NMBMMR Open File Map Series
OF–GM–17
Map last modified 4 January 2000
NEW MEXICO BUREAU OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES
MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING & TECHNOLOGY
•
•
•
•
•
lll
•
•
af
•
l
lll
af
•
•
38
85
daf
Qca
•
Qrpc
•
•
(Qpmt)
Qay
•
QHa
•
lll
•
•
Qrpsm
Qrpsm
Qrpc
•
Qay
(Qay)
Qre
Qrpm
•
af
•
lll
•
l
Qay
•
•
Qpmt
•
At9
•
•
af
Qrps
•
af
Qrpm
Qrps
ll
•
ll
daf
•
Qay
•
ll
•
•
Qre
Qrpr
•
At1
•
Qca
Qra
•
ll
QHa
•
•
•
At2
Qrpsm
Qrpc
Qrpc
•
ll
•
•
•
At7
•
•
daf
•
Qrps
•
•
•
•
•
Qrpm
af
•
•
(QTsa)
•
Qrpc
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
af
•
ll
•
QTsa
•
•
SJ1
Qre
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
ll
l
l
lll
•
•
•
•
af
•
•
•
•
•
QHa
lll
Qrpm
Qrpc
l
llll
lll
Qrps
l
Qrpm
Qrpsm
llll
lll
l
Qrpm
ll
ll
Qrpm
?
W
QHa
QHa
4
QHat
af
QHa
38
75000m N.
QToc
(QToc)
llll
lll
Qay
l
Qra
Qrps
QHao
Qrpm
Qrpm
llll
lll
Qrps
Qrpc
Qrpm
QHa
Qrpm
af
l
Qrpc
3
42
3
43
QHao
3
45
42' 30"
3
47
(ISLETA)
R. 2 E.
40'
R. 3 E.
3
1
0.5
0
1 MILE
GN
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000 FEET
NEW MEXICO
0° 58'
222 MILS
1
17 MILS
D. J. McCraw and M. M. Mansell: digital cartographic production
0.5
0
1 KILOMETER
CONTOUR INTERVAL 10 FEET
QUADRANGLE LOCATION
51000m E.
May, 1998
4 February 2000 Revision
Mapping of this quadrangle was funded by a matching-funds grant from the 1997 STATEMAP
program of the National Geologic Mapping Act coordinated by the U.S. Geological Survey
and the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources .
Qpm
QTsa
4000'
by Sean D. Connell 1 , Bruce D. Allen 1 ,
John W. Hawley 2 , and Ralph R. Shroba 3
Tsal
tur
y
Polarit y
Chron
North American
Land Mammal "Age"
Marine Oxygen
Isotope Stage
ME X
I
Rancholabrean
AT
1,210 ft
Tsal
?
1,625 ft
1,446 ft
Vertical Exaggeration = 5x
EMA
Dr. Paul W . Bauer
Geologic Mapping
Program Director
1,341 ft
1,430 ft
Water-supply well, including abbreviation, synthetic electrical conductivity log (1000/R)
illustrated
RBP
Exploratory or groundwater monitoring well, including abbreviation
BH1
Exploratory geotechnical borehole (NM State Highway & Transportation Dept.
(unpupl.)
Paleoflow direction—measured azimuths of imbricated clasts
Primero Alto geomorphic surface of Lambert (1968)
Segundo Alto geomorphic surface of Lambert (1968)
Sunport geomorphic surface of Lambert (1968)
.
PICTURE
ROCK
MADRID
LOS
GRIEGOS
LOWER
COLONIAS
BULL
CANYON
GALISTEO
35°30'
NORTH
ROWE SAN YSIDRO
285
OF-DM–30
GOLDEN
CAPTAIN
DAVIS
MOUNTAIN
OJO
WILDHORSE
RENCONA
HEDIONDA
MESA
OF-DM–36
OF-DM–48
OF-DM–39
LAGUNA
ORTIZ
35°15'
105° 30'
V ILLANUEVA 1:100,000
ALAMEDA
OF-DM–10
SANDIA
CREST
SANDIA
PARK
OF-DM–6
OF-DM–1
OF-DM–17
OF-DM–3
ISLETA
HUBBELL
SPRING
OF-DM–13
OF-DM–5
LOS
LUNAS
SE
SAN
PEDRO
OF-DM–29
SEDILLO
OF-DM–4
KING
DRAW
EDGEWOOD MORIARTY
OF-DM–35
NORTH
40
TIJERAS
LOS
LUNAS
PECOS
OF-DM–11
S ANTA F E 1:100,000
OF-DM–49
HAGAN
OF-DM–50
OF-DM–16
GLORIETA
OF-DM–23
OF-DM–41
OF-DM–40
HONEY
BOY
RANCH
ROSILLA
PEAK
OF-DM–31
OF-DM–20
A LBUQUERQUE 1:100,000
35°00'
CHILILI
MORIARTY
SOUTH
TAJIQUE
MILBOURN
RANCH
ESTANCIA
TORREON
EWING
MOUNTAINAIR
NE
MOUNT
ESCABOSA
WASHINGTON
OF-DM–8
BOSQUE
PEAK
OF-DM–24
TOME
CAPILLA
PEAK
TOME NE
TURN
TOME SE
MANZANO PUNTA DE
MOUNTAINAIR
AGUA
PEAK
WILLARD
B ELEN 1:100,000
S OCORRO 1:100,000
ABEYTAS
BLACK
BUTTE
SAN
ACACIA
BECKER
SW
34°30'
106°00'
BECKER
109°
107°
SAN
LORENZO
SPRING
LEMITAR
WATER
CANYON
SOCORRO
MESA
DEL
YESO
SIERRA
DE LA
CRUZ
LOMA
DE LAS
CANAS
BUSTOS
WELL
103°
105°
37°
34°
22'
30"
Taos
Grants
CERRO RAYO HILLS
MONTOSO
35°
SANTA FE
Albuquerque
Socorro
33°
Deming
Las
Cruces
Location Map
Lambert (1968)
Hacker (1977)
3500'
Interstate 25
5200
feet ASL
Western limit of
Rio Grande terraces
Qra
Sunport geomorphic surface
(projected)
QHa & Qay
QTo
Qao
Qcb
5200'
Qrl
Qay
Qrd
5000'
QTo
Qrp
4900'
?
base of Lomatas Negras fm (projected)
base of Edith fm (projected)
Qre
5000'
QHa
QTo
1,115 ft
1,095 ft
548 ft
coarse gravel and sand
?
silt – clay and
fine sand
Broadway
modern
channel
deposits
Qrp
sand with pebble gravel
and silt – clay lenses?
Qrp
?
??
silt – clay
sand, silt, clay
silt – clay
sand with pebble gravel
Qrp
pebble gravel and sand with silt – clay lenses?
Qrp
Qrm - Qay
Qpm
base of Arenal fm (projected)
QHa & Qay
Qrp
4900'
Qrp
gravel and sand
silt – clay
Qrp
sand and gravel
with silt – clay
coarse gravel
and sand
QTo
4800'
4800'
QTo
?
80 ft
970 ft
Pre-1706
channel
silt – clay
Qrd
organic silt – clay
5200'
Qrp
4800'
silt – clay and
fine sand
5000'
RB 4
5000'
2nd St.
AT&SF RR
5400'
Qba
RB 3
5400'
RB 2
Primero Alto
Terrace
Qay
5200
feet ASL
5100'
Rio Grande
5100'
Inner valley of the Rio Grande
Isleta Blvd.
Western limit of Rio Grande terraces
RB 5
5600'
5600'
E
Inner valley of the Rio Grande
RB 1
(ft, bls)
47
10
12
7u
63
52
435
335
nd
34
22
24
14
11
33
14
31
29
19
48
177
153
159
200
163
244
261
41
96
41
173 u
299
279
253
226
421 u
425
Date Screen Screen Screen
Screened
T
K
T
K
Specific
Top of Toa Specific
Meas.
