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/|NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

I . LOWELL E. BOGART

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II FIFTH FIELD ’CONFERENCEOctober 21- _92-23 & 24, 1954

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NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * FIFTH FIELD CONFERENCE * SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

!,, CONTENTS

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I Foreword ................................................................................................................. 7

Officers of the New Mexico Geological Society .............................................. 8

m Acknowledgements .............................................................................................. 8

. Conference Committee ........................................................................................ 8

Schedule ................................................................................................................ 9

I~ General Instructions 11

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Introduction~ with map ........................................................................................ 12

I Road Logs 17

Alamogordo to Alamo Canyon, October 22 ................................................ 17

I Alamogordo to Cloudcroft ............................................................................ 23

Cloudcroff to Carlsbad .. ....................... .... ......~ ..............................................32

Guadalupe Mountains Area, New Mexico and Texas ................................ 40! ¯, Carlsbad to International Minerals and Chemical

Corporation Potash Mine ........................................................................ 74

I Carlsbad to Corlsbad Caverns 76

Geology of the Tularosa Basin, New MexicoBy William M. Sandeen ........................................................... ....................... 81

I The White SandsBy Henry k, Jicha, Jr ..................... . ............................................................88

I Outline of the Stratigraphy and Structure of theSacramento MountainEscarpment

By Lloyd C. Pray ..................................................... ~ .................................... 92

I The Occurrence and Distribution of Potassium Minerals inSoutheastern New Mexico

By C. L. Jones .............................................................................................. 107

I Uranium in Southeast New Mexico_ By Reid M. Waltman ...................................................................................... 113

Summary of Southeast New Mexico Basement Rocks

I!1 By Peter T. Flown ................... - ..................................: .................. ............£ .....114

The Capitan- Castile- Delaware Mountain ProblemBy H. S. Cave ............... : ................................................................................ 118

I New Deepest OilMexico’s TestBy P. W. Hughes ............................................................................................ 124

!NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL sOCIETY * FIFTH FIELD CONFERENCE * SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

IA Brief Geologic Sketch of the Delaware Basin .............................................. 131

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The Origin and Development of the Carlsbad CavernsBy T. Homer Black ........................................................................................ 136

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Evidences of Igneous Activity in the Northwestern Part of the ~1Delaware Basin

By Wallace E. Pratt ...................................................................................... 143IB

Abstract Proposed Type Sections for the Queen and Grayburg !formations of Guadalupian Age in the Guadalupe Mountains,Eddy County, New Mexico.

By William R. Moran ...................................................................................... 147 IOil Production From the Guadalupe Series in Eddy County, New Mexico

By Vilas P. Sheldon ...................................................................................... 150RIResume of Oil & Gas Exploration of the Sacramento Mountain Area

By David A. Dunn ........................................................................................... 159

Summary of Exploration in the Seven Rivers Embayment Area, iEddy County, New Mexico II

By R.E. Murphy and Phil D. ’Helmig ........................................................ 160

Southeastern New Mexico Petroleum Statistics IBy Edward E. Kinney .................................................................................... 164 I

Bell Lake Unit No. 1 Fire .................................................................................. 165

New Geologic Map of NewMexico In Preparation .......................................... 165 _1

Mining Districts of Southeastern New Mexico .................................................. 167

Adventures and Exploits of Pecos Pioneers IBy Maurice G. Fulton ................... ~ ................................................................170

Selected Bibliography .......................................................................................... 183

Additional Road Logs .......................................................................................... 185

Northern Part of West Side Road, Sacramento Mountains ........................ 185

Road Log from Cloudcroft to Pinon ............................................................ 189 IRoad Log from Dunken to Pinon .................................................................. 191

Road Log from Pinon to Texas Hill ............................................................ 192 iRoad Log from Texas Hill Anticline to Hope, New Mexico .................... 197

Road Log from Junction Highway 83 and State Road 24 to miBluewater Anticline ................................................................................ 198 I

Road Log from Carlsbad to Mouth of Dark Canyon ............................. ....... 199

Road Log from Highway 62-180 to Mouth of Slaughter Canyon ............... 202 IRoad Log from Highway 62-180 to Mouth of McKittrick Canyon . ........... 203

Membership List New Mexico Geological Society ............................................ 204i

Business and Professional Directory ................................................................ 210

