!new!mexico!geology!and!paleontology—a!pre6history!and ...€¦ ·...

! New!Mexico!Geology!and!Paleontology—A!Pre6History!and!Exo6History!of!D’ni!

Ainia% September%2013% Page%1%

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Introduction*Welcome!%Shorah%b’shemtee!%I%am%Ainia%and%am%very%pleased%to%be%here%today%to%present%an%overview%of%New%Mexico%geology%and%paleontology,%and%if%we%have%time,%some%more%detailed%information%about%presentFday%New%Mexico%geology%as%it%relates%to%the%location%of%the%Cleft%and%caldera.%

I%would%like%to%acknowledge%Dr.%Virgil%Lueth%of%the%New%Mexico%Institute%of%Mining%and%Technology%(also%known%as%New%Mexico%Tech)%who,%with%the%help%of%the%Supercomputing%Challenge%Community,%created%the%geologic%evolution%maps%shown%in%the%slides%I%am%presenting%today.%There%are%numerous%other%source%who%will%be%quoted%here;%I%will%include%the%attribution%when%I%read%each%citation%during%this%presentation.%

Also,%many%thanks%to%AlanD%for%helping%me%with%all%the%technical%details%and%testing%as%well%as%acting%as%the%audience%participation%liaison%today;%EdisonRex%for%synching%my%voice%stream%with%the%music%stream;%and%Lyrositor%for%providing%a%handy%script%for%getting%my%slides%uploaded%to%the%imager.%I%most%definitely%would%not%have%been%able%to%get%this%put%together%without%all%their%help!%We%are%listening%tonight%to%the%music%of%Piboc%and%Turjan,%two%very%talented%musicians%within%our%Uru%community.%%



For%those%who%are%not%familiar%with%my%Cleft%Location%Project,%I%have%been%posting%my%surface%research%and%road%trips%to%a%MOULa%thread%for%about%a%year%now.%The%forum%thread%grew%out%of%a%personal%project%I%had%been%working%off%and%on%since%2008.%I%have%lived%in%New%Mexico%for%most%of%my%life%and%became%interested%in%tracking%down%the%surface%location%for%the%Cleft%and%caldera%after%the%last%Cavern%closure.%I%am%convinced%it%is%a%genuine%location%here%in%New%Mexico,%which%has%now%been%confirmed%during%a%recent%conversation%I%had%with%a%MOULa%oldFtimer.%%

We%know%that%the%D’ni%Art%of%Age%Writing%creates%a%wormholeFlike%connection,%or%Link,%to%a%specific%planet%within%a%specific%universe.%I%find%it%deeply%interesting%that%something%about%the%way%Ri’neref%Wrote%the%Book%of%D’ni%caused%the%Tree%of%Possibilities%to%choose%our%particular%universe,%our%particular%galaxy,%our%particular%solar%system%and%our%particular%planet.%And%out%of%all%the%locations%on%Terra,%the%Descriptive%Book%Linked%to%a%cavern%6%½%miles%beneath%the%New%Mexico%land%surface.%What%an%amazing%turn%of%fate%for%the%humans%here%10,000%years%ago!%

And%so%I’d%like%to%start%with%the%geological%history%of%Terra.%Even%though%it%seems%unlikely%that%the%D’ni%ever%bothered%to%learn%this%amazing%history,%I%think%it%must%be%an%essential%part%of%why%the%Tree%of%Possibilities%branched%out%to%us%here.%

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Part*1*Ancient*Geologic*History*of*New*Mexico*Rather%than%start%with%the%creation%of%our%solar%system%and%planet,%I%am%starting%with%the%geological%evolution%of%our%water%and%land%masses,%for%this%is%the%point%where%I%think%our%planet%began%to%evolve%itself%into%the%destination%that%Ri’neref%would%Write%millions%of%years%later.%

It’s%important%to%point%out%that%pretty%much%everything%I%will%talk%about%is%current%paleogeological%theory%rather%than%established%fact.%However,%to%keep%things%simple%I%will%speak%of%them%as%if%they%are%true.%%

New%Mexico%shows%a%great%diversity%in%its%geologic%history.%Rocks%from%each%of%the%four%eras%can%be%found%exposed%within%the%state.%Through%the%study%of%these%rocks,%geologists%have%put%together%a%chronicle%of%New%Mexico’s%history%as%it%has%changed%over%time.%

