Mosaic of New Mexico's Scenery, Rocks, and History SCENIC TRIPS TO THE GEOLOGIC PAST NO. 8 Scenic Trips to the Geologic Past Series: No. 1—SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO No. 2—TAOS—RED RIVER—EAGLE NEST, NEW MEXICO, CIRCLE DRIVE No. 3—ROSWELL—CAPITAN—RUIDOSO AND BOTTOMLESS LAKES STATE PARK, NEW MEXICO No. 4—SOUTHERN ZUNI MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO No. 5—SILVER CITY—SANTA RITA—HURLEY, NEW MEXICO No. 6—TRAIL GUIDE TO THE UPPER PECOS, NEW MEXICO No. 7—HIGH PLAINS NORTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO, RATON- CAPULIN MOUNTAIN—CLAYTON No. 8—MOSlAC OF NEW MEXICO'S SCENERY, ROCKS, AND HISTORY No. 9—ALBUQUERQUE—ITS MOUNTAINS, VALLEYS, WATER, AND VOLCANOES No. 10—SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO No. 11—CUMBRE,S AND TOLTEC SCENIC RAILROAD C O V E R : REDONDO PEAK, FROM JEMEZ CANYON (Forest Service, U.S.D.A., by John Whiteside) Mosaic of New Mexico's Scenery, Rocks, and History (Forest Service, U.S.D.A., by Robert W . Talbott) WHITEWATER CANYON NEAR GLENWOOD SCENIC TRIPS TO THE GEOLOGIC PAST NO. 8 Mosaic of New Mexico's Scenery, Rocks, a n d History edited by PAIGE W. CHRISTIANSEN and FRANK E. KOTTLOWSKI NEW MEXICO BUREAU OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES 1972 NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING & TECHNOLOGY STIRLING A. COLGATE, President NEW MEXICO BUREAU OF MINES & MINERAL RESOURCES FRANK E. KOTTLOWSKI, Director BOARD OF REGENTS Ex Officio Bruce King, Governor of New Mexico Leonard DeLayo, Superintendent of Public Instruction Appointed William G. Abbott, President, 1961-1979, Hobbs George A. Cowan, 1972-1975, Los Alamos Dave Rice, 1972-1977, Carlsbad Steve Torres, 1967-1979, Socorro James R. Woods, 1971-1977, Socorro BUREAU STAFF Full Time DIANE ALLMENDINGER, Clerk-Typist ROBERT W. KELLEY, Editor & Geologist WILLIAM E. ARNOLD, Scientific Illustrator NEILA M. PEARSON, Drafts-woman ROBERT A. BIEBERMAN, Petroleum Geologist THOMAS M. PLOUF, Research Extractive Met. LYNN A. BRANDVOLD, Chemist JACQUES R. RENAULT, Geologist CORALE BRIERLEY, Chemical Microbiologist RONALD J. ROMAN, Chief Research Metallurgist JUDY RUSSELL, Editorial Assistant CHARLES E. CHAPIN, Geologist JACKIE H. SMITH, Laboratory Assistant RICHARD R. CHAVEZ, Technician ROBERT H. WEBER, Senior Geologist JILL COLLIS, Secretary SHIRLEY WHYTE, Clerk-Typist LOIS M. DEVLIN, Office Manager ' ' RUSSELL J. WOOD, Draftsman J O DRAKE, Administrative Ass t. & Sec y. JUARINE W. WOOLDRIDGE, Editorial Clerk ROUSSEAU H. FLOWER, Senior Paleontologist MICHAEL W. WOOLDRIDGE, Scientific Illustrator Roy W. FOSTER, Petroleum Geologist Part Time JACK B. PEARCE, Director, Information Services JOHN REICHE, Instrument Manager RUFIE MONTOYA, Dup. Mach. Oper. ALLAN R. SANFORD, Geophysics Graduate Students ROGER ALLMENDINGER RUSSELL FISHER JAMES JENSEN ROBERT B. BLAKESTAD DAVID L. HAYSLIP TERRY SIEMERS STUART FAITH STEPHEN C. HOOK ROGER WARD Plus more than 33 undergraduate assistants Third Edition, 2nd Printing Published by Authority of State of New Mexico, NMSA 1953 Sec. 63—1—4 Printed by University New Mexico Printing Plant, Albuquerque June 1974 Available from New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources, Socorro, NM 87801 $2.50 Contents 3 Of Indians, Spaniards, and Americans, Paige W. Christiansen 16 The exotic plants of New Mexico, Ross Calvin 26 Dwellers in the hills and plains, Levon Lee 33 Rocks that shape the enchanting landscapes, Frank E. Kottlowski 54 Before Coronado, Robert H. Weber 64 Frontier forts f New Mexico, Robert A. Bieberman 75 Our National Heritage 75 New Mexico's big share f the National Park System, H. V. Reeves, Jr. 93 Forest lands above the desert, Ruth Bush Jones 104 The State Also Preserves 104 New Mexico State Monuments, Museum of New Mexico Staff 107 New Mexico State Parks, The Editors 113 Angling in the desert's waters, Fred A. Thompson 119 The Indians of New Mexico, Paige W. Christiansen 133 Reminders of the past, Paige W . Christiansen 145 Derricks and mines, George B. Griswold 154 Enchanting landscapes, Frank E. Kottlowski 165 Index Preface Previous Scenic Trips to the Geologic Past have emphasized scenic tours of local areas in New Mexico. This book lays out a mosaic of facts and fancies concerning the state's landscapes, the rocks that underlie and make up the landscapes, and the history of the people now living or who have lived amid New Mexico's exciting and varied scenery. We hope these short articles will help you enjoy our state, whether you are a tourist driving through at seventy miles an hour, a visitor with a little time to explore, or an old-timer who remembers the cattle drives. The idea for this publication grew out of a booklet, New Mexico Mosaic of Science and History, that was written for the 1963 National Science Fair- International held in Albuquerque. The National Science Fair booklet was directed specifically to the Fair participants and emphasized their tours to famous scientific installations in New Mexico, areas of scenic geologic wonders, and points fo historic and archeologic importance. The booklet had only limited distribution; subsequent interest in this kind of publication about New Mexico led to the preparation of this book. Scenic Trips No. 8 is in two major parts. First, there are articles of general statewide interest to acquaint visitor and resident alike with the Land of Enchantment—its history, flora and fauna, geology, and scenic beauty. Second, there are articles describing specific scenic, geologic, historic, and recreational places to give a depth of understanding and a more intimate view of New Mexico. The entire mosaic of New Mexico thus presented is a permanent record to recall vistas of New Mexico's enchanting land and fascinating history. