Geologic
NewMexico
byFrankE.Kottowski,
Director,
NewMexico
Bureau
of Mines& MineralResources,
NM
Socorro,
This Land of Enchantment,New Mexico, is blessedwith almost every conceivablegeologicfeaturerangingfrom the
desertvalleysand basinsof the south to
the bare-rock alpine slopes of Mount
Wheelerand TruchasPeaksin the north.
Rocksof everygeologicperiodeithercrop
out at the surfaceor occur in the subsurface.
Not only is the geologyof New Mexico
interestingscientifically,but it is also the
sourceof the state'sbeautyand of much
of its wealth. Outstandingattractionsincludethe gypsumdunesof White Sands,
the immensecavesof CarlsbadCaverns,
the picturesquebadlandsin the SantaFe
Formation near SantaFe and Espaflola,
the Rio Grande gorge cut through the
Taos Plateaubasalts,the awesomesizeof
Valle Grande (a barely extinct volcanic
caldera),the stark rock spireof Shiprock,
the symmetryof CapulinMountain (a Recentvolcano),salt-encrusted
twigsin Zuni
Salt Lake, and the gnarled,wrinkled Recent basalt flows near Carrizozoand McCarty.
Man has addedother scenicattractions
in his developmentof natural resources.
Theseinclude the flow of water from an
8-inch pipe that sustains agricultural
fields in the state's irrigated basinswater derivedonly from snow falling in
the southernRockiesand the Sangrede
Cristo Mountains, thence melting and
flowing downstreamto the river valleys
and the alluvium along the Rio Grande,
the Pecos,and other rivers.Many visitors
enjoythespectacular
multi-coloredbeauty
of the Santa Rita and Tyrone open-pit
copper mines and the open-pit Questa
molybdenummine, as well as the more
drab coloration of the Paguateopen-pit
uranium mine and the large open-pit coal
mines. In the latter, the huge draglines
towering more than 250 ft above the
ground resemblethe gigantic dinosaurs
that once roamed these landscapes?0
million years ago. The night lights of
petroleumdrilling rigs in southeastand
northwest New Mexico reflect development of natural resources,as do the windmills and waterpumps of the irrigated
areas.The shaftsof the present-daypotash minesin the southeast,the uranium
mines in the west-centralarea, and the
base-metalminesin the southwestbustle
with activity. Dotted throughout the
mountainous areas are abandonedmine
headframesthat tell of riches won from
2
February 1979
New MexicoC,eology
the earthduringthe state'shistoricpast.
If we had the forestsprimevaland untouchedgrasslands-withoutthe production of metals, industrial rocks and
minerals,and fuels-we would not have
the brilliant spectacleof Albuquerqueas
seenat night from Sandia Crest, or the
jewel of SantaFe lit up at the foot of the
Sangrede Cristo Mountains on a clear,
crisp winter night.
Cities, people, everything concerned
with the American-NewMexicanway of
life, evenin the quiet isolatedvillages,is
tied to the use of mineral and fuel
resourcesabundantlyavailableand abundantly producedin the Land of Enchantment. In 1978the state'smineralproduction exceeded$3 billion, with about 15
percent accruing to the State and its
politicalsubdivisions
in the form of taxes,
bonuses,royalties,and rentals.Thus, the
geologyof the state-the rocksat the surface and in the subsurface-provideNew
Mexicowith much of its wealthas well as
its scenicbeauty.
Much is known about the state'sgeology but much more awaitsto be known,
offering challenging problems that require the utmost in scientific investigation, the resultsof which provide a very
necessaryserviceto all of us. Scientific
studiesare worthwhile only when made
availableto other scientistsand laymen.
Too, the catalogingand storing of geologic specimens
is importanttoday as well
as to future generations.Thesematerials
include cuttings from significantexploratory wells, fossils, mineral specimens,
and rock samplesthat illustratethe complexityof New Mexicogeology.
Much scientific and technicalinformation on the geologyand mineralresources
of the stateis being generatedby and is
availablefrom a number of sourcesincludingthe New MexicoBureauof Mines
and Mineral Resources,the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of New
Mexico,New MexicoStateUniversity,the
New Mexico Water ResourcesDivision,
the New Mexico Division of Mining and
Minerals, the American Association of
Petroleum Geologists, the Geological
Society of America, the Society of
Economic Geologists,the New Mexico
Geological Society, the Four Corners
GeologicalSociety,and others.
The goal of New Mexico Geologyis to
inform geologistsand all other interested
personsof current geologic publications
and conferences,
and, on a regularbasis,
publish short articlesthat provide scientific insight on the variousaspectsof the
state'sgeologyand mineraltechnology.I
A L S OI N T H I SI S S U E :
New methods of working an old mine
R e l i a b i l i t yo f g o l d a n d s i l v e ra n a l y s e s
M e e t i n g s ,p u b l i c a t i o n s ,a b s t r a c t s
p, 7
p. 11
p. 11
C O M I N GS O O N :
o
o
o
o
o
H a n s o n b u r gM i n i n g D i s t r i c t
Montezuma Hot Springs
M i n i n g ,m i l l i n g ,a n d s m e l t i n g
Coal resources
N e w p u b l i c a t i o n sa, n n o u n c e m e n t s ,
abstracts, reviews
New AAexnc@
GEOLOGY
.
Scionco
andSorvico
Volume
1, Number
1, February 1979
Editor.' Neila P€rson
publish€d quarterly by
Nry Mexico Bur@uof Min6 & Mineral Resources
a divisionof Nw Mexicolnstitut€ of Mining & Ttrhnology
BOARD OF REGENTS
Ex Officio
Brue King, Goverzor oJ NewMuico
Lmnard Delayo, Slperinlendenl oJ Public Irctilction
Appoint€d
willimG. Abbott, l l-1979,Hobbs
L6 Cruc6
Judy Floyd, 1977-1981,
SantoFe
Owcn Lopcz, Ssty/Trw, 1977-1983,
Davc Rice,Pres. 1972-198t,Cqrbbsd
SteveT0116,l 7-1919,Suorro
Nry Mexico Instituteof Mining & Tchnology
.....Kcmethw. Ford
Prwdeil.
N€w Mexico Bur@u of Mina & Mineral Roourco
...FrankE.Kottlowski
Dirrlor.
DeputyDiretor.
.........Ceorges.Austin
Bumu EditoFceologist . . . . . . . -. . . . Robqt W. Kelley
quart€rly,
Subrcriptiod: Issucd
February, May, August,
Septcmber;subscriptionprice $3.m/yr,
Editoriol motter: Cotrtributions of possiblerorcrial for considqation in future issua of NMO ue welcome,
Materia.ls €nnot be returned unl6s accompanied by
retun pctage. Addrss inquirim to Neila Peuson, Editor
Nry Mexico G@logy, Nw Mexico Bursu of Mines &
Mircral R6ourc6, SEorro, NM tTEOl
Cirillstion: l.2N
Prirter.' University of New Mcxico Printing Plant