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Sacramento Mountains - escarpment approach for a walkabout


Kato

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Due to lost climbing experience I had made a failed approach into an escarpment canyon climb last year. A few months later with skills rebuilt I decided to tackle one of the canyons on the east side of Alamogordo, NM again. The escarpment rise fairly abruptly from the trailhead. Approximately 1,100 feet in 1.3 miles to the highest point of the walkabout. This summary will include some pics from my earlier failed attempt. My goals...to visit a unique looking mud mound, find fossils and get away from it all.

 

One the way up the canyon bottom I spotted this ghostly apparation in an exposed slab. Halycite?

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The main geologic feature of interest was this formation called 'Teepee Mound'. Look to left side of formation for teepee

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The geologists summary of what is going on

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My approach was to continue far up canyon to a higher altitude then cut back west to approach the teepee shape. About midway up the teepee shape from the east looking back to the basin. These formations were thick with crinoids.

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The teepee actually seemed to be suspended by columns of material. Likely supporting material leached away over the years by water.

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From the teepee, reversed the course to return to the canyon bottom and continue the walkabout. Here I'm looking to an impressively long and fun staircase falls

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Just before entering the notch to the staircase

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The staircase falls

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At the top of these falls I encountered what I believe is a Lepidodendron imprint. On this trip I was unable to find the formation this rock came from.

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Gaining the highest point I am looking south toward where I would be later in the day

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I dropped to the rim and walked along the edge of the upper Mississipian 

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Along the rim I was able to find some crinoid mashed up specimens to bring home

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Dropping through the Mississippian Lake Valley formation reveals a cave used by Barbary sheep. Depth into formation exceeds 60 ft, narrows down. It may continue farther but I did not have a flashlight or the time. Roof lined with very thin igneous intrusion layer of Camptonite. Camptonite shows in several areas interrupting or intruding formations.

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Descending from the cave one sees folded rock layers and, to the left, a white cast to the rock formations. That lighter colored area is where a big rock fall occurred about 7-8 years ago. Laying out approximately 150 vertical feet of rock formation on the slopes below.

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A view of the rock fall area. Lots of fossil exposures in fall, mostly crinoid and brachiopods.

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Crossing down to the canyon bottom I ascended the other side and began climbing a small side canyon to this Ordovician bowl

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Dropping down in the bowl, looking up and to the west.

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Found this slow moving gecko hiding under a rock.

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A few feet farther down the bowl this possible compound coral. About 12” left-to-right.

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The next series are not fossils, just mother nature having some fun.

 

Silica nodules with rings.

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Hash marks. Most likely geologic. Possible Petroxestes Pera bi-valve borings? Note the occasional turkey track appearance in this Ordovician specimen. Not that good a photo to ascertain from.

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Wood grain like formation. Many rocks in this singular band exhibiting the ‘wood grain’ look. Formation about 10” thick. This specimen about 14” wide.

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Moving up in altitude, through Silurian and Devonian rocks back into the Mississipian I observed this 6-10 foot thick formation of Camptonite (pink and green thick band on top) interrupting what turned out to be the Andrecito Formation.

 

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The diameter of unmapped exposure exceeds 40 yards in width and 60 yards in length. On top was a thin layer of the Andrecito Formation with an interesting Zoophyco fossil trace remnant exposure covering up to 25% of the area.

 

I’m not sure if this igneous formation was an intrusion or a temporary interruption in the timeline. My guess is temporary interruption.

 

The Andrecitor formation exhibited itself as a jumble of cracked Zoophycos trace fossils. I had observed this fossil in several other Andrecito exposure but they appeared in the other places as solid rock layers.

 

Zoophycos in situ

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A specimen I brought home with ID thankfully confirmed by forum members.

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Underneath the Zoophycos exposure appeared to be two additional layers of material comprising another 50% of the surface area of the small table top exposure of Camptonite.

 

One a combination of occasional Zoophycos and plentiful thick invertebrate burrow-like activity

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Beneath that this layer of thinner diameter invertebrate burrow-like activity

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My best guess-timate it was all Mississippian Lake Valley Andrecito Formation and from what I can glean towards the upper end of the formation.

 

The day had been pretty long distance and time-wise at this point so I had to return back to my vehicle to return home. 

 

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12 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Nice report with some stunning photographs. 

Thanks for sharing.:)

Please make sure to call me out for any incorrect ID's. I am trying to learn as I go.

 

Thank you, Kato

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Stunning scenery shots - WOW!  I especially love the Zoophycos you took home - it's beautiful! :envy:

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I like that crinoid hash plate!!! I wish I had expansive areas to hike like that at home...all forest lol

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