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Research about New Mexico

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including New Mexico.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
USGS1988

Early diagenesis of eolian dune and interdune sands at White Sands, New Mexico

The degree of early diagenesis in eolian dune and interdune sands at White Sands, New Mexico, is largely a function of the relationship between sand location and the water table. Most active and vegetation-stabilized dune sands are in the vadose zone, whereas interdune sands are in the capillary fringe and phreatic zones. Crystallographically controlled dissolution of the framework gypsum grains results in elongate, prismatic etch pits on sand grains from the capillary fringe and phreatic zones, whereas dissolution of sand grains in the vadose zone is slight, causing minute irregularities on grain surfaces. Vadose water percolating through the sand is manifest as meniscus layers. Consequently, dune sands in the vadose zone are cemented mainly by meniscus-shaped gypsum at grain contacts. Pendant cements formed on the lower margins of some sand grains. Cementation in the capillary fringe and the phreatic zone is more extensive than the vadose regardless of strata type. Typically, well-developed gypsum overgrowths form along the entire edge of a grain, or may encompass the entire grain. Complex diagenetic histories are suggested by multiple overgrowths and several episodes of dissolution on single grains, attesting to changing saturation levels with respect to gypsum in the shallow ground water. These changes in saturation are possibly due to periods of dilution by meteoric recharge, alternating with periods of concentration of ions and the formation of cement due to evaporation through the capillary fringe.

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USGS1988

Mineral resource potential map of the Pecos Wilderness, Santa Fe, San Miguel, Mora, Rio Arriba, and Taos Counties, New Mexico

The Pecos Wilderness covers approximately 348 sq mi in the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests, north-central New Mexico. The area investigated includes the wilderness and approximately 150 sq mi of adjacent territory. The additional area covers several RARE II Road less Areas that were classified by the U.S. Forest Service in 1979 as Proposed Wilderness and Further Planning Areas, but were not incorporated in the Pecos Wilderness by the New Mexico Wilderness Bill. For the purpose of this report the entire area is called the study area. The study area is at the southern end of the Sangre de Cristo Range. It is characterized by an axial line of alpine peaks that rise to more than 13,000 ft, flanked on the west and north by heavily wooded ridges and canyons that drain to the Rio Grande Valley, and on the southeast by a high dissected plateau of meadows and forest. The plateau is dissected by deep canyons of the Pecos River and its tributaries, and is bounded on the east by a scarp of about 3,000 ft. Partly forested ranch land lies below the base of the scarp to the east, and beyond that is prai-rie of the Great Plains. This map is based on geologic and geochemical studies and mine and prospect investigations that were done principally in 1977 and 1979-80 (U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Bureau of Mines, and New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, 1980; Lane, 1980; Moench and Robertson, 1980; Moench, Robertson, and Sutley, 1980; Moench and Erickson, 1980; Moench, Grambling, and Robertson, 1988; Moench, Sutley, and Erickson, 1988; Erickson, Sutley, and Moench, 1986). An aeromagnetic survey covering almost all of the Pecos Wilderness was flown in 1970. The resulting aeromagnetic map was published by Moench and others (1980) and interpreted in that report by Lindreth Cordell. Cordell found no correlation between magnetic features and geologic terraines having mineral resource potential.

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USGS1988

Seismicity map of the state of New Mexico

This map is one of a series of seismicity maps produced by the U. S. Geological Survey that show earthquake data of individual states or groups of states at the scale of 1:1,000,000. This map shows only those earthquakes with epicenters located within the boundaries of New Mexico, even though earthquakes in nearby states or countries may have been felt or may have caused damage in New Mexico. The data in table 1 were used to compile the seismicity map; these data are a corrected, expanded, and updated (through 1983) version of the data used by Algermissen (1969) for a study of seismic risk in the United States. The locations and intensities of some earthquakes were revised and intensities were assigned where none had been before. Many earthquakes were added to the original list from new data sources as well as from some old data sources that had not been previously used. The data in table 1 represent best estimates of the location of the epicenter, magnitude, and intensity of each earthquake on the basis of historical and current information. Some of the aftershocks from large earthquakes are listed, but not all, especially for earthquakes that occurred before seismic instruments were universally used.

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USGS1988

Water use in New Mexico, 1985

Water-use data are essential for managing the State's limited water resources. The New Mexico State Engineer Office (NMSEO) and the U.S. Geological Survey collect and publish data on water use at 5-year intervals. These data are used by Federal and State agencies, city and county planners, private industry, and irrigation districts. This report graphically summarizes water-use data by county in New Mexico in 1985. The primary source of data was the NMSEO Technical Report 46 (Wilson, 1986), which contains detailed water-use information. The data presented here are in the same format (categories of use and units) as the technical report. The Survey' s national data-collection format differs from the NMSEO format in some category definitions, quantity of data reported, and units. T The State Engineer Office defines a withdrawal as the amount of water removed from a surface- or ground-water source. A depletion is that part of a withdrawal consumed by man or livestock, included in crops or products, evaporated or transpired, or otherwise removed. In the figures and text referring to specific data, water use is synonymous with "withdrawals," not consumptive use.

New Mexico↗
USGS1988

Water resources data, New Mexico, water year 1987

Water resources data for the 198, water year for New Mexico consist of records of discharge and water quality of streams; stage, contents and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality in wells and springs. This report contains discharge records for 165 gaging stations; stage and contents for 25 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 67 gaging stations and 180 wells; and water levels at 100 observation wells. Also included are 108 crest-stage partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites) not involved in the systematic data collect-ion program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. Also, one seepage investigation is published this year. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in New Mexico.

New Mexico↗
USGS1988

Ground-water geochemistry of the Albuquerque-Belen Basin, central New Mexico

The purpose of this study was to define the areal distribution of different water types, use the distribution to help define the groundwater flow system, and identify processes resulting in differences in groundwater quality in the Albuquerque-Belen Basin in central New Mexico. The chemistry of surface water inflow from adjacent areas, which infiltrates and recharges the aquifer along the basin margin, affects the groundwater quality in the eastern and southeastern areas of the basin. Groundwater in the eastern area generally has a specific conductance less than 400 microsiemens, and calcium and bicarbonate are the dominant ions. Mixing of recharge, groundwater inflow, and surface inflow from adjacent areas, which have different chemical compositions, is the major process affecting groundwater quality in the southwestern, western, and northern areas of the basin. In these areas, there is a large range in specific conductance and distribution of dissolved ions. Groundwater quality in the Rio Grande valley is affected by the infiltration of excess irrigation water. The excess irrigation water generally has a larger specific conductance than other groundwater in the valley, so mixing of these waters results in shallow groundwater generally having larger specific conductance than the deeper groundwater. (USGS)

New Mexico↗
USGS1988

Habitat requirements of New Mexico’s endangered salamanders

We measured habitat components for two state-listed endangered salamanders in New Mexico in 1986 and 1987. Both species are restricted to mesic environments within high-elevation, mixed coniferous forests. Steep slope and high elevation were the most useful variables for predicting the occurrence of Jemez Mountains salamanders and Sacramento Mountain salamanders, respectively. Although the discriminant models show some predictive value in detecting salamanders based on habitat variables, we believe that the best survey technique is ground-truth surveys in wet weather. A better fit of the discriminant models might be obtained by including variables not measured e.g., fire and logging history, and soil characteristics. We offer interim management guidelines as a result of our analysis.

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