Service/News
Storred items (+) available from New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources
New publications
NMBMMR
*Scenic Trip l0-Southwestern New Mexico:
Las
Cruces, Deming, Lordsburg, Silver City, Columbus,
b y . R . E . C l e m o n s , P . W . C h r i s t i a n s e n ,a n d H . L .
James, 1980, 120 p., 1 table,74 figs. Includes five
road logs thut discuss the geology, mining operations, history, and scenic ottractions of the orea.
Completely revised in 1979; incorporates Scenic Trip
5, novr out-of-print.
s4.00
USGS
Bur-r-ErrNs
l45l-Mineral
resourcesof the Gila Primitive Area
and Gila Wilderness, New Mexico, by J. C. Ratt6
andothers,1980,229p.
PnopessroNar-PlpEns
P 1f24-A-F-Shorter contributions to mineralogy
and petrology, 1979-Part B, Potassium-argon ages
from the Mount Taylor volcanic field, New Mexico,
b y P . W . L i p m a n a n d H . H . M e h n e r r , 1 9 8 0 ,5 7 p .
(Separatechapters not available).
NTIS
MLM-2514-Assessment of the radiological impact
of coal utilization I. Preliminary studies of Western
coal, by C. E. Styron and others, 1979,98 p.
PB-128 762-Interim data report on the geohydrology of the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site,
southeast New Mexico, by J. W. Mercer and B. R.
Orr,1979,188p.
PB-300 E27-Ground
water in the vicinity of
Capulin, New Mexico, by D. L. Hart, Jr., and C.
S m i t h , 1 9 7 9 ,6 4 p .
erosion and associated sedimentation in southern
San Juan Basin, New Mexico, by M. E. Cooley,
1 9 7 9 , 2 5p .
79-1499-Surface water environment in the area of
the San Juan Basin regional uranium study, New
Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado, by M. W.
B u s b y ,1 9 7 9 , 6 4p .
79-1500-Water use in the area of the San Juan
Basin regional uranium study, New Mexico,
Arizona, Utah, and Colorado, by M. W. Busby,
1979,2r p.
80-77-Preliminary geologic map of the Twin Lakes
quadrangle, McKinley County, New Mexico, by
R . S . Z e c h , 1 9 8 0 ,s c a l el : 2 4 , 0 0 0
80-103-Leasable mineral and waterpower land
classification map of the Brownfield quadrangle,
Texas, New Mexico, compiled by D. A. DeCicco
a n d E . D . P a t t e r s o n ,1 9 8 0 ,s c a l el : 2 5 0 , 0 0 0
80-104-Leasable mineral and waterpower land
classification map of the Santa Fe quadrangle, New
Mexico, compiled by D. A. DeCicco and E. D. Patt e r s o n , 1 9 8 0 ,s c a l e1 : 2 5 0 . 0 0 0
E0-1E4-Measured stratigraphic sections of the
upper coal-bearing part of the Cretaceous Menefee
Formation in the Kin Klishjn Ruins quadrangle of
northwestern New Mexico, by R. B. O'Sullivan,
1 9 8 0 ,3 4 p .
80-377-Polarization
of geomagnetic bay-type
disturbancesin the Rio Grande rift, by J. N. Towle,
1 9 8 0 , 6 7p . , 5 l f i g s .
80-3E3-Upper
Paleozoic depositional and
diagenetic facies in a mature petroleum province (a
field guide to the Guadalupe and SacramentoMount a i n s ) , b y P . A . S c h o l l ea n d R . B . H a l l e y , 1 9 5 p . , 2
m a p s h e e t s s, c a l el : 2 5 0 , 0 0 0
Montoya, A. H., Aspects of oil accumulation in
Silurian-Devonian rocks in southeastern New
Mexico
Russell, J. A., Refractory clay resources of the
Burro Canyon(?) Formation-Dakota Sandstone,
north-central New Mexico
Siemers, W. T., The stratigraphy, petrology, and
paleoenvironments of the Pennsylvanian System
of the Socorro region, west-centralNew Mexico
Updegraff, C. D., Parameter estimation for a
lumped-parameter groundwater model of the
Mesilla Valley, New Mexico
Wilcox, R. W. lII, The Socorro and Sedillo Spring
ground-water system
Abstracts
Geoscience
Research
Symposium,
NMIMT, Apral 12, 19AO
Ten papers were presentedat this first geoscience
graduate-student research symposium. Abstracts of
those papers dealing with New Mexico are printed
below. Other papers included: Solution chemistry of
molybdenum at elevated pressures and temperatures, by R. W. Smith; Stochastic analysis of twodimensional steady groundwater flow,
by
S. A. Mizell; The geology of the Chloride mining
district, Mojave County, Arizona, by L. C. Eaton;
A geochemical study of the low-grade metamorphic
zone in the Tonota arm of the Tati greenstonebelt,
northeast Botswana, by S. J. White; Stable oxygen
isotopic study of the cherts, western Delong Mountains, Alaska, by R. D. Harrover; and Geology of
the Mayo-Darle tin deposit, Cameroon, by F. R.
