Upper Cenozoic Palomas Formation of south-central New Mexico

Title	Upper Cenozoic Palomas Formation of south-central New Mexico
Publication Type	Conference Proceedings
Year of Publication	1986
Authors	Lozinsky RP, Hawley J.
Conference Name	New Mexico Geological Guidebook, 37th Field Conference
Pagination	239-247
Date Published	1986
Publisher	New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources
Conference Location	Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Call Number	00184
Keywords	abstract, abstracts, conference, conference proceedings, conferences, geology, geomorphology, Palomas Formation, proceeding, proceedings
Abstract	Upper Santa Fe Group deposits occurring in the Palomas, Engel, and San Marcial Basins of the southern Rio Grande rift are here named the Palomas Formation. The term "Palomas gravel" was first applied to Plio-Pleistocene basin fill in the region in 1907; however, the formation has never been formally defined. It consists mainly of alluvial-fan and coalescent-fan deposits (piedmont facies) and ancestral Rio Grande fluvial deposits (axial-river facies). Maximum thickness range from 100 to locally more than 130 m. Formation deposition probably began prior to 5 my and continued until 400,000-500,000 years ago. The formation can be distinguished from the other upper Santa Fe Group deposits by its extensive piedmont facies and relatively narrow belt of axial-river deposits. Older Santa Fe units (Miocene-latest Oligocene), which do not contain axial-river facies, occupy remnants of early rift basins that predate development of the present system of basins and uplifts.
Custom 1	Socorro, New Mexico