Geology and ground-water resources of northeastern Socorro County, New Mexico

This report presents the results of an investigation of the groundwater conditions and resources in northeastern Socorro County made by the United States Geological Survey in cooperation with the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources and the State Engineer of New Mexico.Socorro County, in west-central New Mexico, is characterized by rugged mountains and broad mesas which separate alluvial basins lying at lower altitudes.Except for the Rio Grande, the master stream in the area investigated, there are no perennial streams for stock or irrigation use, although in some tributaries there are short stretches in which there is a perennial spring-fed stream flow.As the evaporation-precipitation ratio in the area is high, and extended droughts are common, surfacewater tanks generally are not dependable as a source of stock water at lower altitudes.The consolidated rocks in the high areas are principally Precambrian, Pennsylvanian, and Permian in age.The availability of water from these older rocks is dependent chiefly upon the topography and geologic structure, whereas the occurrence of water in the partly consolidated Tertiary rocks and the Quaternary alluvium of the basins is relatively more dependent upon the hydrologic character of the alluvium and associated rocks and upon the recharge by rainfall and stream-flow, although in both areas all these factors are important to some extent.Small amounts of water of fair to good chemical quality are available in weathered or jointed zones of the Precambrian rocks.Larger supplies of harder water are available in the limestones of Pennsylvanian age, but the depth to water in these rocks is probably greater than 300 feet except in the major valleys.The Bursum formation of Permian (?) age yields small amounts of soft water that is high in sodium and bicarbonate.Sandstone beds in the overlying Abo formation of Permian (?) age generally yield sufficient water for stock supplies, although these permeable beds are separated by thick shale beds of low permeability.South of Arroyo Abo, water from the Abo formation is high in sulfate and undesirable for domestic use.The sulfate is probably derived from ground water flowing in from overlying gypsiferous rocks.provide large yields only in the Rio Grande valley.Although no largeyield wells were reported to have been put down in the alluvium as of 1950, quantities sufficient for irrigation should be obtainable nearly everywhere in the Rio Grande's inner valley.However, withdrawal and consumptive use of ground water from wells in the alluvium and Santa Fe formation will generally result in an eventual decrease in flow of the Rio Grande.The quality of water in the alluvium of the Rio Grande valley in this part of Socorro County is generally good enough for stock and irrigation but not for domestic use.Ground water in the Santa Fe formation below the valley alluvium should generally be similar in quality to that under the adjacent mesas

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