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1 | NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY I . Guidebook OF SOUTHEASTERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS NEW MEXICO SEVENTH FIELD CONFERENCE OCTOBER19,20 & 21, 1956 NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * SEVENTH FIELD CONFERENCE CONTENTS NewMexico Geological Society, Officers andCommittees ........................................... 7 Acknowledgements .......................................................................... 8 Schedule .............................................................................. 9 Instructions ............................................................................ 12 ¯....... :.................................. Introduction ByA.Rosenzweig ....................................................................... 13 FirstDayof FieldConference Resume ofGeology ...................................................................... 15 Road Log ........................................................................... 23 SecondDay of Conference Resume ofGeology ...................................................................... 49 Road Log ........................................................................... :.-53 ThirdDayof Conference Resume ofGeology ...................................................................... 82 Road Log ........................................................................... 87 Supplemental Road Log, Mora toSapello ............................................................. 94 Noteson theGeology of theSoutheastern Sangrede CristoMountains, NewMexico ByE.H.Baltz andG.O.Bachmanl ............................................................. 96 The Rio GrandeDepression fromTaosto SantaFe ByV.C.Kelley ........................................................................ 109. TheSantaFe Groupof North-CentralNew Mexico ByBrewster Baldwin ..................................................................... 115 LateCretaceous andTertiaery Stratigraphy of theRatonBasinof New Mexicoand Colorado ByR.B.Johnson, G.H.Dixon, andA.A.Wanek ............................................... 122 Stratigraphy of thePlainsAreaAdjacent to theSangrede Cristo Mountains, New Mexico ByR.L.Griggs and S.A.Northrop ............................................................. 134 Miningin theSouthern Partof theSangrede CristoMountains ByE.C.Anderson ....................................................................... 139 Precambrian Geologyof the PicurisRange,North-CentralNew Mexico ByArther Montgomery ..................................................................... 147 Members oftheNewMexico Geological Society ........................................................ 147 Business andProfessional Directory ..: ............................................................. 152 3 NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY ¯ SEVENTH FIELD CONFERENCE ILLUSTRATIONS RedRiver passfromReJica Peaknorth ofWheeler Peak........................ Frontispiece Mosaic ofSouthern Sangre deCristo Mountains ....................................................... 10-11 Graphic sections of Magdalena groupandSangrede Cristoformation intheSouthern Songre deCristo Mountains .................................................... 16 Mapshowing thethickness of rocksfromthe baseof theMagdalena group tothetopoftheAboorSangre deCristo formation ............................ 18 Graphic’sections of Permian rocksin thesouthern Sangrede Cristo Mountains ........................................................................ 19 Mapshowing combined thickness ofYesoandSanAdres formations ........................ 20 Index tomaps for first day ..................................................................... 24 Map 1-1.............................................................................. 25 Map 1-2.............................................................................. 26 Explanation forgeologic maps 1 -2and1-4........................................................... 27 Map 1-3 ............................................................................... 31 West wall ofPecos River canyon atDalton Campground ............................................ 34 West side ofPecos River atTerrero near Stop 2 ....................................................... 35 View tonorth through gorge ofPecos River ........................................................... 37 Map 1-4.............................................................................. 38 Glorieta Mesa from Pecos State Monument, Stop 4 ...................................................... 39 Bernal Butte ............................................................................ 42 Map 1-5.............................................................................. 43 Explanation formaps 1-5, 1-6, 2-3, and2-4......................................................... 44 Map 1-6and 2-1.......................................................................... 47 Graphic sections of Paleozoic rocksin partsof MoraCounty, New Mexico .......................................................................... 51 Index tomaps for second day .................................................................... 54 Map 2-2.............................................................................. 