Top
Base Length
Units
Capacity Capacity
3
2
(ft, amsl) (gal/min/ft) (m /d/m) (gal/d/ft) (ft /d) (ft/d) (m/d)
(yr) (ft, bls) (ft, bls) (ft)
4630
1996
255
1258
1003
QToc, Toa
1.93
554
47,500
6,350 6.33
31
ne
1998
180
804
624
QToc, Toa
1.70
340
26,000
3,476 5.57
19
ne
1998
98
475
377
QToc, Toa
2.59
232
24,000
3,208 8.51
13
3760
1998
10
1335
45 M
QToc, Toa**
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
1987
nd
<288
<225
QTsa or QToc
537
41,000
5,481 >24.36 >7.42
30
nd
1987
nd
<296
<244
QTsa or QToc
nd
197
23,000
3,075
nd
11
4500
1998
660
1650
990
QToc, Toa
2.02
662
49,000
6,550 6.62
37
4480
1998
550
1564
1014
QToc, Toa
4.42
894
110,000 14,705 14.50
50
4210
nd
658
1662
1004
QToc, Toa
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
ne?
1997
204
924
720
QTsa or QToc
2.15
3255
38,000
5,080 7.06
182
ne?
1997
180
804
624
QTsa or QToc
6.14
805
94,000 12,566 20.14
45
ne?
1997
132
950
818
QTsa or QToc
3.98
680
80,000 10,694 13.07
38
ne
1998
144
950
806
QTsa or QToc
1.21
232
24,000
3,208 3.98
13
ne
1998
152
950
798
QTsa or QToc
1.79
125
35,000
4,679 5.86
7
ne
1997
156
540
384
QTsa or QToc
4.35
286
41,000
5,481 14.27
16
ne
1998
144
950
806
QTsa or QToc
2.78
322
55,000
7,352 9.12
18
ne
1998
232
802
570
QTsa or QToc
5.72
787
80,000 10,694 18.76
44
ne
1994
164
820
656
QTsa or QToc
5.47
1091
88,000 11,764 17.93
61
ne
1998
260
916
656
QTsa or QToc
1.74
358
28,000
3,743 5.71
20
ne
1996
218
804
586
QTsa or QToc
4.52
626
65,000
8,689 14.83
35
4060
1997
350
950
600
QToc, Toa
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
4010
1997
400
1100
700
QToc
1.00
315
17,100
2,286 3.27
17.6
4160
1997
420
940
520
QToc, Toa, Tsal
2.59
358
33,000
4,411 8.48
20
4720
1998
317
1217
900
QToc, Toa, Tsal
3.71
751
82,000 10,962 12.18
42
4710
1998
281
1121
840
QToc, Toa, Tsal
0.92
215
19,000
2,540 3.02
12
4700
1996
514
1500
986
QToc, Toa, Tsal
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
3950
1997
404
1153
749
QTsa, Toa
3.92
519
72,000
9,625 12.85
29
ne
1997
nd
<600
<559
QToc
36
5,000
668 >1.20 >0.36
2
nd
1997
264
996
732
QToc
2.50
393
45,000
6,016 8.22
22
4240
1997
192
1032
840
QToc
2.23
501
46,000
6,149 7.32
28
3960
1996
422
1090
15 M
QToc, Toa
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
4939
1996
504
1176
672
QToc, Toa
1.64
322
27,000
3,609 5.37
18
nd
1993
394
1402
1008
QToc, Toa
2.83
554
70,000
9,358 9.28
31
4950
1997
405
1353
948
QToc, Toa
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
4720
1996
387
1275
888
QToc, Toa
3.72
697
81,000 10,828 12.19
39
4880
1997
388
1539
60 M
Toa, Tsal**
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
4820
1997
520
1425 258 M
Toa, Tsal**
3.65
123
23,130
3,092 11.98
6.86
D'
Coors Blvd.
SWL
BH9R (projected)
Selected locality
(ft, amsl)
4945
4950
4950
4890
4970
4975
5336
5228
5180
4960
4970
4962
4960
4960
4962
4962
4972
4965
4968
4975
5111
5110
5100
5083
5073
5080
5154
4950
4997
4952
5100
5175
5165
5145
5105
5320
5310
Total
Depth
(ft, bls)
1,446
813
804(?)
1,365
nd
nd
1,675
1,575
1,490
1,020
948
1,000
950
950
548
950
824
820
916
804
970*
1,115
1,018
1,232
1,124
1,520*
1,342
600
1,008
1,210
1,095
1,176
1,400
1,365*
1,430
1,544
1,520
5800
feet ASL
Du6
Monocline with anticlinal bend (Atrisco-Barelas zone)—approximate trace of axial
plane as determined from subsurface (drillhole) data; short arrow on steeper bend
Elevation
Llano de Albuquerque
geomorphic surface (projected)
Rio Grande
At1
At3
At4
BM
Ca2
Ca4
Co1
Co2
Co3
Du1
Du2
Du3
Du4
Du5
Du6
Du7
Gr1
Gr2
Gr3
Gr4
Gs1
Gs2
Gs3
Le1
Le2
Le3
Mi1
SJ1
SJ2
SJ3
WBP
WM1
WM2
WM3
WM4
98a
98b
Date
Drilled
(yr)
Atrisco No. 1
1980
Atrisco No. 3
1958
Atrisco No. 4
1962
Isleta Blvd (Black Mesa) 1997
Candelaria No. 2
1948
Candelaria No. 4
1948
College No. 1
1978
College No. 2
1978
College No. 3
1978
Duranes No. 1
1959
Duranes No. 2
1958
Duranes No. 3
1953
Duranes No. 4
1953
Duranes No. 5
1953
Duranes No. 6
1953
Duranes No. 7
1953
Griegos No. 1
1955
Griegos No. 2
1954
Griegos No. 3
1954
Griegos No. 4
1954
Gonzales No. 1
1992
Gonzales No. 2
1989
Gonzales No. 3
1997
Leavitt No. 1
1973
Leavitt No. 2
1973
Leavitt No. 3
1985
Miles No. 1
1974
San Jose No. 1
1949
San Jose No. 2
1959
San Jose No. 8(3)
1963
West Bluff Park
1997
West Mesa No. 1
1958
West Mesa No. 2
1962
West Mesa No. 3
1974
West Mesa No. 4
1975
98th St. Core (USGS)
1997
RG-67900expl
1997
W
W
BH1 (projected)
Fault —tic showing dip; solid where exposed, dashed where approximately located,
dotted where concealed, queried where inferred; upthrown (U) and downthrown (D)
sides indicated where concealed and/or interpreted
Well
Name
D
E
WBP
Well
Symbol
C'
Gs2
Geologic contact—interpreted location within units af and daf; modified from Lambert
(1968) or interpreted from vintage aerial photography
5800
feet ASL
C
Gs1
Geologic contact—solid where exposed, dashed where approximately located, dotted
where concealed, queried where inferred
.
Construction and hydraulic data for selected wells in the Albuquerque West quadrangle and vicinity. Data interpreted and modified from Allen et al. (1996), Bexfield (1998), John Shomaker
and Associates (1991, 1997a b), Groundwater Management Incorporated (1988 a-i), and public-domain well-log reports from the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer. Wells in italics are in
adjoining quadrangles. Abbreviations include: multiple screened intervals (M), transmissivity (T), hydraulic conductivity (K), depth below land surface (bls), elevation above mean sea level (amsl),
upper piezometer (u), no data/not determined (nd), not encountered (ne), and static water level (SWL). Asterisk (*) indicates depth of constructed well, exclusive of pilot-hole depth (i.e., minimum
depth of well). Double asterisk (**) indicates stratigraphic interpretation for entire borehole depth.
Approximate extent of buried fluvial terrace risers of the ancestral Rio Grande (post
Santa Fe Group) — hachured towards fluvial terraces; Lomatas Negras fm. (single
hachured line), Edith Fm. (double hachured line), Los Duranes fm. (triple hachured
line), and Arenal fm. (quadruple hachured line)
SJ8
W
Toa
?
