRIAN
LIMEBTONE
,LANDSLVb - TALUS
TERTIARY
sPEnNo (PEINERAL I
"
Cabl • BASALT ( BLOW)
T v
„sk
NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY <> TWELFTH FIELD CONFERENCE
sylvanian rocks. The dip slope on Permian rocks is west erly and northwesterly.
The western portion of the map shows several prom inent m esas that are capped with basalt. A very distinc tive geom orphic feature of this area is the halo of land s l i d e t a l u s p e ri p h e ra l t o e a c h f l o w. W h e re f l o ws c a p i n competent Triassic Chinle shale, the talus forms stair steeps
of concentric landslide blocks. The talus apron is usually
wider on the western side of flows because of the angle of
divergence between flow surfaces and underlying beds.
Note this condition surrounding Mesa del Oro. Sediments
and lava converge at the northern tip of the mesa where
local dip of strata is south. In areas where basalt flows
o c c u r u p d i p a n d l i e o n P e rm i a n s a n d s t o n e s , t h e a p ro n
of landslide is missing.
The open valley, between Cerro Verde and the Juras sic cliffs in the northwest corner of the map, is formed on
Triassic shale. The ENE- W SW lineations in the center of
t h e va l l e y s u g g e s t f ra c t u ri n g b u t m a y b e m e re l y t h e re sult of sand which is aligned by prevailing winds through
wind gaps. The marked lineation, however, suggests struc tural origin.
Structure
Forces that elevated Lucero uplift, and folded and
ruptured the rocks, appear to be essentially E- W
compression. This compression thrust Pennsylvanian
rocks toward the east and aligned fold axes in a N -S
direction. Major faulting and folding is generally N- S in
the southern part of the area. To the north this direction
is com plem ented by NE- and NW -trending fau lts. The
area between Mesa L u c e ro a n d G a l l i n a Me s a i s
c o m p l e xl y f a u l t e d i n a p a t tern suggesting shear.
Elsewhere, the pattern suggests nor mal faulting of small
magnitude.
A l o n g t h e s o u t h e rn e d g e o f t h e m a p , s e ve ra l N- S
a n t i c l i n e s a re we l l e xp o s e d . Co n s p i c u o u s l y a b s e n t a re
well-defined synclines separating the anticlines. This sug gests that folds are denuded only slightly into the am pli tude of folding, so that synclines are sharp and narrow in
extent com pared to anticlines. In som e cases it appears
that this condition results in two anticlines being separated
merely by a fault. The anticlines have steep limbs, narrow
l i n e a r t re n d , a n d s m a l l a re a o f c l o s u re . I n m o s t c a s e s ,
plunge is north. Because of shape and size of these folds,
t h e y a re n o t a t t ra c t i ve as e xp l o ra t i o n t a rg e t s f o r
p e t ro l e u m . Mu c h g re a t e r i m p o rt a n c e c a n b e a t t a c h e d
t o t h e broad structural highs that are suggested in several
places by open, semicircular amphitheaters eroded in cliffformers.
JEMEZ AREA
Figure 3, bounded by 35°30', 36°00' N. Lat. and
106°00', 107°00' W . Long., includes the prominent Jemez
c a l d e ra b o rd e re d o n t h e we s t b y t h e Na c i m i e n t o u p l i f t
and on the east by the Rio Grande graben.
Geomorphology
The Jemez caldera, one of the three largest extinct
volcanoes known, is a feature of great impact when viewed
on aerial photographs. It has a circular rim, approximately
12 miles in diameter, which represents the central collapsed
portion of the volcano. W ithin the rim are numerous
younger cones resulting from renewed activity. Redondo
Peak is the largest of these. Valle Grande is an elongated,
open valley in the southeastern part of the caldera. The
volcano is centered over the western fault boundary of the
Ri o G ra n d e g ra b e n . T h i s b o u n d a ry f a u l t zo n e n o d o u b t
provided an avenue for the escape of extrusives.
Completely surrounding the caldera is the main slop ing body of the volcano which has been deeply dissected
by drainage. This slope, from rim to base, is an average
d i s t a n c e o f 1 4 m i l e s . T h u s , t h e e n t i re vo l c a n o h a s a n
approximate diameter of 40 miles.
11
Along the west side of Jemez volcano is Nacimiento
Mountains, a fault block uplifted and partially thrust over
sedim ents of the San Juan Baisn. The west front of the
Nacimiento Mountains is a prominent geomorphic as well
a s s t ru c t u ra l f e a t u re . I t i s m a i n l y a h i g h -a n g l e re ve rs e
fault but forms o thrust in places. The fault is a strikingly
linear boundary between granite terrane on the east and
the steeply dipping hogback on the west.
