Bureau of Geology News

The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Aquifer Mapping Program recently published a three-dimensional model of the groundwater system extending from the crest of the Sacramento Mountains east to the Texas state line.

A collaborative study between researchers in New Mexico Tech’s (NMT) Earth and Environmental Science Department and the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources provided new age estimates for Rio Grande terraces near Socorro, New Mexico that indicate relationships between river dynamics and climate cycles.

A recent study conducted by the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources found no evidence of groundwater contamination along the Animas River from the 2015 Gold King Mine Spill or historic acid mine drainage in the upper part of the watershed.

New Mexico Tech and Navajo Technological University signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday, Sept. 22, to collaborate on a water purification system on the reservation, paving the way for future cooperative projects. The New Mexico Bureau of Geology will partner on the project, providing support for student training in groundwater sampling and analysis.

The Bureau of Geology’s Geologic Mapping Program welcomes new bedrock geologist Dr. Snir Attia. Attia has extensive experience synthesizing field mapping and analytical data to reconstruct past mountain-building events.

New Mexico Bureau of Geology staff continue to support New Mexico Tech’s (NMT) educational mission by modifying their courses to accommodate the precautions necessary to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission while providing world-class student instruction.

New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Economic Geologist and Assistant Professor in New Mexico Tech’s Earth and Environmental Science Department Dr. Alexander Gysi was granted $895,603 from the Department of Energy (DOE) to study fundamental chemical properties of rare earth elements in hydrothermal fluids using a combination of laboratory experiments and numerical modeling.

The Bureau of Geology’s petroleum group received multiple grants from the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (OCD) to support research into injected produced water disposal and stratigraphy in the Permian Basin in southeastern New Mexico.

Newly hired members of the Mapping Program Dr. Kevin Hobbs and Dr. Jacob Thacker received adjunct appointments in the Earth and Environmental Science Department (E&ES) at New Mexico Tech.