The Cenozoic Geology of the Chetoh Country, Arizona and New Mexico

The Cenozoic geology of the Chetoh country, Arizona and New Mexico Item type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic); maps Authors Howell, Paul William, 1909-1972 Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Downloaded 22-Jan-2018 17:05:41 Link to item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/565556 THE CENOZOIC GEOLOGY OF THE CHETOH COUNTRY, ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO by Paul W.''Howell A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1959 ZFf7?y /f-$7 io STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at the University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgement of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or repro duction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in their judgement the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: UJL APPROVED BY THESIS DIRECTOR This thesis has been approved on the date shown below: JOHN F. LANCE Date Professor of Geology i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The work on this thesis has covered a considerable length of time, and the people who have helped the writer with his work are many, more, in fact, than it is practical to mention here. If anyone has been left unmentioned, let him be. assured that it is not for lack of appreciation of the help he gave that his name does not appear. The writer is most indebted to his wife, without whose assist ance and encouragement this thesis might never have been completed. He is deeply indebted also to Ted McKee, his field assistant for two summers, whose unfailing energy and humor made the work easy and the time pleasant, and who has no peer in the art of field cuisine. In lesser degree the writer is indebted to Dick Burnette, Joao Jose Bigarella, and Rudy Strand, each of whom assisted him for a short time in the field. Filtrol Corporation of Los Angeles, and El Paso Natural Gas Company helped considerably by allowing the use of their buildings as field camp headquarters. The writer takes this opportunity to express his gratitude to Edwin D. McKee, who as head of the Department of Geology at the University of Arizona in 1952 made it possible for the writer to take up and follow such an interesting problem. Professor John F. Lance, who as thesis director gave unstintingly of his time and help, has earned the writer's lasting gratitude. Mr.. Jackson L. Clark, formerly State Mineralogist for Arizona, and Mr. George Roseveare, ii Metallurgist for the Arizona Bureau of Mines, gave the writer invalu able assistance and technical guidance in the chemical, spectrographic and X-Ray work. Mr. Arthur Schmidt, Petrographer for the Corps of Engineers North Pacific Division Laboratory, took the photomicrographs of rock thin-sections for the writer. Many others of the writers co-workers in the Corps of Engineers have given technical assistance. The writer wishes to thank the Museum of Northern Arizona for the use of their quarters and laboratory facilities, and for the many privileges and kindnesses extended him. The Department of Geology and the School of Mines at the University of Arizona through the loan of their equipment and materials were of great help in carrying out the laboratory work. The writer was greatly helped through discussions and field trips with H. Wesley Peirce, fellow graduate student and sympathetic listener. Professors John F. Lance, Evans B. Mayo, and Halsey W. Miller read and criticized the thesis for the writer, and have been most helpful in bringing it to completion. ill THE CENOZOIC GEOLOGY OF THE CHETOH COUNTRY, ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO. By Paul W. Howell CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 The Thesis Problem 1 \ Location and Accessibility 3 Topography, Climate, and Vegetation 5 Topography 5 Climate and Vegetation 7 GEOLOGIC SETTING 10 Geologic Units and Relationships 10 Pre-Tertiary Rocks 10 Tertiary Deposits 13 Quaternary Deposits 13 Structural Features 14 CENOZOIC GEOLOGY l6 The Tertiary Period 16 Previous Work on the Tertiary Geology 16 Stratigraphy of the Tertiary 20 General Character of the Tertiary Deposits 20 The Zuni Erosion Surface 22 iv The Zuni Pebble Zone 25 The Chetoh Formation 30 Stratigraphy 30 Sedimentology 37 Correlative Formations 46 The Hopi Buttes Erosion Surface 48 The Bidahochi Formation 53 The Upper Bidahochi 53 The Volcanic Member 57 The Lower Bidahochi 