GEOLOGY AND GROUND-WATER RESOURCES OF TORRANCE COUNTY, NEW MEXICO GROUND-WATER REPORT 5 Geology and Ground-Water Resources of Torrance County, New Mexico BY R. E. SMITH GEOLOGIST, U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Prepared cooperatively by the United States Geological Survey, New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources, and the State Engineer of New Mexico 1957 STATE BUREAU OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING & TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS STATION SOCORRO, NEW MEXICO NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING & TECHNOLOGY E. J. Workman, President STATE BUREAU OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES Alvin J. Thompson, Director THE REGENTS MEMBERS Ex OFFICIO The Honorable Edwin L. Mechem ............. Governor of New Mexico Mrs. Georgia L. Lusk .............. Superintendent of Public Instruction APPOINTED MEMBERS Robert W. Botts ............................................................ Albuquerque Holm O. Bursum, Jr. ............................................................ Socorro Thomas M. Cramer .............................................................. Carlsbad John N. Mathews, Jr. ............................................................ Socorro Richard A. Matuszeski ................................................. Albuquerque Contents Page ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 4 Location and Area ........................................................................................4 Scope of Investigation .................................................................................4 Acknowledgments ........................................................................................8 Well-Numbering System .............................................................................8 GEOGRAPHY .............................................................................................. 10 Physical Features ........................................................................................ 10 Climate ........................................................................................................ 11 Agricultural and Natural Resources ........................................................ 15 Population ................................................................................................... 16 GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER ................................................................................. 17 QUALITY OF GROUND WATER .......................................................... 21 DESCRIPTION OF ROCK UNITS .......................................................... 23 Precambrian Rocks .................................................................................... 23 Pennsylvanian and Permian Systems ...................................................... 24 Magdalena Group .................................................................................. 24 Sandia Formation .............................................................................. 24 Madera Limestone ............................................................................ 25 Bursum Formation ........................................................................... 27 Permian System .......................................................................................... 27 Abo Formation ...................................................................................... 27 Yeso Formation ..................................................................................... 29 San Andres Formation ......................................................................... 33 Glorieta Sandstone Member ........................................................... 33 Limestone Member ........................................................................... 34 Upper Clastic Member ...................................................................... 35 Triassic System ........................................................................................... 36 Page Dockum Group ........................................................................................... 36 Tertiary and Quaternary Systems .................................................................. 37 Intrusive Rocks ............................................................................................. 37 Upland Surficial Deposits ........................................................................... 37 Valley Fill ....................................................................................................... 38 Lake and Dune Deposits ........................................................................... 39 Recent Stream Deposits ............................................................................. 39 STRUCTURE ....................................................................................................... 40 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER BY AREAS .................................. 42 Estancia Valley ................................................................................................. 42 Geology ......................................................................................................... 45 Principal Aquifers ........................................................................................ 47 Recharge ....................................................................................................... 49 Movement and Discharge .......................................................................... 51 Development of Irrigation ........................................................................ 53 Fluctuation of Water Level ........................................................................ 54 Availability ..................................................................................................... 55 Chemical Quality and Use .......................................................................... 58 Manzano Mountains Area .............................................................................. 64 Geology ......................................................................................................... 64 Principal Aquifers ........................................................................................ 66 Recharge ....................................................................................................... 66 Movement and Discharge .......................................................................... 67 Availability ..................................................................................................... 68 Chemical Quality and Use ......................................................................... 69 Pedernal Hills and Eastern Uplands ............................................................. 69 Geology ......................................................................................................... 71 Principal Aquifers ........................................................................................ 72 Recharge, Movement, and Discharge ...................................................... 74 Availability ..................................................................................................... 75 Chemical Quality and Use ......................................................................... 76 Chupadera Mesa Area ..................................................................................... 76 Geology and Principal Aquifer ................................................................. 78 Recharge, Movement, and Discharge ...................................................... 78 Availability ..................................................................................................... 79 Chemical Quality and Use .......................................................................... 80 Encino Basin Area ........................................................................................... 80 Geology ......................................................................................................... 80 Principal Aquifers ........................................................................................ 82 Recharge, Movement, and Discharge ...................................................... 83 Availability .................................................................................................... 84 Chemical Quality and Use ......................................................................... 84 Pinos Wells Basin Area ................................................................................... 84 Geology ......................................................................................................... 86 Page Principal Aquifer ................................................................................... 86 Recharge, Movement, and Discharge.................................................. 86 Availability .............................................................................................. 87 Chemical Quality and Use ..................................................................... 88 COMMUNITY SUPPLIES ......................................................................... 90 Estancia ....................................................................................................... 90 Mountainair ................................................................................................