Cenozoic volcanic centers in the New Mexico segment of the Pedregosa Basin: constraints on oil and gas exploration in southwestern New Mexico. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6152642

Elston, W E

Located in the southwestern corner of New Mexico, southern Hidalgo County occupies a segment of the Pedregosa sedimentary basin and is crossed by a belt of Laramide thrust faults. These factors favor accumulations of oil and gas. The present investigation has documented a constraint on probable oil and gas accumulations, the occurrence of major mid-Tertiary Valles-type ash-flow cauldrons and indications of underlying plutons. Indications of cauldrons have been found in the following ranges: in the southern Pyramid Mountains (Muir cauldron), south-central Peloncillo Mountains (Rodeo cauldron), Gaudalupe Mountains (Geronimo Trail cauldron), Sierra San Luis (San Luis cauldron), Southern Animas Mountains (Tullous, Animas Peak, Cowboy Rim cauldrons), Central Animas Mountains (Juniper cauldron), and Apache Hills (Apache cauldron). No indications of cauldrons or other major volcanic centers have been found in the southeastern corner of Hidalgo County, including the southern Sierra Rica, Big Hatchet Mountains, Alamo Hueco Mountains, and Dog Mountains. These cauldron-free areas offer the most favorable prospects for petroleum exploration.

• Research Organization: New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque (USA). Dept. of Geology
• OSTI ID: 6152642
• Report Number(s): NMERDI-2-66-3104; ON: DE83901610
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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