Capulin Volcano National Monument: Geologic Resources Inventory Report
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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Capulin Volcano National Monument Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2015/1031 ON THE COVER: Photograph of Capulin Volcano from the boca. Following eruption of First Series lava flows and Capulin Volcano, activity shifted to the boca on the western flank of the cinder cone. This view is looking east from the boca toward Capulin crater rim. Road cuts along Volcano Road can be seen just below the rim. Photograph by Matthew Zimmerer (MattZPhotography, www.mattzphotography.com [accessed 11 September 2015], used with permission), processed using Adobe Lightroom. THIS PAGE: Photograph looking west from Volcano Road on Capulin Volcano. Photograph by Dale L. Pate (taken on 22 March 2010). Capulin Volcano National Monument Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2015/1031 Katie KellerLynn Colorado State University Research Associate National Park Service Geologic Resources Division Geologic Resources Inventory PO Box 25287 Denver, CO 80225 September 2015 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received informal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available from the Geologic Resources Inventory website (http://go.nps.gov/gripubs), and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/). To receive this report in a format optimized for screen readers, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: KellerLynn, K. 2015. Capulin Volcano National Monument: Geologic resources inventory report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2015/1031. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 125/129746, September 2015 iiii Contents Page Figures . v Tables . v Executive Summary . vii Products and Acknowledgments . .. xi GRI Products . xi Acknowledgments . xi Geologic Setting and Significance . 1 Geologic Features and Processes . .. 7 Volcanic Rocks and Volcanoes . 7 Capulin Basalt . 8 Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field . 9 Capulin Volcano . 11 Volcanic Features . 13 View from Capulin Volcano . 18 Playa Lakes . 22 Aeolian Features . 22 K-T Boundary . 22 Paleontological Resources . 23 Volcano Road . 25 Geologic Resource Management Issues . 25 Erosion . 27 Slope Movements . 28 Aeolian Processes . 29 Wind Energy Development . 30 Cave Management . 30 Cinder Mining . 31 Volcano Hazards and Risk . 32 Geothermal Systems and Hydrothermal Features . 33 Geologic History . 35 Raton Phase (9.0 million–3.5 million years ago) . 35 Clayton Phase (3.0 million–2.2 million years ago) . 35 Capulin Phase (1.69 million–32,000 years ago) . 36 Geologic Map Data . 39 Geologic Maps . 39 Source Maps . 39 GRI GIS Data . 39 GRI Map Posters . 40 Map Unit Properties Tables . 40 Use Constraints . 40 Glossary . 41 Literature Cited . 45 Additional References . 51 Geology of National Park Service Areas . 51 NPS Resource Management Guidance and Documents . 51 Climate Change Resources . 51 iii Contents (continued) Page Geological Surveys and Societies . 51 US Geological Survey Reference Tools . 51 Appendix A: Scoping Participants . 53 Appendix B: Geologic Resource Laws, Regulations, and Policies . 55 GRI Posters . .in pocket Map Unit Properties Tables . .. .in pocket iv Figures Page Figure 1. Map of Capulin Volcano National Monument . ..