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iNEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY* FIFTH FIELD CONFERENCE* SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

IILLUSTRATIONS

ISketch Map of 1954 Field Trip ............................................................................ 12

Index Map of the Sacramento Mountain Escarpment .......................................... 15

IGeologic Map of a Portion of Sacramento Mountains ........................................ 16

Structure Sections, Northern Sacramento Mountain Escarpment

I Preceding Page .............................................................................................. 23

Detailed Cross Section of a Reef Complex in Dry Creek Canyon,Northern Sacramento Mountains .................................................................... 27

Correlations of the Permian of Southeast New Me xico and Partof West Texas ......... Preceding Page ............................................................. 39

IRoute Map 2nd Day ................................................................................................ 39

Correlation Chart Southeastern New Mexico ...................................................... 41

Sketch of Stratigraphic Relations as Seen in Slaughter andRattlesnake Canyons ...................................................................................... 51

Panoramic Index from Guadalupe Summit ......................................................... 59

IAerial View of Guadalupe Mountains ......................................................... 60-61-62

Special Photographic Feature ........................................................................... 65-73

I Oil and Gas Fields in East Central New Mexico .............................................. 79

Oil and Gas Fields in Southeast New Mexico ................................................... 80

I Sketch Map of the Tularosa Basin ...................................................................... 82

i Map of a Portion of the Tularosa Basin ............................................................ 89

Composite Columnar Section, Sacramento Mountains ...................................... 93

IDeadman Canyon, Sacramento Mountains ............................................................... 94a

Reconnaissance Map of an Area Southeast of Sierra Blanca ................................ 94b

Composite Cross Section Showing Occurrence Of PotassiumMinerals in Upper Pern~ian Formations, Southeastern New Mexico ................ 108

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NEW MEXICO ¯GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * FIFTH FIELD CONFERENCE * SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

iBasement Racks af Southeast New Mexico ...................................................... 115

Litho-Facies Map Showing Distribution of the Capitan-CastileiFormation and its Equivalents ...................................................................... 1i7

Proposed Generalized Correlation Chart ............................................................ 122

iGraphic WellL0g ........................................................................................... 125-130

Wells Drilled in the New Mexico Portion af the Delaware BasiniPenetrating Beds af Leonard Age or Older .......................................... 134-135

Map of Part of Eddy Cou.nty, New Mexico Showing Location afiIgneous Dike’s (Figure 1 ) ............................................................................ 144

Map of Vicinity of T & P Block 64T. 1.S ( Figure 2) .................................... 145

iMap Showing Type Sectian for Queen and Grayburg Formations .................... 148

Top Guadalupe Contour Map ................................................................................ 152I

Carbonate - Sulphate Contacts ......................................... ~ .................................. 153

Regional Map Showing Structural Features ........................................................ 162 J

Monthly Production - Barrels Oil ....... Preceeding Page ................................... 165

index Map and Map of Southeastern New Mexico Showing Structural i

Features .......................................................................................................... 217

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NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * FIFTH FIELD CONFERENCE * SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

FOREWORD

I The New Mexico Geological ¯Society extends a cordial welcome to all participants

_ in its FIFTH FIELD CONFERENCE. Previous conferencessponsored by thissociety have traversed the San Juan Basin area of the northwestern corner of the Starer

i the Rio Grande country of central New Mexico, and the basin and¯range provinceof the southwestern portion of the State. This excursion affords an opportunity toexamine the structure and stratigraphy of the Sacramento-Guadalupe Mountainsregion of southeastern New Mexico.

I The Sacramento and Guadalupe Mountains have been the objective of previousfield trips, but the classic exoosures, complex structure, and controversial

i stratigraphic relationships undoubtedly merit much more than the usual amount ofattention. The Sacramento escarpment furnishes excellent outcrops of a sectionranging in age from the pre-Cambrian to the middle Permian, whil~ the GuadalupeMountains and Delaware Rasin offer exposures of the type upper Permian sectionfor the North American Continent characterized by striking facies changes resulting

- from specialized conditions of sedimentation. Along the Barrera del Guadalupe thefabulous Carlsbad Caverns exist a’s a mecca for the speleologist. The Delaware

I Basin is yielding a huge tonnage of potash from the largest deposits in the world

.... and is showing promise of becoming a major petroleum province.