Tsal
1,437 ft
BELEN
McCLURE
RESERVOIR
Location of geologic cross section
Strike and dip of bedding, horizontal bedding
1
n
nce for t h e 21st Ce
T
4000'
1,180 ft
Tsal
3500'
Approximate location of measured stratigraphic sections of Lambert (1968) and
Lucas, et al. (1993)
3
late
QTsa
1446 ft
••
••••
Scie
Tec h
Toa
E XPLANATION OF M AP S YMBOLS
••
rth
Me x i c o
Toa
Toa
3 U.S. Geological Survey, M.S. 913, Box 25046, Denver, CO 80225
50
e
4500'
(Albuquerque Office, Albuquerque, NM 87106)
TA
lR
Dr. Peter A. Scholle
Director and
State Geologist
4500'
2 Hawley Geomatters, P.O. Box 4370, Albuquerque, NM 87196
B'
Ea
5000'
QTo
Toa
1 New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Socorro, NM 87801
B
i ne s & Mi n er a
Ne w
Qre
Qay
a
S
UTM GRID AND 1976 MAGNETIC NORTH
DECLINATION AT CENTER OF SHEET
3
?
35° 00'
106° 37' 30"
Geology of Albuquerque West
7.5-minute quadrangle,
Bernalillo County, New Mexico
NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM OF 1929
3500'
CO
12.5°
50
5500
feet ASL
fM
uo
)
Inner valley geology interpreted from soil survey data of Hacker (1977).
0
4000'
Tsal
QTo
G
IN
1000
QTsau
R
SP
MN
1
LL
BE
SCALE 1:24,000
Qay
Qrd
Qae
3
5000'
?
Qrp
QHao
49
Atrisco-Barelas zone
QTo
daf
3
48
?
Atrisco-Barelas zone
Qra
OF-DM–32
Allen, B. D., Johnson, P. S., and Allred, B., 1996, Field boring log for West Bluff Park, City of
Albuquerque piezometer nest, FY 1996: New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources,
Open-File Report 426D, 18 p.
Allen, B. D., Connell, S. D., and Hawley, J. W., 1998, Field log of borehole drilled for Installation
of nested piezometers, Isleta Boulevard locality: New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral
Resources, Open-File Report 444C, 13 p.
Allen, B. D., Connell, S. D., Hawley, J. W., and Stone, B. D., 1998, Core drilling provides information
about Santa Fe Group aquifer beneath Albuquerque’s west side: New Mexico Geology, v. 20,
n. 1., p. 8-13.
Bexfield, L. M., 1998, Proposed expansion of the City of Albuquerque/U.S. Geological Survey
Ground-water-level monitoring network for the Middle Rio Grande Basin, New Mexico: U.S.
Geological Survey, Open-File Report 97-787, 21 p. 2 plates.
Church, F. S., and Hack, J. T., 1939, An exhumed erosion surface in the Jemez Mountains: Journal
of Geology, v. 47, p. 613-629.
Connell, S. D., 1995, Quaternary geology and geomorphology of the Sandia Mountains piedmont,
Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties, central New Mexico: [M.S. Thesis] Riverside, University of
California, 390 p., 3 plates.
Connell, S. D., 1996, Quaternary geology and geomorphology of the Sandia Mountains piedmont,
Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties, central New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Mines and
Mineral Resources Open-File Report 425, 414 p., 3 plates (open-file release of Connell, 1995).
Connell, S. D., 1997, Geology of the Alameda 7.5-minute quadrangle, Bernalillo and Sandoval
Counties, New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Open-File Digital
Map 10, scale 1:24,000.
Connell, S. D. Cather, S. M., Ilg, B., Karlstrom, K. E., Menne, B., Picha, M., Andronicus, C., Read,
A. S., Bauer, P. W., and Johnson, P. S., 1999, Geology of the Bernalillo and Placitas 7.5-minute
quadrangles, Sandoval County, New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral
Resources, Open-File Digital Maps 2 and 16, scale 1:24,000, 2 plates.
.
Connell, S. D., Allen, B. D., and Hawley, J. W., 1998, Subsurface stratigraphy of the Santa Fe Group
using borehole geophysics, Albuquerque area, central New Mexico: New Mexico Geology,
v. 20, n. 1, p. 2-7.
Geissman, J. W., Brown, L., Turrin, B. D., McFadden, L. D., and Harlan, S., 1990, Brunhes chron
excursion/polarity episode recorded during the late Pleistocene Albuquerque volcanoes, New
Mexico, USA: Geophysical Journal Int., v. 102, p. 73-88.
Groundwater Management, Inc., 1988a, Pumping test data analysis, Atrisco well field, City of
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Kansas City, KS, 22 p., 2 app.
Groundwater Management, Inc., 1988b, Pumping test data analysis, Candelaria well field, City of
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Kansas City, KS, 22 p., 2 app.
Groundwater Management, Inc., 1988c, Pumping test data analysis, College well field, City of
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Kansas City, KS, 22 p., 2 app.
Groundwater Management, Inc., 1988d, Pumping test data analysis, Duranes well field, City of
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Kansas City, KS, 22 p., 2 app.
Groundwater Management, Inc., 1988e, Pumping test data analysis, Griegos well field, City of
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Kansas City, KS, 22 p., 2 app.
Groundwater Management, Inc., 1988f, Pumping test data analysis, Leavitt well field, City of
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Kansas City, KS, 22 p., 2 app.
Groundwater Management, Inc., 1988g, Pumping test data analysis, Miles well field, City of
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Kansas City, KS, 22 p., 2 app.
Groundwater Management, Inc., 1988h, Pumping test data analysis, San Jose well field, City of
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Kansas City, KS, 22 p., 2 app.
Groundwater Management, Inc., 1988i, Pumping test data analysis, West Mesa well field, City of
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Kansas City, KS, 22 p., 2 app.
Hacker, L.W., 1977, Soil survey of Bernalillo County and parts of Sandoval and Valencia County,
New Mexico: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service.
.
Hawley, J. W., 1996, Hydrogeologic framework of potential recharge areas in the Albuquerque
Basin, central New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Open-file
Report 402 D, Chapter 1, 68 p., appendix.
John W. Shomaker and Associates, Inc., 1991, Well report, City of Albuquerque, Gonzales No. 2:
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 38 p., 7 app.
John W. Shomaker and Associates, Inc., 1997a, Well report, Drilling, Construction, and Testing,
Bernalillo County Test Well RG-67900Expl: Albuquerque, New Mexico, 23 p., 4 app.
John W. Shomaker and Associates, Inc., 1997b, Well report, City of Albuquerque, Gonzales No.
3: Albuquerque, New Mexico, 37 p., 7 app.
Kelley, V. C., 1977, Geology of the Albuquerque Basin, New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Mines
and Mineral Resources, Memoir 33, 60 p.
Kelley, V. C., and Kudo, A. M., 1978, Volcanoes and related basalts of Albuquerque Basin, New
Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources Circular 156, 30 p., 2 plates.
Lambert, P. W., 1968, Quaternary stratigraphy of the Albuquerque area, New Mexico: [Ph.D.
dissertation], Albuquerque, University of New Mexico, 329 p.
Love, D. W., Hitchcock, C., Thomas, E., Kelson, K., Van Hart, D., Cather, S. E., Chamberlin, R. M.,
Anderson, O., Hawley, J. W., Gillentine, J., White, W., Noler, J., Sawyer, T., Nyman, M., Harrison,
J. B. J., and Colpitts, R., 1996, Geology of the Hubbell Spring 7.5-minute quadrangle, Bernalillo
and Valencia Counties, New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources,
Open-file Digital Geologic Map OF-DM 5, scale 1:12,000.
Lucas, S. G., Williamson, T. E., and Sobus, J., 1988, Late Pleistocene (Rancholabrean) mammals
from the Edith formation, New Mexico: New Mexico Journal of Science, v. 28, n. 1, p. 51-58.