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many people have contributed their time and talents to this co-operative undertaking. We thank each of the authors of the articles; where their affiliation is not given, they are staff members of the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources division of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Professor Christiansen is a member of the Humanities Department of the Institute's College division. This book would have been incomplete without the co-operation of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the Museum of New Mexico, the New Mexico Department of Development, the State Park Commission, the U.S. Park Service, and the Forest Service, Southwestern Region, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Our special appreciation goes to Dr. Ross Calvin for his interpretative description of New Mexico's unique flora. Black and white photographs were contributed by Robert Bieberman, Roy Foster, and Teri Ray of the Bureau of Mines staff and by the authors 1 or their agencies. Some of the drawings were made by David H. Money- penny. Acknowledgment is also made to Mr. Elliott S. Barker and the Forest Service for their willing loan of color transparencies. Among the numerous personnel of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology who aided in preparation of this book, appreciation is due Helen Waxler, Lois Devlin, Lola White, Mary Ann Grandjean, and Sharon Ballenger for typing of manuscripts and William Arnold, Robert Price, and Raymond Molina for drafting maps and figures. Teri Ray deserves special mention for her interest and editorial advice and for nursing the material from rough manuscripts into printed pages. PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION The kind reception given our attempt to provide a brief but comprehensive guide to New Mexico's scenery, rocks, and history resulted in distribution of 5000 copies in two years, and led to this second edition. In this revision, we have incorporated changes that have occurred during these two years, especially the addition of State Parks, and Teri Ray has added an index to make the book more usable. Each author has re-edited his article and made changes where necessary. William Arnold added much material to the index map; typing of the revision manuscript was carefully done by Lois Devlin. Alfred Coulloudon and Wayne Bera supplied additional photographs. Teri Ray initiated revision of the first edition, worked with authors, and guided the manuscript from the authors to the final copy. PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION The first edition appeared in 1964, the second in 1967, and a reprint in 1968. In the present edition front matter has been re-styled, printed matter has been altered on the inside and outside of the covers, a footnote added to page 104, and a less bulky paper used. 2 Of Indians, Spaniards, and Americans by PAIGE W . CHRISTIANSEN In the world of the twentieth century with its tumultuous ovation for each discovery of science, with its language of non-Euclidian space, with new heroes who leave the earth, not discover it—sometimes it is refreshing to look back on other days, to see other heroes, and to seek romance and excitement which was equally spectacular in times past. Yet there is a close affinity and a spiritual link among the heroes of the past, the present, and the future, and the reaction of their contemporaries to their feats of glory is not so different. Heroes are those who seek the unknown, who risk life and position to expand the frontiers of man's universe and mind. But heroes can only lead an age, never surpass it. History, then, is people and their catalyst, ideas. The history of New Mexico, like twentieth century science, is multi- dimensional. Its complex cultural patterns fit with the intricate variety of its geologic wonders and its flora and fauna. In reality, New Mexico is a part of a broader concept, the Southwest. This vast region, which includes western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, southern California, part of southern Colorado, and southern Utah, has given rise to some of man's greatest achievements. Here prehistoric man rose above his animal heritage to take control of these lands. Here, also, many millennia later, man achieved one of his greatest scientific wonders, the successful release of atomic energy.