55 View ofeast front ofElkMountain Range from Stop I .............................................. 57 Southeast side ofHermit’s Peak ... ................................................................ 60 Panoramic viewsouth sideofGallinas River atMontezuma, Stop2 ...................... 63 Map 2-3............................................................................... 64 Map 2-4............................................................................... ........... 65 East front ofthemountains from north ofStorrie Lake ............................................ 66 NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * SEVENTH FIELD CONFERENCE Map 2-5.............................................................................. 68 P,ioherm inblack shale ofupper Sandia formation ...................................................... 70 View tonorth ofwind gapsouth ofMora River atStop 3 .......................................... 7:2 Map 2-6............................................................................... 73 View totheeast from Holman Hill atStop 4 .......................................................... 75 North side ofRioPueblo canyon atTres Rites skiarea.......................................... 77 Cross-beddedconglomeatic sandstone of theSandiaformation; north side ofRio Pueblo canyon ............................................................ 78 North sideofRioPueblo canyon west ofbridge atStop5 ........................................ 78 Map 2-7 and 3-1........................................................................... 80 81 View tonortheast across Taos ................................................................... Index toroad maps for third day .................................................................. 88 Map 3-2............................................................................... 89 Panoramic view ofMoreno Valley tothenorth ......................................................... 90 East side ofMoreno Valley near Monte Verde Ranch ................................................ 91 Hillnorth ofEagle Nestbetween damandEagle NestLodge .................................. 92 Panoramic viewof northsideof Comanche CreekwestofMutzRanch.................... 93 Geographic andphysiographic features of thesouthern Sangrede 97 Cri’sto mountains .................................................................... Relations of Paleozoic rocksin thesoutheastern Sangrede Cristo mountains ........................................................................ 98 Principal structural features of thesoutheastern Sangre de Cristo mountains andadjacent region inNewMexico .................................... 105 Structural profiles acrosspartsof thesoutheastern Sangre de Cristo mountains andadjacent region ......................................................... 106 Tectonic mapof theRioGrandedepression andadjacent regions 110 between Santa FeandTaos, NewMexico ....................................................... Regional sketch mapoftheRioGrande valley anditsenvirons ................................ 117 Nomenclature andtentative correlations of unitsin theSanta Fegroup ......................................................................... 118 123 Mapofthestructural Raton Basin ofNewMexico andColorado ................................ UpperCretaceous and Tertiary formations of the RatonMesa region and Huerfano Park ................................................................ 124 Contact relationships of Vermejo formation, Trinidad sandstone, 125 andPierre shalebetween Cimmaron andDawson, NewMexico .................... I sopachmapof theTrinidad sandstone in theRatonMesaregion "126 ofColorado and New Mexico ............................................................... NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * SEVENTH FIELD CONFERENCE I sopach map of the Vermejoformation in the RafonMesa region ofColorado andNewMexico ..................................................................... 127 Diagramshowinginferredintertonguing relationships of the PoisonCanyonformationand RatonformationbetweenWeston, Colorado andUtePark, NewMexico ................................................................ 129 Contactrelationships betweenPoisonCanyonformationand underlying Tertiaryand Cretaceous formations fromvicinityof Trinidad, Colorado tosouthern partofHuerfano Park, Colorado .................................... 130 Indexof miningdistricts in the southern partof the Sangre deCristo mountains .......................................................................... 139 Geologic mapofthePicuris Range ....................................................................... 