Lucas, S. G., Williamson, T. E., and Sobus, J., 1993, Plio-Pleistocene stratigraphy, paleoecology, and
mammalian biochronology, Tijeras Arroyo, Albuquerque area, New Mexico: New Mexico
Geology, v. 15, n. 1, p. 1-8.
Machette, M. N., 1978, Geologic map of the San Acacia Quadrangle, Socorro County, New
Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1415, scale 1:24,000.
Machette, M. N., 1985, Calcic soils of the southwestern United States, in: Weide, D. L., and Faber,
M. L., eds., Soil and Quaternary geology of the southwestern United States: Geological Society
of America Special Paper 203, p. 1-42.
Machette, M. N., Long, T., Bachman, G. O., and Timbel, N. R., 1997, Laboratory data for calcic
soils in New Mexico: Background for mapping Quaternary deposits in the Albuquerque Basin:
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Circular 205, 63 p.
.
Peate, D. W., Chen, J. H., Wasserburg, G. J., and Papanastassiou, D. A., 1996, 238U - 230Th dating
of a geomagnetic excursion in Quaternary basalts of the Albuquerque Volcanoes field, New
Mexico (USA): Geophysical Research Letters, v. 23, n. 17, p. 2271-2274.
.
Smith, G. A., and Kuhle, A. J., 1998, Geology of the Santo Domingo Pueblo SW 7.5-minute
quadrangle, Sandoval County, New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral
Resources, Open-file Digital Geologic Map OF-DM 26, scale 1:24,000.
.
5500
feet ASL
E
?
2
UB
(H
Base from U.S. Geological Survey 1954, photorevised 1967 and 1972
Polyconic projection, 1927 North American datum, 10,000-foot grid based on New
Mexico coordinate system, cental zone
1000-meter Universal Transverse Mercator grid ticks, zone 13, shown in blue
360 000 FEET
Qay
Qrl
AGUA
FRIA
Santa Fe
106°45'
B'
QTsa
QHat
Qrpsm
5000'
QToc
QHa
af
af
Qrps
Qay
25
ELK
MOUNTAIN
SANTA FE
TETILLA
PEAK TURQUOISE SETON
HILL
VILLAGE
BERNALILLO
WIND
MESA
DALIES
COWLES
ASPEN
BASIN
285
OF-DM–47
35°07'30"
?
Inner valley of the Rio Grande
QToc
GM–73
OF-DM–34
1,800 ft
5500
feet ASL
QHa
OF-DM–37
PECOS
FALLS
107°00'
Qay
Qrd
Cross Section
A-A'
QTo
Qrps
not
shown
Vertical Exaggeration = 5x
B
IT
QHat
Qrps
af
7
OF-DM–19
36°00'
TRUCHAS
PEAK
R EFERENCES
1,527 ft
3500'
SANTO
DOMINGO
PUEBLO
SAN
FELIPE
PUEBLO NE
OF-DM–2
LA MESITA
ALBUQUERQUE
NEGRA SE ALBUQUERQUE
EAST
WEST
LA JOYA
QHa
QToc
LIM
Qrpc
Qrpsm
76
QToc
QTsau
1
af
41
Qrpc
U
ll
llll
lll
D
l
Qrpm
Qrpr
Qrps
Qrpsm
QHa
af
38
VOLCANO
RANCH
SIERRA
MOSCA
TESUQUE
HORCADO
RANCH
WHITE
ROCK
OF-DM–15
SAN
FELIPE
PUEBLO
SCHOLLE
SILVER
CREEK
1,490 ft
Tsal
QHa QTsau
CUNDIYO
MONTOSO
PEAK
PLACITAS
OF-DM–9
BELEN
SW
LA JOYA
NW
ces
ur
so
Qrps
Qrpsm
Qrps
Qrpm
EAS
lll
l
Qrpsm
Qrpm
daf
Qrps
Qrpm
Qrpm
Qrpsm
daf
TA
SANTA
ANA
PUEBLO
CERRO BERNALILLO
CONEJO
NW
LADRON
1,430 ft
?
QTsau
ESPAÑOLA
JICARITA
PEAK
EL VALLE
T AOS 1:100,000
35°00'
106°37'30"
Tsal
Tsal
daf
ll
llll
Qrps
Qrpc
QToc
ll
(QHa)
Qrpsm
Qrps
U
II
RA
af
Qrpm
ll
llll
lll
Qrps
RBP
Qrps
CES
l
Qrpm
daf
Qrpm
QTsau
SANTO
DOMINGO
PUEBLO SW
TRES
RITOS
84
L OS A LAMOS 1:100,000
OF-DM–14
VEGUITA
COMANCHE
RANCH
Toa
1,226 ft
Tsal
OF-DM–25
PEÑASCO
SHADY
BROOK
OF-DM–27
?
QTsau
LOMA
CRESTON
JEMEZ
PUEBLO
RANCHOS
DE TAOS
OF-DM–33
Base not exposed
?
Toa
2
QToc
Qrpsm
Qrps
?
Toa
QTsau
daf
Qrpm
Qrpc
Qay
af
ll
llll
lll
Qrps
?
BELEN
NW
?
?
COCHITI
DAM
OF-DM–28
4000'
QHa
RI O
l
af
Qrpm
Qrps
QHa
af
Toa
5
QToc
Qrpm
Qrpsm
77
QToc
QHat
(QHat)
Qrpsm
Qrpm
af
af
OF
lll
Qrpsm
38
(QToc)
OF-DM–42
TAOS SW
TRUCHAS
OF-DM–7
OF-DM–21
D'
TER
llll
Qrpm
RIO
PUERCO
?
Toa
(QTsau)
(Qrpsm)
?
4500'
daf
(QHa)
Qrps
Qrps
Qrpm
(QHa)
RB4
?
QToc
ll
RB2
CAÑADA
Hacker (1977)
[1:24,000]
QTo
Toa
QHa
RB3
DALIES
NW
QTo
daf
NDE
l
Qrpc
af
Qrpc
Qrpsm
Qrpc
(Qrpc)
af
GRA
llll
lll
Qrpsm
Qrpm
RB5
af
LA MESITA
NEGRA
4500'
QTsau
QToc
QHa
BENAVIDEZ
RANCH
QToc
QTo
PSMW19
Qrpc
Qrps
Qrpm
D
af
Qrps
TER
N
l
lll
l
Qrps
Qrpm
Qra
QToc
Qrpsm
(SKY VILLAGE)
Qay
Qrd
QTo
78
•
SAN
YSIDRO
BEAR
PONDEROSA SPRINGS
PEAK
PUEBLO
PEAK
GM–71
PUYE
GUAJE
MOUNTAIN
Los
Alamos
FRIJOLES
BLAND
OF-DM–45
(SKY VILLAGE NE)
NE
?
38
•
OF-DM–18
REDONDO
PEAK
ARROYO
LOMA
SAN
DE LAS
MACHETE
FELIPE
CALABACILLAS
MESA (SKY VILLAGE SE)
A'
QTsau
•
OJITO
SPRING
QTsau
Cross sections are constructed based upon the interpretations of the authors made from geologic mapping,
and available geophysical (regional gravity and aeromagnetic surveys), 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 manmade structures.
?
?
5000'
GM–45
COLLIER
DRAW
QTo
•
QTsau
ll
Qrpr
Qay
Qrl
GILMAN
GM–33
(SKY VILLAGE NW)
The map has not been reviewed according to New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources standards.
Revision of the map is likely because of the on-going nature of work in the region. The contents of the report
and map should not be considered final and complete until reviewed and published by the New Mexico
Bureau of Mines 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.
Arroyo Ojito Formation, Ceja Member (lower Pliocene to lower Pleistocene) — Light-red to strong-brown
and yellowish-gray (2.5YR-5Y), moderately consolidated, slightly cemented, slightly tilted, stratified sandstone
and pebbly sandstone with minor siltstone and claystone interbeds. Gravel clasts are dominated by subangular
to subrounded red granite, gray intermediate (dacitic) volcanic rocks, brownish-yellow polished chert, white
quartzite, basalt, and Pedernal chert. Drillhole data indicates that unit conformably overlies the Atrisco member
(Toa). Provisionally correlated to Kelley’s (1977) Ceja Member. Subsurface data suggests unit is about 350
ft (107 m) thick beneath map area.
