USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

Mineral Resources > Online Spatial Data > Geology > by state > New Mexico Geology

Geologic units in Sierra county, New Mexico

McRae Formation (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.6 % of this area

McRae Formation; Engle basin - Cutter sag area; Maastrichtian

Lithology: shale; sandstone; siltstone; conglomerate

gypsiferous eolian deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Gypsiferous eolian deposits

Lithology: eolian

Bursum Formation (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Bursum Formation; shale, arkose, and limestone; earliest Permian

Lithology: shale; sandstone; conglomerate; limestone

silicic to intermediate volcanic rocks (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area

Silicic to intermediate volcanic rocks; mainly quartz latite and rhyolite Neogene; may locally include flows interbedded with Santa Fe Group

Lithology: felsic volcanic rock; intermediate volcanic rock

basaltic andesites (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

Lower Miocene and uppermost Oligocene basaltic andesites (22-26 Ma). Includes Bearwallow Mountain Andesite and basaltic andesite of Mangas Mountain

Lithology: andesite; basalt; intermediate volcanic rock; mafic volcanic rock

basaltic and andesitic volcanics interbedded with sedimentary units (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

Basaltic and andesitic volcanics interbedded with Pleistocene and Pliocene sedimentary units

Lithology: basalt; andesite; sedimentary rock

Missippian through Cambrian rocks, undivided (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Cambrian Ordovician(?) Silurian(?) Devonian(?) Carboniferous Mississippian) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

Mississippian through Cambrian rocks, undivided; includes Lake Valley Limestone; Mississippian; Devonian rocks, undivided; El Paso Formation and Montoya Group (or Formation); Ordovician; and Bliss Sandstone; Cambrian and Ordovician

Lithology: carbonate; clastic

silicic to intermediate intrusive rocks (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Miocene to Oligocene silicic to intermediate intrusive rocks; dikes, stocks, plugs, and diatremes

Lithology: plutonic rock (phaneritic)

San Andres Formation (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

San Andres Formation; limestone and dolomite with minor shale; Guadalupian in south, in part Leonardian to north

Lithology: carbonate; fine-grained mixed clastic; evaporite

intrusive rocks (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

Tertiary intrusive rocks; undifferentiated

Lithology: plutonic rock (phaneritic)

landslide deposits and colluvium (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Landslide deposits and colluvium

Lithology: landslide; colluvium

Ordovician and Cambrian rocks, undivided (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Cambrian Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Ordovician and Cambrian rocks, undivided; includes Bliss Sandstone, El Paso Formation, and Montoya Formation (or Group)

Lithology: sedimentary rock

intrusive rocks, uppermost Cretaceous (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Uppermost Cretaceous intrusive rocks; restricted to Copper Flats area in Sierra County

Lithology: plutonic rock (phaneritic)

piedmont alluvial deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 17 % of this area

Piedmont alluvial deposits: upper and middle Quaternary; includes deposits of higher gradient tributaries bordering major stream valleys, alluvial veneers of the piedmont slope, and alluvial fans

Lithology: alluvium

basalt and andesite flows, Pliocene (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.7 % of this area

Basalt and andesite flows; Pliocene

Lithology: basalt; andesite

intrusive rocks, Paleogene and Upper Cretatceous (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic Cenozoic | Cretaceous Tertiary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Paleogene and Upper Cretaceous intrusive rocks; includes Hanover, Fierro, Tyrone, and Lordsburg granodiorite-quartz monzonite porphyries

Lithology: granodiorite; granitoid

intertongued Dakota-Mancos sequence (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Intertongued Dakota-Mancos sequence of west-central New Mexico; includes the Whitewater Arroyo Tongue of Mancos Shale and the Twowells Tongue of the Dakota

Lithology: fine-grained mixed clastic; medium-grained mixed clastic; limestone

Paleozoic rocks, undivided (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Paleozoic rocks, undivided

Lithology: sedimentary rock

Silurian through Cambrian rocks, undivided (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Cambrian Ordovician(?) Silurian) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area

Silurian through Cambrian rocks, undivided

Lithology: sedimentary rock

Percha Shale (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Devonian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Percha Shale; southern Caballo Mountains; includes the Onate and Sly Gap Formations

