OF ESTANOIA. VALLEY, NEW MEXICO

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIEECTOE

WATER-STIPPILY PAPER 275

GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES

OF

ESTANOIA. VALLEY, NEW MEXICO

WITH NOTES ON

GROUND-WATER CONDITIONS IN ADJACENT PARTS OF CENTRAL NEW MEXICO

BY

OSCAR E. MEINZER

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

1911

CONTENTS.

GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES OF ESTANCIA VALLEY.

Page.

Introduction................................................................ 7 Location and area....................................................... 7 Geographic relations................ I................................... 8 Development.......................................................... 8 Field work............................................................. 8

Physiography.............................................................. 8 Mountains, hills, and mesas ............................................. 8 Alluvial slopes and arroyos............................................... 10 Ancient lake bed........................................................ 10 Salt basins and clay hills................................................. 11

Geology.................................................................... 11 Rock formations.......................,................................... 11 Metamorphic and igneous rocks....................................... 11 Carboniferous rocks.................................................. 12 Cretaceous rocks..................................................... 15 Valley fill............................................................... 16 Age and character................................................... 16 Work of the streams................................................ 17 Distribution of the alluvial deposits .............................. 17 Origin of the alluvial deposits................................... 17 Character of the alluvial deposits................................ 17 Work of the lake................................................... 18 Size of the lake................................................. 18 Shore features................................................... 19 Cliffs and terraces........................................... 19 Beach ridges................................................ 19 Spits....................................................... 20 Bars........................................................ 20 Estuaries.................................................... 21 Stages indicated by shore lines.............................. 21 Size of lake and of shore features.................."............ 22 Effect of prevailing winds................................... 23 Lake deposits.................................................. 23 Beach material.............................................. 23 Stratified sediments.......................................... 23 Work of the wind..................................................... 25 Sand dunes...................................................... 25 Salt basins and clay hills......................................... 25

Soils........................................................................ 27 Red loamy soils.-....-......--........................................... 27 Sandy soils............................................................. 28 Alkali soils..............................................-------.-.------ 28

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CONTENTS.

Page. Climate.................................................................... 30

Rainfall................................................................. 30 Evaporation............................................................ 32 Temperature........................................................... 32 Wind................................................................... 33 Relation of climate to agriculture......................................... 34 Water....................................................................... 34 Source and disposal...................................................... 34

Evaporation from the surface................................... ..... 34 Mountain springs and streams........................................ 35 Floods.............................................................. 35 Underflow.......................................................... 35 Overfilling of underground reservoir................................... 35 Leakage of the basin................................................ 37 Summary............................................................ 38 Head................................................................. 38 Ground-water table.................................................. 38

Methods of investigation........................................ 38 Relation of ground-water table to the surface ...........'.......... 39 Shallow-water belt on the west side............................... 39 Influence of the salt basins........................................ 40 Relation of ground-water table to the underflow ................... 41 Relation of ground-water table to supply and disposal............. 42 Artesian conditions................................................. 42 In the valley fill............................................... 42 In the rock formations........................................... 43 Recovery of water...................................................... 43 Yield of wells in the valley fill...................................... 43 Yield of wells in the rock formations.................................. 45 Available quantity of ground water.................................. 46 Quality................................................................. 47 Solids dissolved in water............................................. 47 Methods of investigation.............................................. 47 Chlorine............................................................ 48 Cause of salinity..................................................... 50 Sulphates........................................................... 51 Carbonates and bicarbonates.......................................... 52 Bases............................................................... 53 Effects of dissolved solids............................................. 53 Irrigation................................................................... 54 Storage of storm water................................................... 54 Utilization of ground water............................................... 54 Present development............................................... 54 Possibilities of future development.................................... 55 Proper type of irrigation systems..................................... 55 Proper types of wells................................................. 55 Gravity infiltration ditches.......................................... 56 Cost of pumping..................................................... 57 Windmills.......................................................... 59 Storage and distribution.............................................. 60 Value of crops...................................................... 62 Best use of water.................................................... 63 The alkali problem.................................................. 64 Summary.......................................................... 66

CONTENTS.

5

Page. Tables...................................................................... 67

Depths to water......................................................... 67 Field assays of water..................................................... 71 Tests of water from railway wells ........................................ 74 Note on geographic names.................................................... 74

GROUND-WATER CONDITIONS IN PARTS OP CENTRAL NEW MEXICO.

Reconnaissance in Encino Basin.............................................. 75 'Location and area....................................................... 75 Physiography and geology................................................ 75 Upland areas....................................................... 75 Ancient lake bed.................................................... 76 Lake sediments.................................................. 76 Shore features................................................... 77 Salt basin and post-lacustrine wind deposits............................ 78 Prelacustrine wind deposits......................................... 79 The map............................................................ 80 Soil............................................. ....................... 80 Ground water............................................................ 80 Occurrence and head................................................. 80 Quality............................................................. 81 Irrigation............................................................... 82

Reconnaissance in Pinos Wells Basin.......................................... 83 Physiography and geology............................................... 83 Ground water................................................. J.......... 84

Small intermediate basin.................................................... 84 Notes on wells at Vaughn..................................................... 84 Index...................................................................... 87

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