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

Geologic units in Torrance county, New Mexico

[Additional scientific data in this geographic area]

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

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

Tertiary intrusive rocks; undifferentiated

Lithology: plutonic rock (phaneritic)

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

San Andres Formation (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian) at surface, covers 12 % 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

piedmont alluvial deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 11 % 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

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

Landslide deposits and colluvium

Lithology: landslide; colluvium

Ogallala Formation (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 6 % of this area

Ogallala Formation, alluvial and eolian deposits, and petrocalcic soils of the southern High Plains; Lower Pliocene to middle Miocene (locally includes unit Qoa)

Lithology: alluvium; eolian; carbonate

Sandia Formation (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Sandia Formation; predominately clastic unit (commonly arkosic) with minor black shales, and limestone in lower part; locally includes Osha Canyon Formation in Nacimiento Mountains

Lithology: sandstone; shale; limestone; conglomerate

older alluvial deposits of upland plains and piedmont areas (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 10 % of this area

Older alluvial deposits of upland plains and piedmont areas, and calcic soils and eolian cover sediments of High Plains region; includes scattered lacustrine, playa, and alluvial deposits of the Tahoka, Double Tanks, Tule, Blanco, Blackwater Draw, and Gatuna Formations, the latter of which may be Pliocene at base; outcrops, however, are basically of Quaternary deposits; upper Quaternary to uppermost Pliocene(?)

Lithology: alluvium

San Andres Limestone and Glorieta Sandstone (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

San Andres Limestone and Glorieta Sandstone; Guadalupian and Leonardian

Lithology: fine-grained mixed clastic; carbonate; evaporite

Glorieta Sandstone (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian) at surface, covers 8 % of this area

Glorieta Sandstone; texturally and mineralogically mature, high-silica quartz sandstone

Lithology: sandstone

eolian deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Eolian deposits

Lithology: eolian

Chinle Group (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Triassic) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Chinle Group; Upper Triassic; includes Moenkopi Formation (Middle Triassic) at base in many areas; in eastern part of state the following five formations are mapped:

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

mafic metamorphic rocks, lower Proterozoic (Proterozoic | Paleoproterozoic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Lower Proterozoic metamorphic rocks, dominantly mafic (1720-1760 Ma)

Lithology: mafic metavolcanic rock

lacustrine and playa-lake deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 14 % 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 1.0 % 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

Santa Rosa Formation of Chinle Group (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Triassic) at surface, covers 0.9 % of this area

Santa Rosa Formation; Carnian; includes Moenkopi Formation (Middle Triassic) at base in most areas

Lithology: sandstone; mudstone; conglomerate

Yesa Formation (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian) at surface, covers 13 % of this area

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

Lithology: sandstone; limestone; mudstone; evaporite

upper Chinle Group (Garita Creek, Trujillo, Bull Canyon, and Redonda Formations) (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Triassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Upper Chinle Group, Garita Creek through Redonda Formations, undivided

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

Pennsylvanian rocks, undivided (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 0.1 % 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

metasedimentary rocks (Proterozoic | Paleoproterozoic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Lower Proterozoic metasedimentary rocks (1650-1700 Ma). Essentially equivalent to Hondo Group; locally includes high-grade quartzite-pelitic schist of unknown age

Lithology: metasedimentary rock

metamorphic rocks (Proterozoic | Paleoproterozoic) at surface, covers 1.0 % 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 Formation (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Carboniferous Pennsylvanian) at surface, covers 0.4 % 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

Artesia Group (Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Permian) at surface, covers 0.3 % 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 12 % of this area

Alluvium; upper and middle Quaternary

Lithology: alluvium

playa (None) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Lithology: playa

plutonic rocks, middle Proterozoic (Proterozoic | Mesoproterozoic) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Middle Proterozoic plutonic rocks (younger than 1600 Ma)

Lithology: plutonic rock (phaneritic)