QHa
QToc
l
lll
l
Qrpm
Qrd
A)
•
QHa
(QHa)
Qrpm
Qrpm
Qrd
QToc
M
ES
af
•
af
(QToc)
Qrps
QToc
IN
D
•
QHa
QToc
Qrps
Qrpc
Qrd
(W
•
Qrps
Qrpsm
Qay
Qrpm
Qay
3
Qrpsm
Qrpc
Qrps
76 QToc
35° 00'
106° 45'
•
(QHa)
ll
l
Qrps
Qrpc
38
QToc
QHa
ll
lll
lll
lll
Qrd
Arroyo Ojito Formation, undivided (lower Pliocene to lower Pleistocene) — Cross section only. Sandstone
and conglomerate derived from the western basin margin. Gravel clasts typically contain red granite, white
quartzite, brownish-yellow chert, angular, variegated black and white chalcedony and chert (correlated to
the Pedernal chert of Church and Hack, 1939), basalt, and sandstone. Divided into two members in map area.
Qay
HOLY
GHOST
SPRING
OF-DM–46
Cross Section
B-B'
Do2
lll
l
Qra
Qrpm
3
•
GM–34
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 are
based on 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). Lambert (1968) produced a geologic map
(scale 1:48,000) of the region prior to significant ground disturbance. Portions of Lambert’s map are incorporated
where surface disturbance is significant. The geology of areas of extensive ground disturbance are evaluated
using aerial photography (1935, 1951, and 1996 vintages). 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. Subdivision of the upper Las Padillas Formation was
made using geologic interpretations of (shallow) soil survey data published by the Soil Conservation Service
(Hacker, 1977).
Middle eastern-margin piedmont alluvium (upper to middle Pleistocene) — Poorly consolidated deposits
of very pale-brown to light-brown (7.5-10YR) sand to silty and clayey sand, and gravel derived from the Sandia
Mountains. Unconformably overlies Edith formation (Qre) and is inset by younger stream alluvium (Qay).
Gravel clasts are predominantly subangular metamorphic and porphyritic granite with rare subrounded
limestone. Subdivided into Tijeras Canyon piedmont subunit (Qpm t) where deposits contain gravel clasts of
sandstone, gneiss, limestone, granite, and greenstone derived from Tijeras Canyon. Slightly dissected deposit
surface possesses well developed, constructional bar-and-swale topography on interfluves. Weakly developed
soils exhibit Stage II to III+ carbonate morphology and minor to moderate clay film development. Correlative
to geomorphic surfaces Q6-Q7 of Connell (1995, 1996). Variable thickness, ranging up to 60 ft (18 m).
02' 30"
QTsau
Qrpm
Qrps
Qam
af
Qrpc
Qrpm
QHa
•
Qrpm
RB1
75
QToc
Qrpm
Qrpsm
•
(QToc)
QToc
GM–28
JEMEZ
SPRINGS
VALLE
TOLEDO
OF-DM–26
23.7
daf
QHa
(QHa)
(QToc)
ll
l
daf
af
•
daf
af
Qrps
C OMMENTS TO M AP U SERS
5500
feet ASL
T. 9 N.
•
l
lll
Qrpsm
Qrpc
(QTsau) 3879
•
lll
lll
l
Qay
af
(Qrpm)
QToc
not
shown
Tsal
Older western-margin alluvium, undivided (middle Pleistocene) — Cross section only. Poorly consolidated
deposits of sand gravel buried by the basalt of the Albuquerque volcanoes (Qba). Unconformably overlies
the Ceja Member (QToc) and Lomatas Negras formation (Qrl), and is overlain by the basalt of the Albuquerque
volcanoes (Qba). Covered by basaltic colluvium (Qcb). Variable thickness, up to 120 ft (37 m).
.
Upper Santa Fe Group
Western basin-margin deposits (Arroyo Ojito Formation)
QTo
SAN
MIGUEL
MOUNTAIN
VALLE
SAN
ANTONIO
VELARDE TRAMPAS
CHIMAYO
OF-DM–38
A
T. 10 N.
•
l
Qrpsm
Qrpm
Qpmt
GM–27
LA
VENTANA
SEVEN
SPRINGS
OF-DM–43
OF-DM–12
106°30'
Eastern-margin piedmont alluvium
Qpm
Major unconformity
21
5.3
SW
(QToc)
(Qrpc)
QHa
38
•
llll
lll
Qrd
Qrpm
QToc
af
(QHa)
Qrpm
1 460 000
FEET
af
Qrpm
QHa
Basalt of the Albuquerque volcanoes (upper-middle Pleistocene) — Olivine basalt with dominantly
pahoehoe texture derived from five cinder cones to the west in the adjacent La Mesita Negra SE quadrangle
(Kelley and Kudo, 1978). Commonly vesicular with subordinate fine-to medium-grained olivine and plagioclase
(Kelley and Kudo, 1978). Unconformably overlies Lomatas Negras Formation (Qrl), and is partially buried
by the Los Duranes Formation (Qrd) to the north (Connell, 1996, unpubl.). Records a geomagnetic excursion
during the Brunhes polarity chron (Geissman et al., 1990) that has been dated at 1.56 ± 20 ka using the
238U/230Th technique (Peate et al., 1996). Approximately 6-20 ft (2-6 m) thick.
.
GM–26
19
GEOLOGIC CROSS SECTIONS
QTsau
QToc
ne
zo • •
l
(Qrpsm)
QToc
A
Qrpc
Qao
QToc
daf
s
la
re •
Ba• •
Qrpr
Silty to clayey stream and floodplain deposits (Historic) — Unconsoldiated fine-to medium-grained
sand, silt and slay. Interpreted to represent fine-grained floodplain deposits. Includes Anapra, Armijo,
Agua, and Gila series of Hacker (1977).
QTsau
daf
SJ4
–
•
Qrpsm
Volcanic rocks
Middle western-margin alluvium, undivided (upper to middle Pleistocene) — Poorly consolidated deposits
of light to strong brown and very pale-brown to light gray (7.5-10YR) sand and gravel. Gravel is primarily
composed of red granite, chert, basalt, and minor gray dacitic volcanic rocks recycled from the Ceja Member
(QToc). Locally stratified and slightly cemented with calcium carbonate. Inset by younger stream alluvium (Qay)
and the Los Duranes formation (Qrd). Soil development is variable and possesses Stage II to III carbonate
morphology. Delineated west of the Rio Grande. Correlative to eastern-margin piedmont alluvium (Qpm) and
geomorphic surfaces Q6-Q7 of Connell (1995, 1996). Variable thickness, up to 40 ft (12 m).
.
af
SJ10
o
•
llll
lll
Qrps
Qrpc
Qay
Le3
77
sc
•
SJ9
tri
•
A
•
lll
l
Qra
38
D
Ya5ES
SJ3
Qrpm
Qrps
Qam
1.8 Ma
RANCHO
DEL
CHAPARRAL
WHEELER
PEAK
3
OF-DM–22
68
SAN
JUAN
PUEBLO
CHILI
A BIQUIU 1:100,000
Ya3ES
daf
•
llll
Qrpm
38
80
ll
•
lll
l
Qrpm
af
Mil
SJ6
Qrpm
•
l
Qrpm
Qpmt
QHa
QTsa
•
lll
Qrps
QHa
(Qre)
ll
lll
Qrpsm
Qrpsm
ll
(QToc)
SJ2
•
(QHa)
Younger stream alluvium (Holocene to uppermost Pleistocene) — Poorly consolidated deposits of palebrown to light-brown (7.5-10YR) sand to sandy clay loam and gravel. Inset against eastern-margin piedmont
(Qpm) and western-margin alluvium (Qam) and grades to the Arenal formation (Qra). Surface is slightly
dissected and possesses weakly developed soils with Stage II carbonate morphology and typically covered
by thin veneer of eolian sand. Commonly forms laterally extensive valley border alluvial fans along the western
margin of the inner valley of the Rio Grande. These valley border alluvial fans may locally contain hydrocollapsible
soils. Correlative to geomorphic surface Q8 of Connell (1995, 1996). Variable thickness, up to 20 ft (6 m).
ll
llll
•
daf
(QHa)
ll
•
Qca
Qrpc
(Qre)
Qre
•
•
EQ 3
Le1
(QToc)
•
OF
QHa
Qrpm
Tsal
Western-margin alluvium
Silty to sandy stream and floodplain deposits (Historic) — Unconsolidated fine-grained sand, silt and
clay. Interpreted to represent fine-grained sloughs or oxbows. Includes Glendale and Gila series of Hacker
(1977).