58 The White Ash Beds 59 Bidahochi Sedimentology 62 Areal Extent of the Bidahochi 68 Correlative Formations 71 The Quaternary Period 73 Previous Work 73 General Character of the Deposits 75 Stratigraphy 77 The High Mesa Fill 77 The Gamerco Formation 88 The Jeddito Fill 92 The Naha Fill 96 Tectonics of the Cenozoic 98 v THE IGNEOUS ROCKS 100 Tertiary Volcanic Rocks 100 Salic Volcanic Rocks 101 Alkaline Basic Volcanics 104 Moderately Alkaline Basalts 107 Quaternary Volcanic Rocks 111 Volcanic Rocks in the Gravel Deposits 114 Zxmi Pebble Zone Gravel at Crazy Creek 114 High Mesa Fill Gravels at Cheto Mine 115 High Mesa Fill Gravels - South Side of Hardscrabble Mesa H 5 GEOMORPHOLOGY 117 . Geomorphic Evidence 117 The Erosion Surfaces 118 The Fill Surfaces 124 Stream Patterns and Superimpositions 126 Cycle and Stage of the Chetoh Country 130 Late Stream Patterns and Causes in the Chetoh Country 131 SEQUENCE OF EVENTS 135 Summary l4l BIBLIOGRAPHY 143 APPENDIX vi ILLUSTRATIONS PLATES 1 Geologic Map of the Chetoh Country Pocket 2 Geologic Sections of Bidahochi Basin tt II 3 Table of Sedimentary Environments 4 to 27 Photographs of Formations and Other Geologic Features Appendix 2? to 35 Photomicrographs of Rock Thin Sections ft 36 X-Ray Diffraction Photographs of Tertiary Clays If FIGURES 1 to 26 Stratigraphic Sections 27 to 33 Mechanical Analysis Cumulative Curves TABLES 1 Precipitation in the Chetoh Country Page 8 2 to 27 Data on the Chetoh and Related Formations Appendix 28 to 43 Data on the Bidahochi Formation " 44 to 57 Data on the High Mesa Fill " 58 Data on the Gamerco Formation " 59 and 60 Data on the Jeddito Fill " 6l to 70 Data on the Volcanic Rocks " vii INTRODUCTION The Thesis Problem The late Cenozoic geology of the Colorado Plateau is relatively unknown compared to that of the earlier epochs and periods. This con dition exists despite the great interest in the late geologic history of the Plateau and the Colorado River, an interest that has continued unabated since the days of the early, explorations. It is not for lack of work in the region that this condition exists, for much has been accomplished and written about it. The cause lies in the facts that the region is vast, that most of the record has been destroyed by erosion, and that the problem thereby is very difficult. When the Cenozoic geology and history of the Plateau are finally unravelled it will probably not be as the result of brilliant perception and deduction, but rather as the result of persistent and careful study of the scattered bits of remaining .evidence. The challenge of this unsolved problem, however, cannot be easily ignored by one working in the area, and it finally led the writer to undertake a comprehensive study of the late Cenozoic geology of a portion of the Plateau. It is hoped that this study, though it has not deciphered the Plateau1 s history, has at least produced some much needed basic data concerning it. The Chetoh country,of Arizona and New Mexico was chosen for the study because> as far as the writer knows, it contains the most com- . plete record of the late Cenozoic geology of the Plateau. 1 2 The intent of this thesis, therefore, is to determine the character and environment of the Cenozoic formations of the Chetoh country. 3 Location and Accessibility The name Chetoh country is herein assigned to a large area of the Colorado Plateau encompassing parts of the states of Arizona and New Mexico. It embraces a large part of the country north of the Little Colorado River and includes such landmarks as Defiance Uplift, Puerco River, and the Painted Desert. To the east of the Chetoh country lie the Chuska and Zuni Mountains, and to the south the Zuni and Little Colorado Rivers; to the west and north lie the Hop! Buttes, Black Mesa, and Chinle Valley. The settlement of Sanders, Arizona, is located near the center of the area, at the junction of U. S. Highways 66 and 666. The detailed studies for the thesis were carried out within this area, but correlation studies took the writer into outlying districts. Compared to some parts of the Colorado Plateau the Chetoh country is easily accessible. One may enter the area on any of three good paved highways, or by railroad. U. S. Highway 66 passes through the middle of the area from southwest to northeast, following the Puerco River and is paralleled by the Santa Fe Railroad. U. S. High way 666 passes northward through the area from St.

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