144 NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * SEVENTH FIELD CONFERENCE NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICALSOCIETY OFFICERS ClayT. Smith President New MexicoInstitute of Miningand Technology Brewster Baldwin VicePresident StateBureauof Mines ShermanA. Wengerd Secretary University of NewMexico J. PaulFitzsimmons Treasurer University of NewMexico FIELD CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Generalchairman Brewster Baldwin StateBureauof Mines Road Log CharlesB. Read ElmerBaltz R. W. Foster U.S.Geological Survey U.S.Geological Survey StateBureauof Mines Triparrangements Willian E. Hale FrankTitus U.S.Geological Survey U.S.Geological Survey Reservations ZaneSpiegel P s Office StateEngineer Editor A. Rosenzweig University of New Mexico Assistant editor PhilipT. Hayes U.S.Geological Survey Publicity SidneySpiegel Consultant Advertising PaulM. Laird Sinclair Oil& GasCompany NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * SEVENTH FIELD CONFERENCE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The New Mexico GeoJogicaJSocietyand the membersof the ConferenceCommitteewish to acknowledge with gratitudeand appreciatation the assistance and cooperation of all thosemem10ers,individuals, organizations and advertisers who have contributed to the fieldconference and guidebook. The ’societyis particularly.indebted to the authorsof the variouspapersappearing in the guidebook. Theseindividuals have contributed generously of theirtime and knowledgeto furnish.invaluable materialfor the conference. A’special word of thanksis due thosepersonswhose effortsresulted in the roadlogs and geological resumeswhichare the core of our activities. To the Mutz brothersof EagJe Nest,Ed’Springer, and the MonteVerdeRanch,a word of thanks for permitting us to crossand trampletheirfertilefields.Both speakersand audienceaf the variousstopswill be gratefulto JamesW. McClureand the Lane-WellsCompanyfor furnishing the soundequipmentused on this trip.Our sincerethanksto the New MexicoStatePolice,and especially thoseofficersaccompanying the caravan,for theirassistance and cooperation in managingso long astringof cars.Finally,our appreciation to the following organizations and theirpersonnel who have contributed so generously of theirtime:the New MexicoInstitute of Miningand Technology, the ’StateBureauof Mines,the StateEngineer’s Office,the University of New Mexico,and the UnitedStatesGeologicalSurvey. NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * SEVENTH FIELD CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Thursday, October18. 3:00pm to 10:00pm.Registration. Lobbyof theLa FondaHotel, SantaFe. Friday, October 19. 7:30am Caravan assembles (seeroadlog). 8:00am CaravanleavesSantaFe. 12:00n Lunchat Cowles. 6:00pm Caravanarrives in LasVegas. Saturday, October 20. 7:30am Caravan assembles (seeroadlog). 8:00am CaravanleavesLas Vegas. 12:30pm Lunchsouthof Mora. 6:30pm Caravan arrives in Taos. 8:00pm Banquet-Smorgasbord, Sagebrush Inn,Taos. Sunday, October 21. 7:30am Caravanassembles (seeroadlog). 8:00am CaravanleavesTaos. 12:00n Lunchat EagleNest(pitbarbeque). 4:00pm Conference disbands at Stop4. 9 NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * SEVENTH FIELD CONFERENCE GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 1. Thestarting timeof8:00amindicated intheroadlogsisthetimeofdeparture ofthecaravan.Please assemble at 7:30am to insure prompt departure. 2. Eachcarshould be inlineaccording tothedesigned carnumbers. 3, Donotpassother caravan carson thehighway. 4. Inevent ofmechanical difficulties pulloffroadsothatother carsmaypass. Ifnecessary, flagthetow-truck which willbeattherearofthecaravan. 5. WARNINGIN THE ROADLOGSARE IN CAPITALS. Givethemyourattention. 6. Check points andsomeroadinstructions areinboldfacetype. 7. Please observe theinstructions oftheflagmen atthevarious stops. FIRE WARNING - THIS FALL HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY DRY ONE AND DANGER OF FOREST FIRES IS GREAT. DO NOT DISCARD MATCHES OR CIGARETTES FROM CAR WINDOWS OR AT THE STOPS. 12 NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY,* SEVENTH FIELD CONFERENCE INTRODUCTION a Tewavillage, knownto us as PecosPueblo.The pueblo is believed to have beenbuiltabout1350,andconsisted By of twolargecommunal dwellings of morethan500rooms each. It was the easternmost pueblo at thetimeof Spanish A. 8 Rosenzwei conquest, and served as a trade point between thePueblo Uniuersity o[NewMexico and PlainsIndians. PecosPueblowas subjected to Spanish conquest and rule, but it prospered until about 1720. This,theseventh conference in theseries, is to carry From that time on, marauding Apache and Comanche bands us to ¯greater heights andgreener pastures thanbefore. If as wellas disease reduced the population to a small fractheseanticipated goalsarenotto be of a geologic nature, tion of the estimated two thousand who once dwelt there. and~vebelieve thattheywillbe,theywillatleastbe such abandoned in 1838,onlysevenin a literal sense.Thisyear’s conference leadsus through Whenthesitewasfinally teen survivors were left to make their wayto Jemez,where themajestic Sangrede CristeMountains andtheirpicturthey joined their kin. In more recent years thevalley of esque,greenvalleys. Peaksin excessof twelvethousand thePecosto thenorthhasbeeninvaded by thevacationfeetin altitude willdominate theskyline throughout the of Texas. ¯ trip,andonthethirddaythecaravan willpassin thesha- ingplainsmen dowof 13,160footWheeler Peak,thehighest pointin New LasVegas(Spanish, the meadows) is ourstopping point Mexico. Letus hopethatourconference willprecede the for the first night, This is one of the more youthful towns firstsnowfall, fortravel mightbecome exceedingly difficult of thestate,Old Townor WestLas Vegashavingbeen if sucha novelty wereto be included in theprogram, founded in 1833.It washere,in 1847,thatGeneral Kearny and his Army of the West took possession of the territory Duringthefirstdaythecaravan willwinditswayalong thesouthern marginof themountains fromSantaFe to Las forthe