Menaul formation (upper to upper-middle Pleistocene) — Poorly consolidated deposits of yellowish-brown
(10YR) pebble gravel and pebbly sand derived from the ancestral Rio Grande. Named by Lambert (1968)
for exposures along Menaul Blvd. Gravel clasts are dominated by rounded quartzite pebbles that are generally
smaller in size than pebbles and cobbles in the Edith formation (Qre). Exposed in northeast corner of map
area where it forms discontinuous, probably lensoidal gravel east of the inner valley escarpment of the Rio
Grande. The basal contact is approximately 90 ft (27 m) above the top of the Las Padillas formation (Qrp,
Rio Grande floodplain), interfingers with, and is inset by younger stream alluvium (Qay). May represent lenses
of fluvial gravel associated with the Los Duranes formation (Qrd) east of the Rio Grande. Thickness is generally
less than 10 ft (3 m).
Qrm
(Qpmt)
Qpmt
•
llll
Qra
79
QToc
•
l
Qrpc
QHa
?
Le2
Qpmt
(QHa)
daf
38
QHa
SJ8 (3)
Qrpc
QHa
(Qpmt)
•
llll
lll
Qrps
Qca
lll
LIMIT
(Qpmt)
•
Qrpm
Qrps
daf
Qay
QHa
QTsa
QHa
af
lll
l
l
WESTERN
•
lll
lll
l
RIO GRAN
DE TER
RACE
S
•
(LA MESITA NEGRA SE)
•
llll
Qrpsm
Qrpr
QHa
Qca
QHa
(Qpmt)
Qrpsm
Lower fluvial deposits (Pliocene to upper Miocene) — Cross section only. Fine-to coarse-grained sandstone
with interbedded compact clay and rare scattered pebbly sandstone interbeds. Regional borehole geophysical
log correlations (Connell et al., 1998) suggests that unit pinches out to the east into piedmont deposits of the
upper Santa Fe Group. May be correlative to piedmont-slope and alluvial fan deposits of the Sierra Ladrones
Formation (Machette, 1978) exposed at the southern margin of the Albuquerque Basin. May include undivided
western basin-margin deposits of the Arroyo Ojito Formation (QTo). Base not exposed, but regional thickness
is estimated to be greater than 2,000 ft (610 m) thick in drillholes.
Qba
Los Duranes formation (upper(?) to upper-middle Pleistocene) — Moderately consolidated deposits of
light-brown, very pale-orange to grayish-orange, and yellowish-brown (5-10YR) sand with scattered interbeds
of silt, clay and fine pebbly sand derived from the ancestral Rio Grande. Named by Lambert (1968) for
exposures west of the Los Duranes neighborhood (Stratigraphic Section LD). Deposit surface is marked by
Lambert’s (1968) Segundo Alto terrace surface, a gently south-sloping terrace surface formed on the Los
Duranes formation that represents the second highest preserved fluvial terrace tread in the Rio Grande valley.
The Segundo Alto surface is approximately 145 ft (44 m) above the top of the Las Padillas formation (Qrp,
Rio Grande floodplain). Contains interbeds of subangular to subrounded red granite and rounded chert,
indicating that the unit comprises interbedded fluvial deposits of the ancestral Rio Grande and western-margin
alluvium. Locally covered by a thin discontinuous veneer eolian sand. Unconformably overlies the Ceja Member
(QToc) and inset by the Arenal formation (Qra). Drill-hole data indicates that the basal contact is inset
approximately 75 ft (23 m) below the base of the Edith formation (Qre). Correlative deposits to the north bury
the basalt of the middle Pleistocene basalt of the Albuquerque volcanoes (Qba). Approximately 165-170 ft
(50-52 m) thick in map area.
Qrd
(QHa)
•
lll
l
l
Qrd
Qay
78
(Qpmt)
?
•
QHa
Qca
Qay
38
af
•
llll
af
Qrps
l
U
82 B'
38
?
ll
l
lll
Qrps
Qca
Sandy stream and floodplain deposits (Historic) — Unconsolidated medium-grained sand and loamy
sand. Interpreted to represent channel and floodplain deposits. Includes Vinton series of Hacker (1977).
780
285
Major unconformity
NE
ll
ll
QHa
Qpmt
•
ll
daf
llll
82
02' 30"
(Qpmt)
•
•
lll
l
38
D
QTsa
(Qre)
At6
80
QHa
•
ll
At10
Do2
38
(QHa)
Qre
1
Qrpm
Qra
Gravelly to sandy stream and floodplain deposits (Historic) — Unconsolidated coarse-grained sand
and pebbly sand. Interpreted to represent channel deposits. Includes Brazito series of Hacker (1977).
Arenal formation (upper Pleistocene) — Poorly consolidated deposits of very pale-brown to yellow (10YR)
sandy pebble to cobble gravel recognized along the northwestern margin of the inner valley of the Rio Grande.
Informally named herein for exposures just west of the Arenal Main Canal, where it underlies Lambert’s (1968)
Primero Alto terrace surface (Stratigraphic Section EQ). The Primero Alto geomorphic surface is a gently southsloping terrace surface that represents the youngest preserved fluvial terrace tread in the Rio Grande valley.
Gravel clasts are primarily rounded quartzite and volcanic rocks with rare pumice and granite. Rests unconformably
on the Los Duranes Formation (Qrd) and discontinuously overlain by a 2-7 ft (1-2 m) thick veneer of light-brown
eolian sand. Weakly developed soils with Stage I to II carbonate morphology (Locality 3, Machette, et al.,
1997, sites 14 and 15). Basal contact is approximately 60 ft (18 m) above the top of the Las Padillas formation
(Qrp, Rio Grande floodplain). Correlated to the Edith formation by Lambert (1968); however, deposit is inset
against the Los Duranes formation and is topographically lower than the basal contact of the Edith formation.
Thus, this unit is interpreted to be younger than the Edith and Los Duranes formations. Approximately 10-20
ft (3-6 m) thick.
Qra
•
At4
ll
Qrd
lll
l
WM1
83
Qpmt
•
ll
l
Qay
QToc
38
At3
lll
B
Qrpm
(Qpmt)
•
WM4
ll
Qca
WM3
83
At11
QHa
ll
l
D
D
lll
U
05'
(QHa)
At12
Qrpm
•
Qrps
Qay
Qrpc
•
ll
lll
l
U
38
Qrpc
Qrpsm
•
af
•
05'
Qrpsm
ll
QHa
•
l
lll
WM2
•
Qrl(?)
At13
Modern channel deposits (Historic) — Unconsolidated sand and gravel within the active channel of
the Rio Grande. Delineated using aerial photography.