i The alloted time for this conference is not sufficient to cover the region asthoroughly as could be desired, however, it is believed that the route of the tripwill allow its participants to gain a clear concept of its general geology and itsassociated problems. In addition, this guidebook has been designed to serve asa convenient reference to the Sacramento-Guadalupe Mountains region. Toward

¯ this end qualified authors have furnished numerous papers, heretofore unpublished,which have been included as a contribution to the conference. The opinions ex-

I pressed in these papers, as well as elsewhere in this guidebook, may or may notconcur with those of the field trip committee; nevertheless all ideas prol~osed arebelieved to have merit and should be objectively considered by the reader.

I Your participation in the discussions at all is invited andstops your comments- will be appreciated. We sincerely hope that this excursion stimulates your interest

in the geology of the region, and that you will take part in the good fellowship

I that always prevails wherever geologists congregate.

NEW MExIcO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

The New Mexico Geological Society had its beginning in 1947 at which time ogroup of farsighted geologists anticipated the service such an organization couldrender to the State of New Mexico and the geologic profession. A copy of theSocietyJs Constitution, effective as of January 1~ 1954, may be obtained by ad-dressing the secretary. Pursuant to one of its purposes, the Society sponsorsannual field conferences of which this is the fifth. Membership has grown from a

I small number to 240 active, associate, student and honorary members.¯ A list ofthose comprising the present membership may be found in this guidebook.

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|NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * FIFTH FIELD CONFERENCE * SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO In

"OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY

PresidentIT. F. Stipp United States Geological Survey

Vice President mm

Phil D. Helmig Malco Refining C"ompanyI

SecretaryRoy M. Milks Magnolia Petroleum Company

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T rea surerWaldemere Bejnar Consultant° Socorro, New Mexico

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AC KNOWLEDGE M ENTS,I

TheNew Mexico Geological Society and the members of the Conference Committee

wish to acknowledge with gratitude and sincere appreciation the generous assis- ¯tance and unrestrained cooperation of all members, individuals, organizations, IIcompanies and advertisers who have contributed to the field conference andguidebook.

.IThe Society is particularly indebted to the authors of the various papers appear-

ihg in the guidebook. These individuals have freely contributed their time andknowledge to furnish pertinent material which has not been published elsewhere.Much of the information contained hereinhas been extracted from publications ofthe United State’s Geological Survey, the American Association of PetroleumGeologists, and the Geological Society of America in addition to guidebooks cam- Illpiled by other societies. To these principal contributors as well as to thosementioned in the following pages, the society is most grateful.

The editor and general chairman wish to express their special thanks to Dr. gLloyd C. Pray of the California Institute of Technology who has expended a great Ill

amount of time and effort in contributing mostofthe data pertaining to the Sacra-mento’Mountains portion of this conference; and to all committee members and ¯authors who have helped to produce this guidebook. The editor and general IIchairman also wish to thank Peter Hurd for permission to reproduce some of hispaintings; R. Vernon Hunter, Director, Roswell Museum, for making these paintings IIavailable for reproduction; and Maurice G. Fulton for preparing the paper on the ¯early history of southeastern New Mexico.

CONFERENCE COMMITT EE I

General Chairman I

Rex Alcorn .................................................................................. Sun Oil Company

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INEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * FIFTH FIELD CONFERENCE * SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

ICONFERENCE COMMITTEE (Continued)

I Guidebook

T. F. Stipp.. .................................................................................. United States Geological Survey

I ¯Lloyd C. Pray, Sacramento Mountains ...................................... California Institute of TechnologySanford P. Fagadau, Guadalupe Mountains .............................. Atlantic Refining CompanyRichardF; Meyer, Guadalupe Mountains .................................. ¯Humble Oil & Refining Company

II Tracy P. Clark, Guadalupe Mountains ...................................... Stanolind Oil & Gas CompanyC. L. Bruce, Guadalupe Mountains .......................................... Stanolind Oil & Gas¯CompanyEdward J. Matchus, Guadalupe Mountains .............................. Union Oil Company¯ of California

1Road Lag

Lloyd C. Pray, Sacramento Mountains ................................... :.. California Institute of Technology

I George O. Bachman, Foothills Region ................................... United States Geological SurveyVilas P. Sheldon, Pecos River Valley .................................... Consultant, Artesia, New MexicoC. L. Jones, Guadalupe Mountains .......................................... United States Geological Survey