UnitedStates.About1880,New Townor EastLas one of thefinestcollections of "badmen" Vegas,witha briefsallynorthward alongthePecosRiver Vegasharboured thewesthaseverknown.AmongstthemweresuchcolorValley. Thisrouteroughly approximates a partof theold fullynamedcharaters as Dirty-face Mike,Flyspeck Sam, SantaFe Trail,thewestern terminus of whichcouldnot Mysterious Dave,Web-fingered Billy,SoapySmith,Wink havebeenfarfromtheSociety’s registration deskin the the Barber, andTommythePoet.Thefavorite gibbetof La FondaHotel,whichbearsthenameof theoldinnat aroused populace wasa windwill at thecenter trail’s end.Longbeforethewhitemancameto NewMexico,thefinally anditis saidthatthemillwentoutofbusSthesiteof SantaFe wasoccupied by a TanoIndianvillage,of theplaza, thefrequent hangings interfered withthe andthespotis knownto thePuebloIndiansas Kuapoga - nessbecause ofgrain. "theplaceof theshellbeadsby thewater." Therichhis- grinding torical tradition of SantaFe haditsbegLnning in 1609when Thesecondday’stourleadsus northward alongtheeastit wasfoundedas the secondcapital of NewMexicoby Don ern foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, thencuts Pedrode Peralta, thirdgovernor of theprovince. At that across the range along the valley of the Rio Pueblo de Pitimethecityboretheflorid titleof La VillaRealdela curls. Latein thedaytherouteskirts theeastern margin SantaF~ de San Francisco - TheRoyalCityof the Holy Faithof SaintFrancis. As a seatof government fornearly of thePicurisRange,whosepegmatites and schists have threehundred andfiftyyears,SantaFe hasflowntheflags supplied theIndians withornamentally usedcrystals of feldspar and staurolite. Within this range is an interesting of fournations; Spain,Mexico, theConfederacy andthe deposit, theHarding mine,reputed to be thelarUnitedStates. Fora time,from1680until1692,it wasoc- pegmatite cupiedby theflagless PuebloIndians, whoconverted the gestberylproducer in thecountry. Thetripleadsthrough chapelin thegovernor’s palaceintoa ceremonial Kiva. complex structures andan extensive section including muchPrecambrian. As it leavesSantaFe,thecaravan willtravelfora short distance overtheCenozoic deposits at thefootof the Oneof thefirst¯ points of interest to be encountered dur10,500footHermit’s mountains, andthentraveloverthePrecambrian andlate ingtheseconddayis therugged, Paleozoic rocksbetweenthemountains properand GIoPeak.Traditionally, a wandering recluse variously known rietaMesa.Theintense deformation of thehighrangesto as JuanMariaAugustine Annaand JuanBautista Justiniano thenorthgradually diesoutsouthward, andonlymoderate arrived, on foot,at LasVegasin 1863.Seeking solitude, structural complexity is encountered during thefirstday. he founda cavebelowthesummit, toolowto standin,too shortto liein,whichsuited hispenitent soul.Villagers J Southof thevillage of Pecosaretheruinsof Cicuye, flocked to theholymanandit becameknownby itspresent 13 NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY name. Nearby is anothermountainwhose shape Ls remarkbly suggestive of humanfeatures; it is knownas El Potvenir - "the one to come." Our stoppingpointfor the secondnightis Taos,well knowntodayas a popularartistscolony.Taos is in reality made up of threeindependent communities; the main town,San Fernandode Taos;the Indianpueblo,San Geranimode Taos; and Ranchosde Taos, the old Indianfarming area.in the languageof the Indians,Taosmeanssireply "the village." This famouspueblowith its many storied houseswas discoveredby Hernandode AJvaradoin 1540.The historyof Don Fernandode Taos is steepedin revolution and bloodshed. Po-I~eof San Juan,one of the leadersof the pueblorebellion of 1680made his headquarters here.Attackson both the spanishsettlersand the pueblo by Apache,Ute, Navajo,and Comanchebands were a constanthazard.In the mid-nineteenth century manycolorfulcharacters residedin the area;one of the best known amongstthem being Kit Carson.A contemporary of Carsonwas Padre AntonioJose Martinezwho championed the causeof his peopleand stroveto bring enlightenment to theirlives.He was accusedof helping to fomentthe uprisingof 1847,whichresultedin the death of GovernorBent.Todaythis communityis a peaceful and quietretreat, belovedby manyartistsand writers. 14 * SEVENTH FIELD CONFERENCE The thirdday carriesus throughan area of extreme structural complexity, thoughthe d~sfanceto be covered is very short.We will driveover Palo Flechadopass at overninethousand feet,and thendropintotJ~ebeautiful MorenoValley.Palo Flechadois Spanishfor ’°arrowed pole"in alusion,it is said,to the enormousnumberof arrowsthatwereleftin the treesaftera particularly fiercebattlebetweenthe Spanishand the Comanche. MorenoValleywithall of its beautyis reputedto be one of the coldestspotsin the country, temperatures to 48 degreesbelowzero havingbeen reported. Lest thisintroduction shouldend on such a coldnote, a few wordsaboutthisyear’sguidebook mightbe in order. To the adherents of the causeof the hard-Back bindingand justified marginof lastyear,our apologies. Perhapsthe re turnto a lowercostthatthisreturnto an earlier formataJlowswillcounteractany disappointment. One innovation is to be found-eachroad log is precededby an extensive resumeof the geologyalongthe day’sroute.This should be of considerable assistance to the reader. Finally,to the conferees, from all who have been engaged in the many-foldpreparations, a very hearty WELCOME.
