Sacramento Mountains - New Mexico, Ordovician - Mississippian exploration

[Kato]

This was purely an exploratory hike to a remote area with no expectation of finding much. In that regard, I was not disappointed. I'd previously last covered some of this ground about 5 years ago and had forgotten how formidable it was to get into.  The walk in a rocky canyon bottom for about 2.8 miles before taking another rocky side canyon ending at an Ordovician-Silurian dry water fall.

 

 

Approaching the base of the dry water fall with Ordovician bedrock that was pretty much non-fossiliferous.

 

 

At the base of the dry water fall to get a nature shot. This looks like it should be climbable and, perhaps it is, but I'm getting a bit too long in the years for such risky business.

 

 

I took a bushwhack side trip up a steep hill. Fortunately, it had rained recently and the otherwise loose scree was a delight. Even if one could climb the lower falls they are faced with an unclimbable Silurain vertical wall.

 

 

A view of that dry fall from the other side.

 

 

 

[Kato]

My main goal was to explore some new routes and find likely formations for collecting in the future. Here and there I found some fossils. I was already behind schedule so I was, for the 2nd time, unable to explore these Devonian layers above an overhang area.

 

 

Below the overhang. A lot the ceiling had collapsed but it was pretty much non-fossiliferous. I've yet to develop the patience to be able to sit down and just excavate and crack material to potentially find fossils. If I don't see them quickly, I move on.

 

 

[Kato]

This particular area has a few geologic fault lines. In one particular area I was walking on a bedrock of Silurian that was butted up against a sliver of Orodivician that was butted up against middle Mississippian rocks. 

 

 

 

Lower-to-Middle Mississippian. Lots of small productids in this area that had weathered out of the rock walls.

 

 

 

[Kato]

In another short side canyon I came across this lower Ordovician bedding. The lower most section having some potential cephalops (for lack of a better name as I've not the expertise). I'd posted about these before but noone had a suggestion of what they might be. Perhaps, this time someone will recognize them? 

 

They can't be belemnites as they are too old. Exposed lengths are 30-60mm.

 

 

Edited April 4 by Kato

[Kato]

A snapshot of zoophycos out of a layer here known as the Andrecito Formation (lower Mississippian)

 

 

and finally a solitary imprint of a shell in shale. This is unusual for the area as the shale tends to be non-fossiliferous except for land plants.  Given the geology it had to have been Mississippian but it's possible to have washed in from higher ground over time and be Pennsylvanian. 

 

 

 

 

Also, a solitary plant fossil of what might have been sigillaria but its too badly preserved to be certain. 100% sure this was washed in from higher ground over a mile away over time as that's the closest formations of Pennsylvanian which is the first documented time plants were found in our area.

 

 

 

[Kato]

By this point I was an hour overdue to turning back. Finally, I found something really interesting in an undocumented fault area. An entire area of lower Pennsylvanian Gobbler formation sandstone sitting plunked on top of middle Mississippian. My mind is still trying to comprehend how that could have happened.

 

In this first photo you will see very sizeable boulders the size of a bus or a small home collecting in the low spots after falling off the sandstone formation.

 

 

 

 

There aren't any other Penn Gobbler Formations known in this area.

 

This will be the area I will come back to explore when I can get a full 6-8 hour day available.

 

Edited April 4 by Kato

[Kato]

A couple of Devonian exposures not checked for fossils.

 

 

 

 

 

[Kato]

As a side note, lest I forget, material from the Percha Shale in the Devonian can yield nice iron sulfide concretions such as these if you can find an exposure. The Devonian here is not prone to being resistant so it forms debris slopes.

 

 

These were particularly shiny. Most specimens I come across are very dull black and can be rusty in appearance.

 

 

I did find a site where they are quite the opposite with some of the iron crystals almost gemmy in appearance.

 

 

I think my favorite. This one about 30mm at the widest.

 

 

 

 

[Kato]

A couple of plant shots. Cacti blooms coming early this year down in the city but not quite in the hills yet.

 

Bokes Button cacti. Velvety soft and shaped like a pincushion.

 

 

What's locally known as 'corn cob' cacti.

 

 

 

[Collector9658]

Great photographs of the beautiful landscapes and scenery. Looks like a fun place to explore, even if you don't find any fossils. Thanks for sharing!