84
Qrpc
•
Qrd
QHat
38
Qre
Qrpm
•
af
Qrpr
af
QHa
lll
l
84 QToc
QHa
Youngest stream alluvium (Historic to Holocene) — Unconsolidated deposits of brown, light gray-brown,
and yellowish-brown (10YR) sand, silty to clayey sand, and gravel. Underlies arroyos, inset against younger
stream alluvium (Qay), and grades to the Las Padillas formation (Qrp). Very weakly developed soils exhibit
no pedogenic carbonate at the surface and weak Stage I carbonate morphology at depth. Forms extensive
valley border alluvial fans along the margins of the inner valley of the Rio Grande. These valley border alluvial
fans may locally contain hydrocollapsible soils. Subdivided into alluvium of Tijeras Arroyo (QHa t), containing
gravel beds comprised of sandstone, gneiss, limestone and granite derived from Tijeras Canyon. A charcoal
sample taken at 8.5 ft (2.6 m) below deposit surface at mouth of Tijeras Arroyo (Locality 1) yields a radiocarbon
date of 4,550 ±140 yr BP (Beta Analytic Lab No. 109129). Correlative to geomorphic surfaces Q8-Q9 of
Connell (1995, 1996). Variable thickness, ranging up to 70 ft (22 m).
QTsa
Qrps
Qay
38
Las Padillas formation (Historic to uppermost Pleistocene) — Unconsolidated to poorly consolidated,
pale-brown (10YR), fine- to coarse-grained sand and rounded gravel with subordinate lensoidal interbeds of
fine-grained sand, silt, and clay derived from the Rio Grande. Recognized in drillholes only and informally
named for deposits underlying the broad inner valley floodplain near the community of Las Padillas in southwest
Albuquerque, just south of the map area. Unconformably overlies upper Santa Fe Group deposits (QToc and
QTsa) and is commonly gravelly at the base. Underlying Santa Fe Group deposits may be locally cemented
with calcium carbonate. Probably interfingers with stream alluvium (QHa and Qay). Deposit surface (top)
comprises the modern surface of aggradation for the Rio Grande. Surficial deposits (< 6 ft [2 m] thick) are
divided into the modern river channel, and four textural subunits based on interpretations of soil series described
and mapped by Hacker (1977). Approximately 50-80 ft (15-24 m) thick.
Qrp
Qrpm
Qrpm
l
98a
QHa
(ALBUQUERQUE EAST)
85
Qrpm
•
af
38
Qay
QHa
af
Stream-valley alluvium
LYDEN
SAN
PABLO
LOS
CORDOVAS
Lambert (1968)
[1:48,000]
•
Qrps
l
af
Fluvial deposits derived from the ancestral and modern Rio Grande that unconformably overlie upper Santa
Fe Group deposits (commonly units QToc and QTsa). Subdivided into six informally named formations on the
basis of inset relationships.
Qrm
QTsa
af
Qpmt
TAOS
JUNCTION
84
Qrl
TRES
OREJAS
ARROYO
SECO
Taos
30 km
?
15
ARROYO
HONDO
CARSON
20 mi
20
CERRO
DE LOS
TAOSES
TAOS
a
•
Qrd
Qre
Qrpsm
Qrpc
Qrpr
?
13
10
36°30'
Albuquerque
West
10
0
Qam
Are
•
af
af
0
11
ue
•
QHa
lll
QToc
Alluvium of the Rio Grande
Qre
rq
•
af
l
QToc
Qrpsm
Du5
9
ue
•
af
NMBMMR STATEMAP
Quadrangles
A l bu q
•
lll
Qpmt
?
QTsa
•
l
Qay
Qrps
Basaltic colluvium (Holocene to upper Pleistocene) — Poorly consolidated and sorted sedimentary breccia
composed of angular to subangular pebble- to boulder-sized basalt boulders that covers slopes below the
mesa-capping basalt of the Albuquerque volcanoes (Qba). Variable thickness, up to 10 ft (3 m).
.
Qcb
?
I NDEX M AP OF NMBMMR’ S
STATEMAP
7.5-M INUTE G EOLOGIC Q UADRANGLES
1/2000
Qpmt
Co3
•
af
Qba
P
•
af
Divided into stream-valley alluvium, western-margin alluvium, and eastern-margin piedmont alluvium. Streamvalley alluvium typically contain poorly to well sorted, poorly to well stratified, clast- and matrix-supported
deposits associated with modern and late Pleistocene entrenched arroyos across the map area. Alluvium west
of the inner valley of the Rio Grande generally contains poorly to moderately sorted, moderately stratified,
and clast- and matrix-supported deposits derived from uplands underlain by deposits of the Arroyo Ojito
Formation. Eastern-margin piedmont alluvium contains generally poorly sorted, poorly stratified, clast- and
matrix-supported deposits having angular to subangular clasts of granitic, metamorphic, sandstone, and minor
limestone derived from the western and northern slopes of the Sandia Mountains and eastern basin margin.
7
QTo
•
lll
•
•
Qre
INDEX TO GEOLOGIC MAPPING
Qrm
Qrd
Irvingtonian
lll
ne
zo • •
•
af
BH9R
Qcb
Qpm
Blancan
s
la
re •
Ba
af
QTsa
af
Alluvium
Br unh es
•
lll
–
o
sc •
tri •
86
Qrpsm
86
Matuyama
A
•
Qay
38
Du4
BH1
38
Gauss
•
l
af
daf
QHa
Qls
Gilbert
•
QToc
Qrpsm
Qrps
Upper pumice-bearing fluvial unit (lower Pleistocene to upper Pliocene) — Very pale-brown to
yellowish-brown (10YR), pumiceous sand and pebbly to cobbly sand deposits by the ancestral Rio
Grande. Clasts in are dominated by pumice, quartzite and volcanic clasts with minor chert, granite, and
metamorphic rocks. Subordinate clasts include rounded quartzite and volcanic rocks. Medium-to coarsegrained, euhedral, bipyramidal quartz grains are locally abundant. Subhorizontally to cross stratified.
Minor silty sand beds are discontinuous and range in color from light brown to grayish green. At the
mouth of Tijeras Arroyo (Stratigraphic Section TA), unit contains early Pleistocene Irvingtonian “Aged”
mammal fossils (Lucas and others, 1993) and clasts of the ca. 1.61 Ma lower Bandelier Tuff (Lambert,
1968; W.C. McIntosh, 1996, personal communication). Stratigraphically correlative strata exposed in
Hell Canyon Wash (Love et al., 1996) contain rounded clasts of the ca. 1.2 Ma upper Bandelier Tuff,
inset by middle Pleistocene Lomatas Negras formation (Qrl); indicating that unit QTsau is between ca.
0.6 and 1.2 Ma. Conformably overlies and interfingers with the Ceja Member (QToc). Interfingers with
piedmont deposits of the upper Santa Fe Group, east of the map area. May be correlative with axialstream deposits of the Sierra Ladrones Formation (Machette, 1978) described along the southern margin
of the Albuquerque Basin. Top is defined by the Sunport surface (Lambert, 1968), which forms a broad,
low-relief, basin-floor surface underlain by a moderately to strongly developed soils exhibiting Stage III+
to locally weak Stage IV carbonate morphology (Locality 2, Machette, et al., 1997, site 16). The Sunport
surface is about 390 (118 m) above the top of the Las Padillas formation (Qrp) and is about 430 ft (130
m) below the Llano de Albuquerque surface of Machette (1985). The Sunport surface is interpreted to
mark the end of Santa Fe Group deposition and the initiation of Quaternary incision by the Rio Grande,
and thus, may be correlative to the Las Huertas geomorphic surface to the north (see Connell et al.,
1995). High estimated hydraulic conductivity where saturated. Approximately 210 ft (65 m) thick at
Tijeras Arroyo.
QTsau
Qae
Qay
5
middle
•
Qca
Qrpm
Qay
128
early
lll
•
l
•
Colluvium and alluvium, undivided (Holocene to upper Pleistocene) — Unconsolidated to poorly
consolidated, poorly sorted and stratified, fine- to coarse-grained, clast- and matrix-supported deposits derived
from a variety of mass-movement hillslope processes, including debris flow, slope wash, shallow slump, and
creep. Commonly covers slopes underlain by Los Duranes Formation (Qrd). May locally contain hydrocollapsible
soils. Differentiated where areally extensive. Variable thickness, up to 10 ft (3 m).