Nguene.
PnEcnvsR.rnNcEolocy op rnE Cow Cnrgx ulrneMAFrc coMpLEX, SIN Mrcuel CouNrv, Nrw MExrco, by B. Wyman
PB-301 f34-Hydrologic
data on channel adjustU.S. Department
of Energy
The only known occurrencesof ultramafic rocks
ments, 1970to 1975, on the Rio Grande downstream ' G J B X
snnres
in New Mexico are exposed in two separate areas
from Cochiti Dam, New Mexico, before and after
GJBX-65(80)-Aerial
radiometric and magnetic
along Cow Creek near the town of Pecos. Both areas
c l o s u r e ,b y J . D . D e w e y , F . E . R o y b a l , a n d D . E .
survey, Aztec national topographic map, New Mexwere mapped in detail (scale 1:6,000) during the
Lunderburg, 1979, 540 p.
i c o , p r e p a r e db y C e o d a t a I n t e r n a t i o n a l ,I n c . , 1 9 8 0
summer of 1979. Over 100 rock samples were collected. from which 24 were selectedfor whole-rock
Theses-NMIMT
and trace-metal geochemistry and 50 thin sections
The following theses and independent studies on
were cut and examined.
New Mexico geology were completed by geoscience
Preliminary geochemical data indicate that the
NMBMMR
two separateexposures(called Area 1 and Area 2) of
*lll-Exploratory drilling in the Datil Mountain students at New Mexico Institute of Mining and
Technology from December 1978 to December 1979
mafic and ultramafic rocks are chemically distinct.
coalfield, by S. J. Frost,D. E. Tabet,and F. Camp- (the
list does not include thesesavailable as open-file
Ultramafic and mafic rocks of Area 2 contain 6 and
bell,1980,53p., 7 figs.
$ 3 . 4 5 reports from NMBMMR or NMIMT):
7 percent more total iron (expressedas total Fe,O,)
*ll4-Description
of cuttings from Navajo water
Anderholm, S. K., Hydrogeology and water
and l0 and 4 percent less MgO respectively,than the
wells in New Mexico, 1978 and 1979,by W. J. Stone
resourcesof the Cuba quadrangle, Sandoval and
rrltramafic and mafic rocks of Area l. Further difa n d R . J a c k s o n , 1 9 8 0 , 2 6p .
s5.20
Rio Arriba Counties, New Mexico
ferences are well illustrated on the AFM diagram
*ll7-Data
Brod, R. C., Hydrogeology and water resourcesof
base and review of paleofaunas and
and various other chemical plots. In Area I the
floras of the Fruitland Formation (Late Cretaceous),
the Ambrosia Lake-San Mateo area, McKinley
amphibolites appear to be genetically relared to the
San Juan Basin, with interpretive observations and
and Valencia Counties. New Mexico
associated ultramafic rocks based primarily on
a g er e l a t i o n s h i p sb, y D . W o l b e r g , 1 9 8 0 ,7 2 p . $ 1 4 . 4 0 Cima, J., Physical properties of selected scoria
whole-rock chemistry and to a lesserextent on field
conesin New Mexico
relations. The ultramafic rocks of Area 2 may be
*llE-Cenozoic
stratigraphy and structure of the
Davis, P., Estimation of recharge from springflow
either xenoliths or more mafic cumulates in a mainly
Socorro Peak volcanic structure, central New Mexdata for a portion of the Roswell artesian basin
amphibolitic terrane. Field and petrographic data
i c o , b y R . M . C h a m b e r l i n , 1 9 8 0 ,2 v o l . , 5 3 3 p .