II John J. De Benedetti, Guadalupe Mountains .......................... Union Oil Company of Californiag Robert K. Bradley, Guadalupe Mountains .............................. Pure Oil Company

Arran gements

iSanford P. Fagadou, Chairman ................................................ Atlantic Refining CompanyRoy F. Milks, Reservations ...................................................... Magnolia Petroleum Company

I Bruce F. Greve ................................................................ ~ ......... Magnolia Petroleum CompanyJohn K. Simon Ohio Oil Company

Barton A. Belknap, Caravan ..................................... . .............. Humble Oil & Refining CompanyBilly B. Clifton .......................................................................... Lion Oil CompanyI Bill R. Oliver ............................... . ..............................................Pure Oil CompanyC. L. McNulty, Jr., Banquet and Meals .................................. Continental Oil CompanyJames R. Kassube ...................................................................... Stanolind Oil & Gas Company

IRegi stration

I Roy M. Milks, Chairman ............................................................ Magnolia Petroleum CompanyWaldemere Bejnar ...................................................................... Consultant, Socorro, New Mexico

Adverti sing

IArnold D. Buzzalini .................................................................. Phillips Petroleum Company

Publicity

I David C. Davis .......................................................................... Continental Oil Company

ISCHEDULE

i Thursday, October 21.

4:00 p.m. Registration, Alamogordo; New Mexico.

i10:00 p.m. Registration desk closes.

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|NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * FIFTH FIELD CONFERENCE * SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO III

SCHEDULE (Continued) I

Friday, October 22. Alamogordo to Carlsbad, New Mexico. I

7:30 a.m. Caravan assembles at Alamogordo Reservoir (See road log)

8:00 a.m. Caravan leaves Alamogordo Reservoir.Ig~

12:00m. Lunch vicinity of Alamogordo, New Mexico.

1:00 p.m. Caravanassembles at Mile 3.1 on road log. JJII1:30 p.m. Caravan leaves Assembly Point. :

6:00 p.m. Caravan arrives and disbands Carlsbad~ New Mexico. Ill

II7:30 p.m. Late registration, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Location to beannounced.

8:30 p.m. Late registration desk closes.I

Saturday, October 23. Guadalupe Mountains Arear New Mexico and Texas.

7:00 a.m. Caravan assembles north ¯ city limits, Corlsbad, New Mexico, gon U.S. Highway 285. I

7:30a.m. Caravan leaves Carlsbad, New Mexico. gg12:30 p.m. Lunch vicinity of White’s City, New Mexico. g

1.’00 ~.m. Caravan assembles vicinity White’s City, New Mexico.

~.m. Caravan leaves vicinity White’s City, New Mexico.I

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4:30 ~.m. Caravan disbands Guadalupe Summit, Texas.

6:30 ~.m. Social hour, Riverside Country Club, Carlsbad, New Mexico. gmm

7:30 ~.m. Banquet, RiversideCountry Club, Carlsbad, New Mexico.

10:00 ~.m. Riverside Country Club closes. II

Sunday, October 24. 1. Carlsbad to International Minerals and Chemical Corpor-ation’s Potash Mine.

2. Carlsbad to Carlsbad Caverns. I

7:00 a.m. Potash mine caravan a’s’sembles at Bataan Bridge east edgeof Car/sbad on U. S. Highway 62- 180. /I

Carlsbad Caverns caravan assembles on U.S. Highway 62-180at Carlsbad Municipal Airport.

a.m. Caravans depart for destinations.I

7:30

12:00 m. Potash mine caravan disbands.

1:00 p.m. Carlsbad Caverns caravan disbands. Jl

F fth Field Conference Ends.

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INEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * FIFTH FIELD CONFERENCE * SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

IGENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

I 1. .It is imperative that the caravan starts each morning at the announced time.Your cooperation will be appreciated.

2. If you require transportation for the trip, notify a member of the Arrangements

I Committee.

3. You will be as’signed to your lodging reservations at the time of registration.Please do not make any subsequent change of your reservations without

I notifying ’same member of the Arrangements Committee.

4. Please pay your lodging bill in advance or before you go to breakfast so youwill not delay the departure time of the caravan.