QHa
Major unconformity
late
•
WBP
Gs2
Qrpm
daf
Qra
early
•
l
•
(QHa)
Du1
Landslide debris (upper Pleistocene) — Poorly to well consolidated and very poorly sorted, sand, brecciated
Los Duranes formation (Qrd), and minor mud deposited by mass-movement processes along steep hillslopes
underlain by the Los Duranes Fm. Exhibits hummocky topography. Arrows indicate direction of movement.
Variable thickness, ranging up to 30 ft (9 m).
Qls
Qrps
Qrp
Gs1
•
Gs1
•
Qay
Qae
QToc
daf
Fluvial deposits (lower Pleistocene to Pliocene) — Moderately consolidated and cemented, very palebrown to yellowish-brown (10YR) sand and gravel deposited by the ancestral Rio Grande. Clasts are
predominantly rounded quartzite and volcanic rocks with subordinate granite and basalt. Interfingers with
Ceja Member (QToc) deposits to the west. Base not exposed but interpreted to be at least 3,500 ft (1,070
m) thick in drillholes. Locally subdivided into an upper pumiceous axial-fluvial deposit (QTsau) along southeastern
portion of map area.
QTsa
Qrpsm
Qrpr Qrpc
1
IGNEOUS
QHat af
Qca
3
Fluvial deposits (ancestral Rio Grande and undivided western basin margin(?) fluvial deposits)
PLEISTOCENE
•
daf
Qls?
Lomatas Negras formation (middle Pleistocene) — Moderately consolidated and weakly cemented sandy
pebble to cobble gravel primarily composed of subrounded to rounded quartzite, volcanic rocks, granite,
minor basalt, and rare Bandelier Tuff. Discontinuously exposed and recognized as a lag of rounded quartzitebearing gravel. Base is not exposed in map area. The top is approximately 215-320 ft (65-97 m) above the
top of the Las Padillas formation (Qrp, Rio Grande floodplain). Informally named for discontinuous exposures
along Arroyo de las Lomatas Negras (Loma Machette quadrangle) where a buttress unconformity with the
underlying Santa Fe Group is locally exposed. Unconformably overlain by older western-margin alluvium
(Qao) and the basalt of the Albuquerque volcanoes (Qba). Correlative to unit Qu(?)g of Lambert (1968). May
be correlative to fluvial terrace deposits Qta1 of Smith and Kuhle (1998), which contains the ca. 602 ka Lava
Creek B ash. Thickness varies, up to 70 ft (21 m). Regionally, the unit is less than 16 ft (5 m) thick.
.
SEDIMENTARY
10
NM B
ur
e
•
l
af
Du6
af
Qrl
HOLOCENE
PLIOCENE
lll
•
af
•
Eolian sand and stream alluvium, undivided (Holocene to uppermost Pleistocene) — Unconsolidated
to poorly consolidated, moderately to well sorted, light reddish-brown to light-brown (7.5-10YR), fine- to mediumgrained sand and silty sand with scattered pebbles that commonly forms a relatively thin, discontinuous mantle
over upland areas west of the Rio Grande. Weakly developed soils with maximum Stage I carbonate morphologic
development. May locally contain hydrocollapsible soils. Mapped only where areally extensive or thick.
Variable thickness, from 0-16 ft (0-5 m).
Qae
Du7
LD
Co2
QHa
C'
af
Epoch
0 ka
Mi1
•
87
Co1
Qay
Qrm
Qre
QTsa
Qrpc
Qrl
38
QToc
Ca3
Disturbed land and artificial fill, undivided (Historic) — Dumped fill and areas affected by open-pit
aggregate mining or construction. Locally mapped where disturbance is areally extensive or geologic contacts
are obscured.
.
daf
Interstate 25
•
QHa
Qls?
Qrm
Qpm
Ca2
Ca1
Artificial fill (Historic) — Dumped fill and areas affected by human disturbances, including levees bordering
the Rio Grande. Locally mapped where areally extensive or geologic contacts are obscured.
.
af
Arroyo Ojito Formation, Atrisco member (Pliocene) — Cross section only. Moderately to well consolidated,
locally cemented succession of yellowish-brown to yellowish-red (2.5-10YR), fine-grained silty sandstone and
mudstone (Allen et al., 1998b). Informally named for a laterally extensive marker unit recognized in subsurface
by an interval of high electrical conductivity (low electrical resistivity) on borehole geophysical logs beneath
the Town of Atrisco Grant (Connell et al., 1998). Marks the base of an upward-coarsening megasequence
in overlying upper Santa Fe Group deposits (QTsa, and QTsau). Fine-grained and difficult to determine
provenance; however, the lateral continuity of unit, as interpreted from geophysical correlations (Connell et
al., 1998), suggest that this unit may be correlative to the Arroyo Ojito Formation. Thus, this member is
provisionally assigned to the Arroyo Ojito Formation. Subsurface data indicates that unit is approximately 280330 ft (85-100 m) thick beneath the map area.
Toa
MIOCENE
Qrpsm
Qrpc
•
Qba
QToc
Qrpm
Qrpsm
1 500 000
FEET
Edith formation (middle Pleistocene) — Poorly to moderately consolidated, locally cemented deposits of
pale-brown to yellowish-brown (10YR) gravel, sand and sandy clay derived from the ancestral Rio Grande.
Named by Lambert (1968) for exposures east of Edith Boulevard. Gravel clasts contain abundant rounded
quartzite and volcanic rocks with minor granite, metamorphic sandstone, and rare welded Bandelier Tuff.
Unconformably overlies upper Santa Fe Group deposits (QToc and QTsa), and is unconformably overlain by
eastern-margin piedmont alluvium (Qpm) and younger stream alluvium (Qay). Basal contact is approximately
80 ft (24 m) above the top of the Las Padillas formation (Qrp, Rio Grande floodplain). Gravel pits yielded
late to middle Pleistocene Rancholabrean fossils (Lambert, 1968; Lucas et al., 1988). Moderately developed
soils on overlying eastern-margin piedmont alluvium (Qpm) suggest a middle Pleistocene age for unit. Variable
thickness, ranging from 10-40 ft (3 to 12 m).
WM4
Qrpc
QHa
Qre
NEOGENE (TERTIARY & QUATERNARY)
daf
Qrpsm
Du2
Gs3
Thin surficial deposits derived from wind and mass-movement processes, or extensive areas disturbed by openpit aggregate mining or construction.
CENOZOIC
51
Ca4
Qrl
l
Qcb
106° 37' 30"
35° 07' 30"
3
Interstate 40
380 000 FEET 350
Qrpm
Qrpr
Qrd
lll
l
Qrl
Qrl
•
Qba
Qay
Qrl
•
49
At1
Qrl
Qls?
•
3
40'
SJ8
48
Qrpsm
Qrd
lll
•
C
3
Qrpm
Qls?
Co3
l
•
47
SANTA FE 58 MI.
•
•
3
46 (LOS GRIEGOS)
MORIARITY 38 MI
SANTA ROSA 115 MI.
•
•
3
45
Le3
l
Qae
QToc
•
•
Qcb
3
C ORRELATION OF U NITS
WM4
44
QHa
•
Qay
88000m N.
42' 30"
3
43
lll
Qba
3
WM3
42
41000m E.
WM1
3
3
•
38
(A
LA
M
H)
NC
RA
A'
106° 45'
35° 07' 30"
CENOZOIC ERATHEM
Neogene (Quaternary and Tertiary) System
Colluvial, landslide, eolian, and anthropogenic deposits
ED
A)
O
AN
LC
NEW MEXICO
Rio Grande
O
(V
UNIT DESCRIPTIONS
ALBUQUERQUE WEST QUADRANGLE
Le1
A DIVISION OF NEW
QTo
?
90 ft
?
?
QTsa
Vertical Exaggeration = 10x
4800'
4700'
Modified from Hawley (1996, plate 19B)
600'
Vertical Exaggeration = 20x
4700'