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Title: Tectonic control on the distribution on calcic paleosols in the Plio-Pleistocene Palomas half graben, southern Rio Grande Rift

Abstract

The number and degree of development of calcic paleosols in the Palomas Formation, which was deposited during Pliocene to middle Pleistocene time in the Palomas half graben of south-central New Mexico, are related to position within the basin and asymmetrical subsidence. Numerous stage 2 morphology calcic paleosols, characterized by an argillic B horizon (Bt) overlying a horizon of distinct calcic nodules and tubules (Bk), developed on intermittently inactive parts of the broad (up to 20 km wide) bajada deposited on the hanging wall dip slope. During periods of movement of the basin-bounding fault, the gradient of the hanging wall dip slope increased resulting in channel incision and transportation of coarse detritus to the toe of the bajada. Stage 3 and 4 morphology calcic paleosols, which consist of Bt-K profiles up to 2 m thick, formed on terraces adjacent to the incised channels. In contrast, only a few stage 2 morphology calcic paleosols are present within footwall-derived alluvial-fan sediment, as the result of relatively rapid lateral shifting of depocenters on the small (less than 3 km[sup 2]) fans. However, some paleosols within footwall-derived by shallow phreatic cementation by coarse calcite. Rapid channel avulsion across the narrow (less than 5 km) axial-fluvialmore » plain of the Ancestral Rio Grande inhibited development of paleosols except for a few rhizolith horizons. The spatial distribution of paleosols in the Palomas half graben may provide a predictive tool in interpreting ancient basin symmetry.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM (United States). Dept. Earth Sciences
  2. Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States). Dept. of Geological Sciences
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5690341
Report Number(s):
CONF-921058-
Journal ID: ISSN 0016-7592; CODEN: GAAPBC
Resource Type:
Conference
Journal Name:
Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 24:7; Conference: 1992 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA), Cincinnati, OH (United States), 26-29 Oct 1992; Journal ID: ISSN 0016-7592
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS; DEPOSITION; TECTONICS; NEW MEXICO; GEOLOGIC HISTORY; PLEISTOCENE EPOCH; PLIOCENE EPOCH; RIO GRANDE RIFT; SOILS; SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION; CENOZOIC ERA; DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; DISTRIBUTION; GEOLOGIC AGES; NORTH AMERICA; QUATERNARY PERIOD; TERTIARY PERIOD; USA; 580000* - Geosciences

Citation Formats

Mack, G H, and James, W C. Tectonic control on the distribution on calcic paleosols in the Plio-Pleistocene Palomas half graben, southern Rio Grande Rift. United States: N. p., 1992. Web.
Mack, G H, & James, W C. Tectonic control on the distribution on calcic paleosols in the Plio-Pleistocene Palomas half graben, southern Rio Grande Rift. United States.
Mack, G H, and James, W C. 1992. "Tectonic control on the distribution on calcic paleosols in the Plio-Pleistocene Palomas half graben, southern Rio Grande Rift". United States.
@article{osti_5690341,
title = {Tectonic control on the distribution on calcic paleosols in the Plio-Pleistocene Palomas half graben, southern Rio Grande Rift},
author = {Mack, G H and James, W C},
abstractNote = {The number and degree of development of calcic paleosols in the Palomas Formation, which was deposited during Pliocene to middle Pleistocene time in the Palomas half graben of south-central New Mexico, are related to position within the basin and asymmetrical subsidence. Numerous stage 2 morphology calcic paleosols, characterized by an argillic B horizon (Bt) overlying a horizon of distinct calcic nodules and tubules (Bk), developed on intermittently inactive parts of the broad (up to 20 km wide) bajada deposited on the hanging wall dip slope. During periods of movement of the basin-bounding fault, the gradient of the hanging wall dip slope increased resulting in channel incision and transportation of coarse detritus to the toe of the bajada. Stage 3 and 4 morphology calcic paleosols, which consist of Bt-K profiles up to 2 m thick, formed on terraces adjacent to the incised channels. In contrast, only a few stage 2 morphology calcic paleosols are present within footwall-derived alluvial-fan sediment, as the result of relatively rapid lateral shifting of depocenters on the small (less than 3 km[sup 2]) fans. However, some paleosols within footwall-derived by shallow phreatic cementation by coarse calcite. Rapid channel avulsion across the narrow (less than 5 km) axial-fluvial plain of the Ancestral Rio Grande inhibited development of paleosols except for a few rhizolith horizons. The spatial distribution of paleosols in the Palomas half graben may provide a predictive tool in interpreting ancient basin symmetry.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5690341}, journal = {Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)},
issn = {0016-7592},
number = ,
volume = 24:7,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}

Conference:
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