Lithology: shale; limestone

volcanic rocks, lower Oligocene and Eocene (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

Lower Oligocene and Eocene volcanic rocks, undifferentiated; dominantly intermediate composition, with interbedded volcaniclastic rocks; (31-44 Ma)

Lithology: volcanic rock (aphanitic); intermediate volcanic rock; mixed clastic/volcanic

silicic flows and massess and associated pyroclastic rocks (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Upper Oligocene silicic (or felsic) flows and masses and associated pyroclastic rocks; includes Taylor Creek, Fanney, and Rocky Canyon Rhyolites

Lithology: felsic volcanic rock; pyroclastic; rhyolite

older piedmont alluvial deposits and shallow basin fill (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary Quaternary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Older piedmont alluvial deposits and shallow basin fill; includes Quemado Formation and in northeast, high level pediment gravels

Lithology: alluvium; unconsolidated deposit

sedimentary and vocaniclastic sedimentary rocks (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.7 % of this area

Mostly Oligocene and upper Eocene sedimentary and volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks with local andesitic to intermediate volcanics; includes Espinaso, Spears, Bell Top, and Palm Park Formations

Lithology: clastic; mixed clastic/volcanic; volcanic rock (aphanitic); unconsolidated deposit

Upper Santa Fe Group (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary Quaternary) at surface, covers 21 % of this area

Upper Santa Fe Group. Includes Camp Rice, Fort Hancock, Palomas, Sierra Ladrones, Ancha, Puye, and Alamosa Formations; middle Pleistocene to uppermost Miocene

Lithology: clastic; unconsolidated deposit; mixed clastic/volcanic

Permain and Pennsylvanian rocks, undivided (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Pennsylvanian Permian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Permian and Pennsylvanian rocks, undivided; includes Horquilla Limestone, Earp Formation, Epitaph and Scherrer Formations, and Concha Limestone

Lithology: medium-grained mixed clastic; carbonate

Cretaceous rocks, undivided (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Cretaceous rocks, undivided

Lithology: clastic; volcanic rock (aphanitic); carbonate

undivided, Upper Cretaceous (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

Upper Cretaceous, undivided. Includes Virden Formation in northern Hidalgo County, Ringbone Formation in Hidalgo and Luna and Grant Counties, and locally Beartooth and Sarten, Mancos in Silver City area; Cenomanian - Maastrichtian for most part, although Beartooth is pre-Cenomanian

Lithology: medium-grained mixed clastic; volcanic rock (aphanitic); limestone

Dakota Sandstone (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Dakota Sandstone; includes Oak Canyon, Cubero, and Paguate Tongues plus Clay Mesa Tongue of Mancos Shale; Cenomanian

Lithology: medium-grained mixed clastic

Gila Group (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary Quaternary) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

Gila Group. Includes Mimbres Formation and several informal units in southwestern basins; Middle Pleistocene to uppermost Oligocene

Lithology: conglomerate; sandstone; basalt

andesite flows (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

Uppermost Cretaceous andesite flows; restricted to southwestern area

Lithology: andesite

eolian deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 8 % of this area

Eolian deposits

Lithology: eolian

Mississippian and Devonain rocks, undivided (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Devonian Carboniferous Mississippian) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

Mississippian and Devonian rocks, undivided; includes the Lake Valley Limestone, Caballero, Las Cruces, Rancheria, and Helms Formations and Escabrosa Group; Mississippian; the Onate, Sly Gap, Contadero Formations, and Percha Shale of south-central New Mexico, and Canutillo Formation of Northern Franklin Mountains and Bishops Cap area; Devonian

Lithology: carbonate; medium-grained mixed clastic

rhyolitic pyroclastic rocks (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

Upper Oligocene rhyolitic pyroclastic rocks (ash-flow tuffs); includes Davis Canyon Tuff, South Crosby Peak Formation, La Jencia, Vick's Peak, Lemitar, South Canyon, Bloodgood Canyon, Shelley Peak Tuffs, tuff of Horseshoe Canyon, Park Tuff, Rhyolite Canyon Tuff, Apache Springs Tuff, Diamond Creek, Jordan Canyon, Garcia Camp Tuffs, the Turkey Springs Tuff, the tuff of Little Mineral Creek, the Amalia Tuff, and others. Some contain volcaniclastic and reworked volcaniclastic rocks, and eolian sandstone; (24-29 Ma)

