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National Geologic Map Database
Geologic Unit: Raton
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Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Raton Basalt
  • Modifications:
    • Overview
  • Dominant lithology:
    • Basalt
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Sierra Grande uplift
Publication:

Barnes, V.E. (project director), 1983, Geologic atlas of Texas, Tucumcari sheet: University of Texas-Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Geologic Atlas of Texas, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000, Henryk Bronislaw Stenzel memorial edition


Summary:

Is Pliocene formation mapped in Harding Co, NM (Sierra Grande uplift). Southward continuation of basalt mapped as "undifferentiated Clayton Basalt" in southwestern Union Co, NM. Medium-grained olivine basalt, contains yellow-brown olivine phenocrysts 2 to 3 mm in diameter, stubby columnar jointing prominent.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Raton Basalt*
  • Modifications:
    • Geochronologic dating
    • Overview
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Las Vegas-Raton basin
Publication:

Scott, G.R., Wilcox, R.E., and Mehnert, H.H., 1990, Geology of volcanic and subvolcanic rocks of the Raton-Springer area, Colfax and Union Counties, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 1507, 58 p.


Summary:

Is oldest (of three) basaltic to latiandesitic effusive rock unit mapped in western part of Raton-Clayton volcanic field, Colfax Co, NM in Las Vegas-Raton basin. Caps highest and longest mesas in area. Includes many sheets of lava; vents are generally no longer marked by cinder cones. Analyzed specimens are olivine basalts, alkali basalts, a few trachybasalts, and latibasalts. Rocks are medium to dark gray or black, very hard, and in part vesicular; some have silvery sheen on fresh break, apparently owing to fine diktytaxitic texture; are visibly porphyritic (typically olivine is the only phenocryst), but some flows have phenocrysts or xenocrysts of other minerals; altered olivine phenocrysts appear as red or brown specks. Petrography and petrochemistry described. K-Ar ages range from 3.5 to 4.0 m.y. Age is Pliocene.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Denver GNULEX).


For more information, please contact Nancy Stamm, Geologic Names Committee Secretary.

Asterisk (*) indicates published by U.S. Geological Survey authors.

"No current usage" (†) implies that a name has been abandoned or has fallen into disuse. Former usage and, if known, replacement name given in parentheses ( ).

Slash (/) indicates name conflicts with nomenclatural guidelines (CSN, 1933; ACSN, 1961, 1970; NACSN, 1983, 2005, 2021). May be explained within brackets ([ ]).