Gravity survey of the Tularosa Valley and adjacent areas, New Mexico

The gravity survey of the Tularosa Valley and adjacent areas is a compilation of gravity data acquired from several sources and reduced to the 1971 International Gravity Standardization Network datum. In addition, three local surveys were made that helped to fill in gaps in the gravity coverage. The resulting complete Bouguer gravity anomaly map and first- and third-order polynomial maps exhibit anomalies of great lateral extent and amplitudes that exceed 45 mGals.

Five generalized geologic cross sections were constructed and analyzed by the two-dimensional method to investigate the thickness of the valley fill in Tularosa Valley and Jornada Del Muerto. On the basis of an assumed density contrast of 0.4 Mg/m3 between the valley fill. and the bedrock (pre-Cenozoic and Cenozoic rocks, undivided), the calculated depths to the pre-Cenozoic surfaces range from 1,372 to 2,743 m (4,500-9,000 ft).