Fisher, R. A., A biogeochemicalstudy of the recent
are inconclusive at present.
$ 1 1 2 . 6 0i n c l . m a p s
Field and petrographic data indicate that the
calcite
deposits
along
the
Lucero
uplift,
Valencia
*Il9-Geology
of the west flank of the Magdalena
County, New Mexico
mafic and ultramafic rocks of Area I are intrusive
Mountains south of. the Kelly mining district,
Hoy, R. N., Stable isotopesin the waters of the
rather than extrusive. This conclusion is based
Socorro County, New Mexico, by P. Allen, 1980,
primarily on textural similarities and differences beRoswell groundwater basin
6l p.
$l2.l0incl. map
Loehr, C. A., Mineralogical and geochemicaleffects
tween the rocks of Area 1 and other metamorphosed
o f b a s a l t i cd i k e i n t r u s i o n i n t o e v a p o r i t es e q u e n c e s intrusive and extrusive volcanic rocks described in
USGS
n e a r C a r l s b a d ,N e w M e x i c o
the literature. Volcanic rocks of the nearby Pecos
79-t3t-Estimates of undiscoveredoil and gas, pergreenstonebelt are chemically similar to the amphiMclafferty, S. W., Depositional environments in
mian Basin of west Texas and southeast New Mexthe transition from Mancos Shale to Mesaverde
bolites of Area 2 (upper Cow Creek) but not to those
i c o , b y G . L . D o l t o n a n d o t h e r s , 1 9 7 9 ,1 1 8p .
Group near Carthage, Socorro County, New Mexof Area l. Mafic and ultramafic rocks of Area I may
79-1496-Effects of uranium development on
lco
Open-file reports
New Mexico Geology
August1980
not be relatedto the rocksof the Pecosgreenstone
belt or may representthe older and deepercore of
the Pecosgreenstone
belt volcanicpile. Data is inconclusive
at present,
Pnorrnozolc SEDIMENTATIoN
ANDTEcroNrcEvoLUTloNoF rue ConxscngwCnNyoNsEeuENcE
lN THE
Lgurun MouNmrus, Soconno,NEw MExrco, by
V. T. Mclemore
Precambrianrocks crop out along the eastern
flanks of the Lemitar Mountainsand consistof a
sequenceof recrystallizedand metamorphosedsediments, the CorkscrewCanyon sequence.This sequenceis intruded by mafic dikes, the Lemitar
diorite/gabbro, granitic rocks, and carbonatite
dikes. Granitic rocks intrude the sedimentsat the
baseand the top of the sequence.
The Corkscrew
Canyon sequenceconsists of two stratigraphic
units-an upper unit and a lower unit-although
the agerelationshipis uncertainbecauseof poor exposuresand east-west
faults.The lowerunit consists
of a massivearkose(lessthan 75 percentquartz)to
subarkose(75-90percentquartz)and is gradational
with the overlying upper unit consistingof foliated
and interbeddedarkoses,subarkoses,
and quartzites
(more than 90 percentquartz). The sedimentsare
high in SiOr (greaterthan 62 percent)and have low
SiOr/AlrOr ratiosand K:O/NazOratiosequalto or
greaterthan one, similarto youngarkosesand lithic
arenites.
Relict beddingis distinguished
from foliation by
color and textural contrasts.Relict crossbeddingand
gradedbeddingin the upper unit indicatethat the
sequenceyoungs to the east. Relict bedding and
foliation are poorly exposedin the lower unit and
are locally preservedalong the southernintrusive
contactwith thegraniticrocks.
The abundance
of quartzand feldsparindicatesa
sourceareaconsistingof graniteor gneiss,and bedding structuressuggesta fluvial or deltaicenvironment.Petrographic
and geochemical
studiesareconsistentwith depositionin eithera continental-riftsetting or a rapidly rising continental-margin
setting.
Quartzitebedsin the CorkscrewCanyon sequence
may reflecteithera local tectonicallystableenvironment or localizedreworkingof quartzo-feldspathic
sediments
in a high-energy
environment.
Fncrons coNTRoLLlNc
wATER
coMposlrloNoF THE
Rro CnnNoE, CENTRAL
New Mexrco, by R. W.
