Bureau of Geology News

On October 24^th, Bureau Associate Director of Hydrogeology Programs Stacy Timmons led the Water Data Workshop as part of the implementation of the New Mexico Water Data Act. The goal of the act, which is a multi-year initiative, is to develop an integrated approach to collecting, sharing, and using water data and information from various state, federal, and nongovernmental agencies.

Bureau Deputy Director and Manager for the Geologic Mapping Program Dr. Michael Timmons and Senior Field Geologist Daniel Koning presented at the State Legislature’s Interim Committee on Water and Natural Resources meeting in Silver City, New Mexico on October 17. They discussed ongoing mapping projects in New Mexico under the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping-STATEMAP Program, and how the data generated through geologic mapping supports decision making.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a proclamation declaring October 13-19, 2019 as “Earth Science Week.” This declaration recognizes geology and earth science as crucial components of New Mexico’s wellbeing. The Bureau of Geology recognized Earth Science Week in a number of ways.

Bureau of Geology staff attended the New Mexico Geological Society (NMGS) 70^th Annual Fall Field Conference in Clayton, New Mexico from October 3^rd-5^th. Conference participants traveled each day through Union and Colfax Counties in the High Plains of northeastern New Mexico discussing recent advances in the understanding of regional volcanism, Mesozoic to Cenozoic sedimentary stratigraphy, groundwater recharge systems, and Quaternary geomorphology.

On October 1^st, United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich visited the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources to learn more about ongoing research conducted by the Bureau.

The geologic mapping group is collaborating with the National Park Service (NPS) Geologic Resources Division to produce geologic maps, cross sections, and reports detailing the geologic resources in Guadalupe Mountains National Park (GUMO), Texas. This is part of the Geologic Resources Evaluation (GRE) program; the goal is to provide a digital geologic map (scale 1:24,000), a geologic resource evaluation report and a geologic bibliography for the park. These products can serve as the foundation for future possible studies focusing on groundwater, geomorphology, soils and geologic hazards in the park, and can be used to communicate geologic information to the public.

Eight New Mexico Bureau of Geology staff members will be presenting at this year’s Geological Society of America Annual Meeting from September 22-25 in Phoenix, AZ. In addition, the Bureau will have a publications sales booth (#127), so be sure to stop by and check out Bureau products.

Dr. Virginia McLemore has received the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) Environmental Distinguished Service Award for 2019. This award recognizes her dedicated service to the SME Environmental Division, and her outstanding accomplishments in economic geology. She will be recognized at the SME 2020 Annual Conference and Expo in Phoenix, Arizona in February 2020. Congratulations, Ginger!

At the New Mexico Mining Association's 80^th Annual Convention & Trade Show, Robert (Bob) Eveleth, Emeritus Senior Mining Engineer at the NM Bureau of Geology, will be inducted into the Association's Hall of Fame. The induction will take place at 7:00 PM in the Fidel Center Ballrooms B & C on the campus of New Mexico Tech during the Convention's Annual Banquet.

The National Science Foundation Earthscope program, in conjunction with the Geological Society of America, supports the grant that provides “Awards for Geochronology Student Research” known as AGeS. The New Mexico Geochronology Research Laboratory (NMGRL), one of several NM Bureau of Geology laboratories, is a participant in the AGeS2 program. The AGeS program is designed to link students with geochronology laboratories to facilitate in depth student understanding of geochronology methods with hands on experience ultimately leading to publication of new data.

Each participating lab in the AGeS program can sponsor a maximum of 4 students in any given funding cycle. Students across the nation reach out to the NMGRL seeking an opportunity to utilize our facility to support their AGeS proposal. Drs. Matthew Heizler and Jake Ross evaluate the student requests for scientific merit and opportunity for fostering new collaborations. In 2019 the NMGRL accepted 4 student proposals that were then entered into a competitive pool of 78 total proposals. AGeS awarded 20 grants and excitedly, two of them were NMGRL sponsored proposals. It is noted that no participating laboratory can receive more than 2 grants in any funding cycle.