GEOLOGY 145 



value of these fields as it is not probable that in any place 

 over the fields will there be found an abundance of oil in 

 shallow wells, what oil is found in the shallow wells is probably 

 due to accumulations under the low anticlines which are char- 

 acteristic of the region. If deep wells prove successful it will 

 undoubtedly be due to the fact that there is an accumulation 

 of oil beneath the whole of this part of the Divide, 

 which, in that case might prove to be widespread. 

 This seems however very remote. Since the fields are on 

 the western limb of the Divide it is rather difficult to see just 

 what other explanation might fit the conditions if this hypo- 

 thesis does not approach the true structure there operating. 

 At present, reports state that use is being made of the oils 

 from the first well to run a simple oil engine in drilling an- 

 other well near it. . Soft coal is abundant and easib obtained 

 in this region and the lakes furnish water for running en- 

 gines in drilling throughout the fields. 



Much interest has been manifested in the locality and all 

 possible territory within a radius of twenty miles has been 

 surveyed and taken up by parties from all over the south- 

 west. Should the tield prove a winner the surveyed areas. 

 will all be very valuable oil fields. 



CENTRAL NEW MEXICO ONCE A COASTAL PLAIN 



The coal fields at Gallup, the coal and oil fields at Seven 

 Lakes, the Cerrillos fields, and the intervening areas bear- 

 ing evidences of relationship to the whole, have a significance 

 which cannot be neglected in trying to unravel some of the 

 history of the geological formations of the state. 



Although the area east of the Divide situated in the same 

 latitude as the coal fields mentioned above, is badly faulted ,. 

 (especially is this true in the valley of the Puerco river about 

 Cabezon.) there still remains here and there in persistance of 

 strata found much further south and west, in occasional 

 Carbonaceous shales and liginite beds as far south as San 

 Francisco and San Ignacio, analagous evidences of a conti- 

 nuation of the same formation as exists on the east side, to 

 those which are found on the west side of the Divide. The 

 probability then, is, that minor faulting and the great fault 

 which gave rise to the displacement along the western face of 

 the Sandia mountains, carried the coal formations far beneath 