Smithand C. J. Popp
The Rio Crandein centralNew Mexicois characterizedby high loads of suspended
sedimentsand
high total dissolvedsolids.Quantitativeevaluation
of major solutesand pH hasbeencarriedout on an
irregular basis at I 3 sampling sites between 19'12and
1978. ln addition, the minerals present in the suspended sedirnents were determined by x-ray diffraction. A computer code, WATEQF, was used to
chemically model the river water and to determine
saturation indices for several ideal minerals. This
modeling suggeststhat the Rio Grande is saturated
with calcite and is also equilibrated with kaolinite,
illite, and Mg-beidellite. Furthermore, the variation
of rnajor solutes in the river may be explained in
terms of evaporation, selective dissolution of soil
salts by rain water, and the interaction of water with
the suspendedsediment load.
Fluro rNcr-usroNAND MIcRocHEMTcALANALystsoF
rng HeNsoNsunc Mrssrssrppr Vnlley rypE oRE
DEposrrsrNcENrnlr- NEw MExrco, by B. R. Putnam
III
Heating and freezing of both primary and pseudosecondary inclusions in quartz and fluorite yield a
range of temperatures that delineate zonations and
trends through the paragenetic sequence. These
trends indicate potential source areasand flow directions of the fluids responsiblefor the mineralization.
The homogenization temperatures range from
140-20o'C and are characterized by fluids saturated
. -, + ^ + +
in Na-. Ca- - - Cl- brines with commonlv over
l7 eq. weight percent NaCl. Microchemical analysis
of these fluids yields concentration data that vary
along with the change in mineralogy through the
paragenetic sequence but that in general reflect concentrations reported from a number of Mississippi
Valley type deposits. The location of this deposit
directly on the margins of the active Rio Grande rift
may shed important light on the genesis of these
depositselsewherein the world.
Announcements
Second Annual New Mexlco Mlnerals
Symposlum
The secondannual New Mexico Minerals Symposiumwill be heldOctober25 and26 at New Mexico Instituteof Mining and Technology.Students,
interestedlaymen,and professionals
are invited to
attend.Papersrelatedto mineraloccurrences
in New
Mexicowill be presented
in two sessions
on October
25. A field trip is plannedfor October26. Registration costis $2.00perperson.Thoseinterested
should
contact: Ramon S. Demark. 9012 Hilton Ave.,
or
NE, Albuquerque,NM 87lll (505-296-1332)
Robert M. North, New Mexico Bureauof Mines
and Mineral Resources,Socorro, NM 87801
(505-835-5246).
Ground-water publlcatlon
W.K. Summersand Associates,
Inc., has published
the first issuein a newseriesentitled W.K. Summers'
Ground-llater Notebook. The May 1980 issue
discusses
"Using hydrochemicalplumesto explore
for lenticularorebodies"by w.K. Young of W.K.
Summersand Associates,Inc., formerly with the
New Mexico Instituteof Mining and Technology.
Future issuesof the Ground-WaterNotebook will
includeother articlesdealingwith the behaviorof
fluids in rocks. Topicsto be coveredwill deal with
practicalapplications;theory; and such specialinterestsas water supply, waste disposal,and geothermalfeatures.Anticipatedpublicationis threeto
six issuesper year. The first issuecan be obtained
free by writing to W.K. Summersand Associates,
Inc., P.O. Box 684,Socorro,NM 87801,or by calling 505/835-2095.
minerals
NewMexico's
Wur-rrNrrE.PsMoO.. Oncex MounrelNs, DoftA
Axe CouNrv,New Mextco
Crystalsystem:tetragonal.Hardness:2
(01l) distinct.
Specificgravity: 6.8+ . Cleavage
Color: yellow,orange,red; streakwhite.
Wulfenite (named for X. F. Wulfen, Austrian
mineralogist)is a popular speciesamong mineral
collectors,probablybecauseit is colorful and commonly occursas well-formedcrystals.Wulfeniteoccursin theoxidizedzoneof leaddeposits,commonly
associatedwith cerussite (PbCOr), vanadinite
(Pb'(VO.),C),and pyromorphite(Pb'(PO.),C).The
specimenpictured is from the Stevenson-Bennett
mine in the Organ Mountains,Doha Ana County,
New Mexico.
Photo b! Mqrk R Leo
USPOSIAGI
P A ID
NEW
MIXICO
PIRMIINO9