Lithology: tuff; pyroclastic; rhyolite; andesite; mixed clastic/volcanic; eolian

lacustrine and playa-lake deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.9 % of this area

Lacustrine and playa-lake deposits; includes associated alluvial and eolian deposits of major lake basins; upper Quaternary

Lithology: lake or marine deposit (non-glacial); alluvium; eolian

Abo Formation (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Abo Formation; red beds, arkosic at base, finer and more mature above; Wolfcampian; may include limestone beds of Pennsylvanian age (Virgilian) in Zuni Mountains. In Robledo Mountains the Abo may be considered a member of the Hueco Formation

Lithology: sandstone; shale; conglomerate; limestone

Mesaverde Group (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Mesaverde Group includes the Gallup Sandstone, Crevasse Canyon Formation, Point Lookout Sandstone, Menefee Formation, and Cliff House Sandstone

Lithology: sandstone; fine-grained mixed clastic; conglomerate; coal

Hueco Formation (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Hueco Formation; limestone unit restricted to south-central area; Pendejo Tongue divides Abo Formation into upper and lower parts; Wolfcampian

Lithology: limestone; shale; conglomerate

silicic pyroclastic rocks (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

Lower Oligocene silicic pyroclastic rocks (ash-flow tuffs); includes Hell's Mesa, Kneeling Nun, lower part of Bell Top Formation, Caballo Blanco, Datil Well, Leyba Well, Rock House Canyon, Blue Canyon, Sugarlump and Tadpole Ridge Tuffs, the tuffs of the Organ cauldron, Treasure Mountain Tuff (now known as Chiquito Peak Tuff), Bluff Creek Tuff, Oak Creek Tuff, tuff of Steins Mountain, tuff of Black Bill Canyon, tuff of Farr Ranch, Woodhaul Canyon, Gillespie and Box Canyon Tuffs, Cooney Tuff, and other volcanic and interbedded fluvial and pumiceous units; (31-36.5 Ma)

Lithology: pyroclastic; tuff; felsic volcanic rock; volcanic rock (aphanitic); mixed clastic/volcanic

Mancos Shale (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Mancos Shale; divided into Upper and Lower parts by Gallup Sandstone

Lithology: shale; fine-grained mixed clastic

silicic flows, domes, and associated pyroclastic rocks (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Lower Oligocene silicic (or felsic) flows, domes, and associated pyroclastic rocks and intrusions; includes Mimbres Peak Formation

Lithology: lava flow; tuff; felsic volcanic rock; conglomerate; pyroclastic

Pennsylvanian rocks, undivided (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 6 % of this area

Pennsylvanian rocks, undivided; in Sangre de Cristo Mountains may include Sandia Formation, Madera Limestone, La Pasada, Alamitos, and Flechado Formations; elsewhere may include Bar-B, Nakaye, Red House, Oswaldo, and Syrena Formations

Lithology: sedimentary rock; medium-grained mixed clastic; carbonate

Permian Rocks, undivided (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

Permian rocks, undivided

Lithology: sedimentary rock

volcanic and some volcaniclastic rocks (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Volcanic and some volcaniclastic rocks, undifferentiated; lower Miocene and Upper Oligocene (younger than 29 Ma)

Lithology: volcanic rock (aphanitic); mixed clastic/volcanic

Yesa Formation (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Yeso Formation; sandstones, siltstones, anhydrite, gypsum, halite, and dolomite; Leonardian

Lithology: sandstone; limestone; mudstone; evaporite

plutonic rocks, Lower Proterozoic (Proterozoic | Paleoproterozoic) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

Lower Proterozoic plutonic rocks (older than 1600 Ma)

Lithology: plutonic rock (phaneritic)

Silurian and Ordovician rocks, undivided (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Ordovician Silurian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Silurian and Ordovician rocks, undivided

Lithology: sedimentary rock

andesite and basaltic andesite flows and associated volcaniclastic units (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 4 % of this area

Lower Tertiary, (Lower Oligocene and Eocene) andesite and basaltic andesite flows, and associated volcaniclastic units. Includes Rubio Peak Formation, and andesite of Dry Leggett Canyon

