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Geology and Ground-Water Conditions in Southern Lea County, New Mexico

/)y ;/f.FXANDER SICHOLSOS. I, · IIUr/ AJJR.FD CI"EHSCH. JR.

UNITED STATES GEO LOG ICAL SU R VE¥

STATE BUREAU OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES

NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING & TECHNOLOGY

CAMPUS STATION SOCORRO, NEW MEXICO

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NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING & TECHNOLOGY

E. J. Workman, President

STATE BUREAU OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES

Alvin J. Thompson, Director

THE REGENTS

MEMBERS Ex OFFICIO

The Honorable Edwin L. Mechem . ..... Governor of New Mexico

Tom Wiley . ..... . . . .. .... Superintendent of Public Instruction

ApPOINTED MEMBERS

William G. Abbott ........................... . ..... . Hobbs

Holm O. Bursum, Jr. ...... . ... . .......... ........ . .. Socorro

Thomas M. Cramer ...... . ......................... Carlsbad

Frank C. DiLuzio . . ... .. ................. . ..... Albuquerque

Eva M. Larrazolo (Mrs. Paul F.) .................. Albuquerque

For sale by the New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources Campus Station, Socorro, N. Mex.-Price $3.00

Contents

ABSTRACT ............................... . ........... . .

INTRODUCTION Location and area .... ... ....... .... . ... .. ..... ......... . History and scope of investigation ................... . .. . . . Previous investigations and acknowledgments .............. . Well-numbering system ............................... . . .

GEOGRAPHY Topography and drainage ................ . .............. .

Mescalero Ridge and High Plains ...................... . Querecho Plains and Laguna Valley ................. ... . Grama Ridge area ............. ... .... . ............... . Eunice Plain ... ... ..... .... ........ . ... ......... ... . .

Monulnent Draw ......... ..... .... . ............... . Rattlesnake Ridge area ............................... . San Simon Swale .......... . .......................... . Antelope Ridge area .......... ..... ..... ...... .. .... . . James Dunes area .. ................................. . South Plain .... ..... .. . ..... . ... ............ .. ...... .

Climate Population ............................................ . Economy ......... .. . ...... . . ......................... .

GEOLOGY Stratigraphy

Precambrian rocks Paleozoic rocks Permian or Triassic rocks ............................. . Mesozoic rocks ....................................... .

Triassic ........................................... . Jurassic . . ....... . ... .... .............. , ............ . Cretaceous .. ......... .. . .. . .... .. ......... . ....... .

Cenozoic rocks . . .................................. . .. . Tertiary .......................................... . Quaternary ....................................... .

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