New Mexico State University Conducts the Inaugural Capstone Geology Field Camp Held at RFS May 23 – June 8, 2025

The Reynold’s Field Station (RFS) hosted its first official geology field camp in collaboration with Department of Geological Sciences at New Mexico State University (NMSU) in Summer, 2025. The three-week field camp took place in late May to early June and utilized a new field curriculum [Program NMSU001] in 2024 by Dr. Brian Hampton and Thomas Valenzuela (recently-graduated M.S. student from NMSU). The NMSU capstone course is intended to be a comprehensive, field-based course that exposes students to geological mapping, measured stratigraphic sections, provenance determination, and extensive lithologic description over a diverse range of Phanerozoic stratigraphy and structures throughout southern and central New Mexico. Student participants spend time mapping Laramide (fault-bend-fold) compressional structures, complex rift structures (e.g., domino faulting and relay ramps), and synorogenic Oligo-Miocene sedimentary and volcanic strata of the Rio Grande Rift. Participants also describe and map some of the youngest volcanic rocks in the contiguous United States in west-central New Mexico (i.e., the Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field).

Here is a summary of some of the field projects and themes in the new field course:

• Rio Grande Rift (RGR) normal faulting: Examples from the Ward Tank and East Robledo fault (west of Las Cruces, NM) – Deliverables: Field notes and descriptions
• Post Laramide/Pre-RGR ignimbrite flare-up volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks at Point-of-Rocks (north of Las Cruces) – Deliverables: Geologic map and cross-section

• Upper Cretaceous strata of the Crevasse Canyon Formation at the Reynolds Field   Station (RFS) – Deliverables: Outcrop sketch and measured stratigraphic section

• Stratigraphy and petrology of Eocene-Oligocene volcanic rocks of the Sawtooth Mountains and Mogollon Rim (near Datil, New Mexico) with Dr. Jennifer Thines – Deliverables: Detailed lithologic/petrologic descriptions and summary report

• Walking tour of the Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field in the Malpais region with Dr. Frank Ramos (off-RFS camping)– Deliverables: Flow map and lithologic descriptions

• Complex Laramide fault-bend-folds in Penn-Permian stratigraphy in the Quebradas Backcountry (just east of Socorro; off-RFS camping) – Deliverables: Geologic map, north/central/south cross-sections, and outcrop sketch

• Complex Rio Grande Rift structure (domino faults and relay ramp) and Miocene-Pliocene synorogenic rift fill and volcanic rocks in the Lemitar Mountains (north of Socorro; off- RFS camping) – Deliverables: Geologic map, cross-section, and outcrop sketch

• Sea-level variations in Upper Cretaceous strata at the RFS (top GallupSandstone/base Crevasse Canyon Formation) – Deliverables: Measured stratigraphic section across the Gallup-Crevasse Canyon contact

• Paleocurrent measurements (and flow determination) from Upper Cretaceous strata at the RFS (Crevasse Canyon Formation) – Deliverables: Summary report including stereonet determinations                 

• Stratigraphy and provenance of the Paleocene Baca Formation (in the Sawtooth Mountains south of the RFS) – Deliverables: Measured stratigraphic section and summary report of clast compositions

This diverse set of field mapping experiences is made possible by the extremely varied geology and tectonics of New Mexico, and the close proximity (at most a few hours) from RFS, and has the added benefit of a very low cost Field Camp. NMSU’s investment in curriculum development last year has yielded a one-of-a-kind experience for Capstone Field Camp students. Contact Dr. Brian Hampton directly or indirectly through our Contact Us page for information on participating in this Wild West Geology adventure.

We are also so proud to announce that just prior to Field Camp, our extremely able Teaching Assistant, Thomas Valenzuela successfully defended his Master’s Thesis. You can read his thesis on our Research page.