All%the%maps%on%the%following%slides%mark%the%location%of%New%Mexico%with%a%red%square.%%All%the%images%that%follow%are%photos%of%New%Mexico%geology%or%represent%stages%of%New%Mexico’s%prehistoric%evolution.%In%cases%where%I%was%unable%to%find%New%Mexico%photos,%I%opted%for%similar%photos%from%surrounding%states.%%



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The%first%known%supercontinent,%Rodinia,%forms%about%1.2%billion%years%ago%and%endures%for%more%than%500%million%years.%Between%850F570%MYBP,%the%first%softFbodied%marine%animals%and%plants%evolve.%

Precambrian*igneous*and*metamorphic*rocks*more*than*1.5*billion*

years*old*have*been*found*in*New*Mexico.*In*general,*these*rocks*form*

the*core*of*mountain*ranges*along*the*east*side*of*the*Rio*Grande*River.*

The*oldest*of*the*Precambrian*rocks*are*found*in*the*northern*part*of*

the*state*in*the*Brazos,*Taos*and*Nacimiento*mountains,*dating*1.8*

billion*years*old.*These*Precambrian*rock*formations*most*likely*have*

been*buried*and*later*exposed*by*the*uplift*of*mountain*chains*and*the*

erosion*of*sediments*that*had*once*covered*these*formations.*The*

picture*of*ancient*New*Mexico*during*the*Precambrian*is*one*of*

volcanic*activity*and*mountain*building,*with*periodic*episodes*of*

submersion*under*the*sea.*After*millions*of*years*of*erosion,*only*the*

remnants*of*these*old*mountain*systems*remain.*Most*have*since*been*

affected*by*a*new*round*of*mountainHbuilding*followed*by*further*

erosion.*–University!of!New!Mexico*The%globe%image%in%the%upper%right%depicts%an%artist’s%version%of%Rodinia;%scientists%do%not%know%the%exact%configuration%of%this%land%mass.%The%two%images%in%the%lower%right%show%some%of%the%earliest%forms%of%life%to%exist%on%Terra,%a%Cyanobacteria%and%an%impression%fossil%of%a%Sea%Pen,%dating%between%850F570%MYBP.%



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There%is%enormous%diversification%of%sea%life,%many%becoming%hard%bodied;%life%on%land%is%limited%to%microbial%soil%crust%(cyanobacteria),%though%mollusks%begin%adapting%to%living%in%both%land%and%sea%environments.%

A*shallow*sea*with*a*sandy*bottom*covered*much*of*southern*and*

western*New*Mexico*during*the*Cambrian.*Trilobites*and*brachiopods*

flourished.*–The!Paleontology!Portal*An*unconformity*is*a*span*of*time*for*which*no*rock*record*is*

represented*because*it*has*been*eroded*away*or*because*sediment*was*

never*deposited.*The*Great*Unconformity*was*coined*by*John*Wesley*

Powell*during*his*epic*run*of*the*Colorado*River*through*the*Grand*

Canyon,*AZ*in*1876.*Here*he*noticed*that*deformed*ancient*

metamorphic*rocks*were*covered*by*much*younger*undeformed*

sedimentary*rocks.*New*Mexico*has*some*of*the*best*exposures*of*the*

contact*between*these*very*old*Precambrian*rocks*(1.7*billion*years)*

and*younger*sediments*(300*million*years)*of*anywhere*in*North*

America.*–New!Mexico!Bureau!of!Geology!and!Mineral!Resources*The%upper%right%photograph%shows%an%example%of%a%Great%Unconformity%exposure%in%southern%New%Mexico,%with%undeformed%Cambrian%rock%above%a%deformed%underlying%crustal%granite.%Underneath%is%a%photograph%of%a%Cambrian%Orthrozanclus%from%Canada%and%a%Trilobite.%%



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Sea%life%continues%to%diversify%and%existing%Brachiopods%and%Trilobites%develop%more%exotic%forms%while%some%early%eelFlike%fish%evolve.%Oceans%are%filled%with%algae,%diverse%invertebrates,%as%well%as%corals,%crinoids,%Cephalopods%(squid)%and%Gastropods%(snails).%

A*warm*sea*covered*much*of*southern*and*western*New*Mexico*during*

the*Ordovician.*A*great*thickness*of*limestone*and*dolostone*

accumulated*in*these*seas.*Brachiopods,*nautiloids,*and*other*

invertebrates*flourished*in*the*tropical*waters.*–The!Paleontology!Portal!

