Coal geology of the lower Moreno Hill Formation, Salt Lake Field, west-central New Mexico

14th Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biota

“…These alternating paleosols indicate that groundwater fluctuated during a regional (southern Colorado Plateau) regression (R1) coincident with the latest Greenhorn Cyclothem which was followed by the New Mexicospecific T2-R2 transgressive-regressive sequence (Molenaar, 1983). Overall regression and base level fall within the lower member following the T2 is corroborated by the transition from relatively more-sulfurous coastal to less-sulfurous fluvial coals and by increasingly bedload-rich multi-story channel complexes (Hoffman, 1994;Cilliers, 2022). Transitioning to the upper member, sedimentary patterns and pedogenic development remain consistent with continued base level fall and slight aridification albeit with continuing groundwater flux.…”

Energy and Mineral Resources of New Mexico: Uranium Resources

“…51). Coals have maximum thicknesses of 14 ft and have maximum lateral continuity of 15 mi (Hoffman, 1994). However, vitrinite reflectance is less than 0.5% (Hoffman, 1994), placing the coals within the biogenic rather than the thermogenic gas window.…”

Energy and Mineral Resources of New Mexico: Coal Resources

“…Coals have maximum thicknesses of 14 ft and have maximum lateral continuity of 15 mi (Hoffman, 1994). However, vitrinite reflectance is less than 0.5% (Hoffman, 1994), placing the coals within the biogenic rather than the thermogenic gas window. This, combined with shallow burial depth that limits the volume of methane that may be adsorbed onto the coals, restricts the gas resource potential.…”