Lithology: andesite; basalt; intermediate volcanic rock; mafic volcanic rock; mixed clastic/volcanic

Santa Fe Group (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.8 % of this area

Santa Fe Group, undivided. Basin fill of Rio Grande rift region; middle Pleistocene to uppermost Oligocene

Lithology: clastic; carbonate; lava flow; andesite

Madera Formation (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 0.7 % of this area

Madera Formation (Limestone, or Group); in Manzano Mountains includes Los Moyos Limestone and Wild Cow Formation; in Lucero Mesa includes Gray Mesa, Atrasdo, and Red Tanks Members; in Sacramento Mountains includes Beeman and Holder Formations; may include strata lumped as Magdalena Group in a few areas

Lithology: limestone; fine-grained mixed clastic

volcanic rocks, middle Tertiary (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

Middle Tertiary volcanic rocks, undifferentiated

Lithology: volcanic rock (aphanitic)

sedimentary units, Palogene (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.7 % of this area

Paleogene sedimentary units; includes Baca, Galisteo, El Rito, Blanco Basin, Love Ranch, Lobo, Sanders Canyon, Skunk Ranch, Timberlake, and Cub Mountain Formations

Lithology: medium-grained mixed clastic; tuff; limestone; sand; clay or mud

metamorphic rocks (Proterozoic | Paleoproterozoic) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Lower Proterozoic metamorphic rocks, dominantly felsic volcanic, volcaniclastic and plutonic rocks (1650-1700+ Ma); includes Vadito Group; locally includes high-grade felsic gneisses of unknown age

Lithology: felsic metavolcanic rock; plutonic rock (phaneritic); felsic gneiss

Madera Limestone, exotic blocks (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Madera Limestone, exotic blocks; present only in the Chloride area of Sierra County

Lithology: limestone

basalt and andesite flows and vent deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.6 % of this area

Basalt and andesite flows and locally vent deposits

Lithology: andesite; basalt

Yeso, Glorieta, and San Andres Formations, undivided (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

Yeso, Glorieta and San Andres Formations, undivided

Lithology: sandstone; carbonate; fine-grained mixed clastic; evaporite

Lower and Middle Santa Fe Group (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Lower and Middle Santa Fe Group. Includes Hayner Ranch, Rincon Valley, Popotosa, Cochiti, Tesuque, Chamita, Abiquiu, and other Formations; Miocene and uppermost Oligocene

Lithology: coarse-grained mixed clastic; unconsolidated deposit; tuff; chert

basalt and andesite flows, Neogene (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.6 % of this area

Basalt and andesite flows; Neogene. Includes flows interbedded with Santa Fe and Gila Groups

Lithology: basalt; andesite

plutonic rocks, middle Proterozoic (Proterozoic | Mesoproterozoic) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

Middle Proterozoic plutonic rocks (younger than 1600 Ma)

Lithology: plutonic rock (phaneritic)

Artesia Group (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Artesia Group; shelf facies forming broad south-southeast trending outcrop from Glorieta to Artesia area; includes Grayburg, Queen, Seven Rivers, Yates, and Tansill Formations; Guadalupian. May locally include Moenkopi Formation (Triassic) at top

Lithology: fine-grained mixed clastic; dolostone (dolomite); evaporite

alluvium (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 4 % of this area

Alluvium; upper and middle Quaternary

Lithology: alluvium

andesites and basaltic andesites (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Upper Oligocene andesites and basaltic andesites (26-29 Ma); includes La Jara Peak Basaltic Andesite, Uvas Basalt, the basaltic andesite of Poverty Creek, and Squirrel Springs Andesite, the Razorback, Bear Springs Canyon, Salt Creek, Gila Flat, and Middle Mountain Formations, and the Alum Mountain Group; locally includes more silicic flows

Lithology: andesite; basalt; intermediate volcanic rock; mafic volcanic rock; felsic volcanic rock; rhyolite

quartz monzonites, intermediate intrusives, and other intermediate felsic dikes and plugs (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area

Quartz monzonites (Eocene) in the Silver City and Los Pinos Range, intermediate intrusives of the Cooke's Range (Oligocene), and other intermediate to felsic dikes and plugs of Oligocene and Eocene age

Lithology: quartz monzonite; granitoid