I 5. The person sitting in the ¯front seat with the driver will keep him informed ofstops, points of danger, points of interest, etc., noted in the road log, and heshould read the geologic road log to the driver.

I6. You are especially requested to heed the instructions for Sunday’s trips to

the International Minerals & Chemical CorporationPs potash mine and the

i Carlsbad Caverns. Your cooperation will aid our guides in giving us aninformative and enjoyable tour.

ISPECIAl_ INSTRUCTIONS TO CAR DRIVERS

i 1. DO NOT DISREGARD THE WARNINGS IN THE ROAD LOGS CONCERNINGROAD CONDITIONS. THEY ARE FOR THE PROTECTION OF ALL OCCU-PANT’S OF YOUR CAR AS WELL AS OTHER CARS IN THE CARAVAN.

I 2. You will be given a numbered placard for attachment to rear window.yourThis number designates your position in the caravan and must be displayed.

3. If far any reason you have dropped out of line, you may resume your position

I at any subsequent stop. A ¯space will be left for you by the driver to yourrear at all stops until you return.

4. Never pass another Conference car while the caravan is in motion unless that

I car has dropped out of line.

5. If you have car trouble, please stop at the side of the road and allow thecaravan to pass. If you need help, flag down the tow-car which will be at

I the rear of the caravan.

6. Please service your car at night to in’sure prompt departure the following¯ morning.

I 7. Though water is RELATIVELY plentiful, you should carry water if your carhas a tendency to overheat.

I 8. Please pay particular attention to instructions pertaining to parking a~ allstops, and promptly obey the directions of the flag men.

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I NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * FIFTH FIELD CONFERENCE * SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

!Southward from Artesia the caravan leaves the cul- the eye of the observer. Near here in earlier times

tivated area and proceeds along the foothills of the passed several exploring expeditions, and a little dis-

Jnortheastern of the Guadalupe Mountains~ From to the north the of the old Butter-prong tance stagecoachessome points the placid waters of Lake McMillan, fed field stage line rocked and rolled over the stoney road-by the Pecos River, may be seen in the distances bed.

I Eastward across the Pecos are red cliffs of Permianstrata, and beyond are open sandy slTetches~ Still On this day opportunity is given to see the Capitanfarther east are the flat lands of the Llano Estacado Reef, with its northern back-reef facies and its so0th-

[] or Staked Plains. Not visible but nevertheless present ern Delaware Basin facies and it is hoped that the ob-in this region east of the Pecos are the more impor- servations which will be made will serve as a partialtant oil and gas fields of Eddy and southern Lea Coun- foundation for any further studies of the reef which the

i ties, and the potash mines area~ observer may undertake. Much has been said and writ-ten about the origin of the reef and the correlation of

The City of Carlsbad lies on the northern edge of strata transitional thereto, but many geologists stillthe Delaware Basina a wide expanse of brush-covered hold the opinion that much still remains to be done be-

I cattle ranches and fore all the of the reef be solved.plains, low rolling hills, large problems cansmaller farms° The Pecos River~ meandering throughthis plain, flows southward to its confluence with the After two days of surface studies the field confer-

I Rio Grande. ?Vhere it crosses the New Mexico-Texas ence on the third day takes its participants underground,line is the point of lowest elevation of New Mexico, with the choice of a guided tour through the potash

2850 feet~ mine of the International Minerals and. Chemical Cor-

I poration or a special geological tour through the Carls-On the second day of the field conference the tara- bad Caverns~

van penetrates the eastern Guadalupe Mountains andstudies the Permian strata of which they are composed. Those who visit the potash mine will see the sub-

I The transition of these strata into the massive lime- surface character of the Salado salt and anhydrite and

stones of the Capitan Reef will be observed and the the occurrence of the potash minerals~ They will see

reef itself will be crossed with opportunity given for a modern mine operated on a large scale by up-to-mnoting its geologic character. After leaving the reef date mining methods~ This is an experience which no

IJzone the party proceeds along the northern margin of geologist should overlook=

the Delaware Basin and follows a course in generalparallel with the Capitan Reef, which rises in eleva- Those who visit the Carl sbad Caverns will see more

[] tion to the southwest, of the exposed Capitan reef, and in addition will pen-etrate its solution chambers and view the magnificence

