Hydrogeology of Ambrosia Lake-San Mateo area, McKinley and Cibola counties, New Mexico

Technical Report · Fri Nov 06 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5498242

Brod, R C; Stone, W J

The Ambrosia Lake-San Mateo area is located about 10 mi north of Grants, New Mexico, in the heart of the Grants uranium region, which spans the southern edge of the San Juan Basin. The climate is semiarid and local streams are ephemeral, except where discharge from mines or tailings ponds has made them perennial. Ground water is thus the main source of water in the area. Major aquifers include alluvium, sandstones of the Mesaverde Group, sandstones of the Mancos Shale, Dakota Sandstone, Morrison Formation, Bluff Sandstone, Todilto Limestone, Chinle Formation, San Andres Limestone, and Glorieta Sandstone. Although shallow unconfined ground water flows southwesterly, deeper, confined ground water flows toward the northeast and east. Ground water in the area generally has a total-dissolved-solids content of 400 to 2000 mg/L; waters in the notheast are more saline (2000 to 5000 mg/L). Because the uranium occurs in a regional artesian aquifer (Westwater Canyon Member of the Morrison Formation), extensive dewatering is required: approximately 164 mgd. A new state law brings mine dewatering under the jurisdiction of the State Engineer and permits use of excess uranium-mine water. Private or municipal wells presently provide adequate supplies of water for most domestic and stock purposes.

• Research Organization: New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Socorro (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5498242
• Report Number(s): NP-2903919; ON: DE82903919
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580100* -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
AMBROSIA LAKE
AQUIFERS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION VI
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
LAKES
MAPS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESOURCES
SURFACE WATERS
URANIUM DEPOSITS
USA
WATER
WATER QUALITY