Geologic Tour to Taos Graben and Volcanic Field

Local geologists Fraser and Cathy Goff and PEEC are offering an exciting two-day field trip to explore the geology and volcanism of the Taos garben and volcanic field in northern New Mexico. The outing begins on Saturday, September 12th, and ends on Sunday, September 13th. This trip is perfect for those with an interest in geology and natural science. Non-geologists are particularly welcome.

Field Trip Itinerary:
Day 1 (Saturday): Participants will meet at the Los Alamos Nature Center and depart from the PEEC parking lot at 7:30am. The group will travel to the Rio Grande Gorge south of Pilar to examine the Embudo fault zone, an important structural boundry associated with the Jemez Volcanic Lineament and the Rio Grande rift. Additional stops throughout the day will explore volcanic rocks and sediment withing the Taos garben as well as uplifted sedimentary rocks east of Taos. Participants will spend the night at a local motel in Taos.

Day 2 (Sunday): The group will depart Taos around 8am and continue examining volcanic deposits and geologic features in the northern Taos garben, including unusual decite formations and the southern flank of San Antonio Mountain. Additional stops near Tres Piedras and Ojo Caliente will highlight faulted Precambrian rocks along the western margin of the Rio Grande rift. The group plans to return to Los Alamos and PEEC between 5 and 6 pm Sunday evening.

If you would like PEEC to handle your hotel reservations, please select that option while registering. If you are booking for a couple, only one attendee needs to include the room fee when purchasing tickets. The total for the night is $???. Breakfast on Saturday morning is included with the hotel stay. The deadline for this option is Friday, August 7. We will do our best to accommodate lodging on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants can also make their own accommodations if they would like.

Participants should be prepared for the weather, wearing layers of clothing and good shoes or boots. Bring a small backpack, hat, sunscreen, gloves, snacks, and a water bottle. You may also want to bring a camera, walking stick, rock hammer, and hand lens (all optional). Pack two sack lunches (one for each day). Dinner will be on your own in Taos.

Admission: $60 for PEEC Members and $75 for Non-Members (Tour Only); $330 for PEEC Members and $370 for Non-Members (Tour + Hotel)

About Trip Leaders:

Fraser Goff is the author of Valles Caldera: A Geologic History and is the lead author of the recently published Geologic Map of the Valles Caldera (2011). He worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory for 26 years. He has worked extensively in the Valles Caldera and other volcanic sites around New Mexico, and on about 40 geothermal systems and 15 active volcanoes worldwide during his career.

Cathy Goff is also an accomplished geologist/geochemist and has worked on geothermal and volcanic projects throughout the western USA (including Alaska and Hawaii), Latin America, Italy, and Japan. Most recently, Fraser and Cathy worked for the New Mexico State Map Program and helped produce the color Geologic Map of the Mount Taylor volcano area, New Mexico (2019).