¯ Some distance past White City, the entrance to the of the stalactitic and stalagmitic growths, and other

Carlsbad Caverns National Park# the caravan crosses speleological splendors.

the state line into Texas. Formations of Permian age

II characteristic of the Delaware Basin crop out along The field conference committee requests that all

I the highway, and to the north can be seen the bold participants in the potash mine trip or the caverns

front of the Guadalupes. Ahead and to the southwest trip cooperate fully with the mine management or the

is the sheer cliff of El Capitan (Guadalupe Point) and Park authoritiess These trips have been arranged with

I Peak distance northward this understanding. A tour of the mine requires com-the higher Guadalupe ’some

from its The Peak is eight miles south of the Texas- plate attention to business and full compliance with

New Mexico line, and is the highest point in Texas all instructions or requests made by the guide; other-

I (8751 feet.) wise serious consequences may develop. The Parkauthorities have laid down roles for the proper con-

Proceeding onward over outcrops of Permian strata duct of visitors to the Caverns and the preservation of

I the party finally arrives at the Point of the Guadalupes its natural wonders~ It is essential that all who take

and detours from the highway to Beacon Hill0 an obser- part in this trip stay on the trails and in no way mar

vation point in the Delaware Mountains where a mag- the rock formations. While on the surface in the Park

I nificent view of the surrounding region is obtained, it is to be understood that all geologic hammers are

Much of the geology of the region is here laid before to be left in the cars and no rock specimens are to be

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NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY * FIFTH FIELD CONFERENCE * SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

collected. Mention must be made of the reproductions of PeterHurd’s paintings and sketches which appear in the

Some statement regarding the preparation of this guidebooks Peter Hurd is our best known artist of theguidebook appears to be in order. It is, of course, un- southwest~ His home is at San Patricio in the Sacra-derstood that three days are wholly insufficient for mento Mountains, in the Rio Ruidoso Valley about 50seeing more than a small part of this vast region, miles west of Roswell, and most of the paintings areSoutheastern New Mexico was selected last year by typical of Peter Hurd’s country and the foothills of thethe officers of the Society as the region for this year’s Sacramento Mountains. The original paintings andconferences Th~ General Chairman and his assistants sketches are, with one exception, the property of thehave done their best to provide a field trip which would Roswell Museum and may be seen in the Peter Hurdgive the participants a general view and a basic un- wing. Permission to reproduce these paintings wasderstanding of the geology of the region as well as granted by the artist and the Museum~ through the cour-some acquaintance with its unsolved problems~ For tesy of R. Vernon Hunter1 Director~those who care to make use of them, road logs in ad-dition to those prepared for the route of the caravan The officers and the committee members of the Neware provided. Much of the Sacramento-Guadalupe Mexico Geological Society who have collaborated inMountain region is remote or not readily accessible, the preparation of this guidebook, and in the arrange-and field studies are practicable only by jeep, by horse- ments for the field trip, welcome you to the Fifth Fieldback, or on foot. The roads logged in the guidebook Conference~ We hope that you will find the trip inter-are all passable by automobile, esting and profitable and that when you return home

you will take with you pleasant memories of the Sac-A visit to the oil fields of’southeastern New Mexico, ramento-Guadalupe Mountain region and the Pecos Val-

while desirable, could not be scheduled in the three leyodays allotted for this conference. Even had this beenpassible° little additional geologic information relatingto the stratigraphy and structure of the fields wouldbe gained, inasmuch as the subsurface geology is ob-scured by younger formations. The formations of im-portance in the oil fields with respect to oil and gasare exposed along the route of the field ~rip and willbe discussed at’selected points~

An attempt has been made to collect in this guide-book a series of papers which would serve as refer-ences for the geologist interested in the region. Thosefrom whom articles were requested have respondednobly and appreciation for their time and efforts is hereexpressed° The authors are all competent in theirfields, their papers have not been published elsewhere°and these articles bring to light information not here-tofore available.

Southeastern New Mexico, like other parts of thestate, has’an interesting historical background. It isbelieved that the participants in this field conferencewill find their travels through the region more inter-esting if they will acquaint themselves with its his-tory, and they are accordingly referred as recommend-ed reading to the article "Adventures and Exploits ofPecos Pioneers" by Maurice G, Fulton, ResearchSpecialist~ Chaves County Historical Society,

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