Two areas of basaltic extrusion occur near the base
of Jem ez volcano. Santa Ana Mesa, com posed of flows
and cinder cones, is located due south of Jemez caldera.
Only the northernmost portion of Santa Ana Mesa is
shown. Cerros del Rio is located southeast o f Jemez caldera
and is composed of flows and a large mass of cinder cones.
The La Bajada scarp forms the western border of Cerros
del Rio.
Most of the area south and east of Jem ez volcano,
with the exception of the two areas of extrusives, is covered
b y S a n t a F e b e d s o f T e rt i a ry a g e . T h e S a n t a F e f o rm a tion contains a variety of unconsolidated sands and silts
which erode into a finely dendritic drainage pattern very
similar to that formed on shale. Note the area of parallel
drainage southwest of Pojoaque wh ich contrasts with surrounding textures. Although on one flank of a drainage
divide, it may have a structural rather than a geomorphic
origin.
Structure
Na c i m i e n t o u p l i f t , wi t h a s s o c i a t e d f a u l t i n g , d o m i n a t e s t h e s t ru c t u ra l g ra i n o f F i g u re 3 . Na c i m i e n t o f a u l t ,
separating basin from uplift, is long and linear. Intersec t i n g t h i s f a u l t a t a p p ro xi m a t e l y 4 5 ° i s a c o m p l e x s e t o f
N E - a n d N W- t r e n d i n g f a u l t s . T h e y a p p e a r t o b e t e a r
faults while faults trending N -S are norm al. One prom in ent NE -trending fault zone bisects Sierra Nacimiento and
extends southwestward into the Basin. The entire south west flank of Jemez Mountains is complexly faulted.
Another area of com plex faulting is Cerros del Rio.
NE- trending faults appear to terminate against La Bajada
f a u l t . No te t h e l i n e a r c o u rs e o f Ri o G ra n d e p a ra l l e l t o
these faults. Therefore, this portion of the river m ay be
fault controlled but there is no direct evidence visible on
photographs. Similariy, this portion of the river is parallel
to the margin of the Rio Grande graben.
Several faults are shown on the dissected volcanic
s l o p e o f J e m e z Mo u n t a i n s . S o m e e xh i b i t f a i r e vi d e n c e
while others are conjectural.
J u s t we s t o f S a n Y s i d ro i s a n o rm a l f a u l t o f l a rg e
throw that elevates Red Mesa. The m esa plunges south
under Ri o Salado valley and its edges are upturned by
faults both on the east and west.
A l o n g t h e we s t s i d e o f Na c i m i e n t o f a u l t t h e re a re
several folds plunging northwestward into the San Juan
B a s i n . T h e y d i ve rg e f ro m Na c i m i e n t o f a u l t a t a n a n g l e
o f 1 5 ° . T h e y a p p e a r , t h e r e f o r e , t o b e d r a g f o l d s a s s ociated with a major wrench fault—the Nacimiento fault.
Several hot springs occur parallel to Nacimiento fault
b u t s o m e d i s t a n c e we s t . T h e y i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e m a j o r
frontal fault is, in actuality, a zone of rupture that extends
somewhat west of the surface trace.
SUMMARY
Aerial mosaics are uniquely descriptive in presenta tion of geom orphic and structural data. Figure 1 shows
the fault- block Sandia Mountains, the northeastward -ex tending belt of porphyry intrusions, and intervening basins.
Figure 2 illustrates the monoclinal west dip of the Lucero
u p l i f t a n d n u m e ro u s b a s a l t -c a p p e d m e s a s . F i g u re 3 i s
dominated by the very large Jemez volcano and the fault block Nacimiento Mountains bordering the San Juan Basin.
JEMEZ MTN. AREA
3 i Oar ROUTE
-7
I
s-
a
------
Q1
THIRD
DAY
_
Montoomery
Candelaria
Blvd.
-
_
Road
Menoul
Blvd.
Indian
School
Road
0
0
Constitution
0
Avenue
Lomas
Blvd.
Central
-J
SECOND
DAY
Avenue
arid
a
DAY
o
c o
o
(,)
~`;Municipol L.
I Airport
1/4
SCALE
1/I
1 MILE
H
AH
Figure 1. — Road index of Albuquerque showing assembly points for the three field trips.