National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Tumacácori National Historical Park Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2011/439 ON THE COVER A rainbow over Mission San José de Tumacácori, one of three missions within Tumacácori National Historical Park. National Park Service photograph by Ed Wittenberg. THIS PAGE Tumacacori Peak looms over Mission San José de Tumacácori in this view to the west. National Park Service photograph. Photographs courtesy Jeremy Moss (Tumacácori NHP) Tumacácori National Historical Park Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2011/439 National Park Service Geologic Resources Division PO Box 25287 Denver, CO 80225 August 2011 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 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 high-priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. 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. Printed copies of this report are produced in a limited quantity and they are only available as long as the supply lasts. This report is available from the Geologic Resources Inventory website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/inventory/ gre_publications.cfm) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/). Please cite this publication as: Graham, J. 2011. Tumacácori National Historical Park: geologic resources inventory report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2011/439. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 311/109539, August 2011 ii NPS Geologic Resources Division Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................................ iv Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... vi Credits ........................................................................................................................................................................ vi Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose of the Geologic Resources Inventory ............................................................................................................... 1 Regional Information ................................................................................................................................................... 1 Regional Geologic Setting ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Cultural History ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 Geologic Issues .............................................................................................................. 9 Hazardous Waste Issues ............................................................................................................................................... 9 Surface Water Quality and Quantity ............................................................................................................................. 9 Flooding and Debris Flows ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Expansive Clays .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 Seismic Activity (Earthquakes) .................................................................................................................................... 11 Groundwater Depletion, Subsidence, and Earth Fissures ............................................................................................. 12 Geologic Features and Processes ................................................................................ 17 Fluvial Features .......................................................................................................................................................... 17 Sedimentary Rock Features ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Igneous Rock Features ............................................................................................................................................... 18 Basin and Range Faults .............................................................................................................................................. 18 Basin-and-Range Landscape Features ......................................................................................................................... 18 Paleontological Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 19 Cultural Features and Geologic Connections ............................................................................................................... 19 Geologic History .......................................................................................................... 21 Precambrian (prior to 542 million years ago) ............................................................................................................... 21 Paleozoic Era (542 to 251 million years ago) ............................................................................................................... 21 Mesozoic Era (251 to 65.5 million years ago) .............................................................................................................. 21 Cenozoic Era (the past 65.5 million years) ................................................................................................................... 23 Geologic Map Data ...................................................................................................... 31 Geologic Maps .......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Source Maps .............................................................................................................................................................. 31 Geologic GIS Data...................................................................................................................................................... 31 Geologic Map Overview Graphic ................................................................................................................................ 32 Map Unit Properties Table .......................................................................................................................................... 32 Use Constraints .......................................................................................................................................................... 32 Geologic Map Overview Graphic ................................................................................ 33 Map Unit Properties Table .......................................................................................... 36 Glossary ........................................................................................................................ 41 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................ 47 Additional References ................................................................................................. 51 Appendix: Scoping Session Participants .................................................................... 52 Attachment 1: Geologic Resources Inventory Products CD TUMA Geologic Resources Inventory Report iii List of Figures Figure 1. Map showing the missions and presidios of the Pimería Alta .........................................................................