The%upper%right%photograph%shows%a%Declivolithus%Trilobite%from%Morocco;%underneath%is%a%Platystrophia%Brachiopod%from%central%New%Mexico%and%a%group%of%Sowerbyella%Brachiopods%from%Kentucky;%at%the%bottom%is%a%photograph%of%an%Ordovician%deposit%in%central%Colorado.%%



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Sea%life%continues%to%flourish%and%the%first%coral%reefs%form.%Fish%diversify,%with%some%species%developing%jaws.%The%exodus%to%land%begins%with%tiny%vascular%plants,%followed%by%centipedes%and%scorpions.%

A*shallow*warm*sea*covered*much*of*southern*and*western*New*Mexico*

during*the*Silurian.*It*deposited*a*thin*layer*of*dolostone.*Brachiopods,*

corals,*ammonites,*and*other*invertebrates*flourished*in*the*tropical*

waters.*–The!Paleontology!Portal!The%upper%right%photograph%shows%Silurian%deposits%in%Ohio;%underneath%are%worm%fossils%from%Pennsylvania;%the%lower%two%show%a%Giant%Sea%Scorpion%along%with%a%size%comparison%drawing.%

[I%don’t%know%about%you,%but%to%me%the%Giant%Sea%Scorpion%looks%like%a%relative%of%Teledahn’s%Shroomie]%



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It%is%the%Age%of%Fishes;%many%new%varieties%evolve,%including%sharks,%rays,%and%a%number%of%armorFplated%fish.%RayFfinned%and%lobeFfinned%fish%appear%for%the%first%time%and%Trilobites%become%even%more%elaborate.%The%land%environments%are%further%colonized%by%fourFfooted%vertebrates,%insects%and%spiders%

A*warm*muddy*sea*covered*much*of*southern*and*western*New*Mexico*

during*the*Devonian.*Brachiopods,*corals,*ammonites,*and*other*

invertebrates*flourished*in*the*tropical*waters.*–The!Paleontology!Portal*

The%upper%right%photograph%shows%pyritized%Brachiopods%from%Ohio;%to%its%left%is%a%Trilobite%from%Morocco;%the%middle%right%photograph%shows%a%form%of%fossilized%Hexagonia%coral—called%Petosky%Stones—found%on%the%shores%of%Lake%Michigan;%the%bottom%right%photograph%is%a%Woodford%shale%in%Oklahoma.%



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Limestones,%shales,%sandstones%and%evaporates%are%deposited%in%shallow%seas%throughout%North%America;%crinoids%are%abundant.%Plate%collisions%lead%to%the%formation%of%the%Rocky%Mountains%and%Appalachians.%

During*the*Paleozoic,*most*of*North*America*was*part*of*a*large*

landmass*called*Pangaea.*The*state*was*covered*by*a*vast*shallow*sea,*

from*which*large*deposits*of*limestone,*sandstone*and*shale*

accumulated.*These*limestone*beds*can*now*be*found*in*many*areas*of*

New*Mexico,*often*containing*small*marine*invertebrate*fossils*such*as*

brachiopods,*crinoids*and*trilobites.*During*the*later*part*of*the*

Paleozoic,*the*ancestral*Rocky*Mountains*formed,*uplifting*the*central*

and*northern*part*of*the*state.*Toward*the*southern*part*of*New*Mexico,*

a*great*barrier*reef*developed.*As*the*reef*was*cut*off*from*the*sea,*the*

evaporation*of*the*water*left*deposits*of*salt,*potash*and*gypsum*that*

can*be*found*today.*–University!of!New!Mexico*The%upper%right%photograph%shows%fossilized%mud%imprints%from%salamanders%in%Pennsylvania;%underneath%are%Crinoids%from%New%Mexico%and%a%Polychaete%from%Montana;%at%the%bottom%right%are%Mississippian%deposits%in%the%Sacramento%Mountains%of%New%Mexico.%%



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Land%plants%evolve,%creating%vast%swamplands,%which%contribute%to%the%development%of%seasonal%and%latitudinal%temperature%differentials;%the%swampland%vegetation%lifecycle%transforms%decaying%plant%matter%into%coal%deposits.%

The*Great*Unconformity*that*J.W.*Powell*recognized*in*the*Grand*

Canyon*is*easily*seen*in*the*Sandia*Mountains*where*the*1.4*Ga*(billion*

years*old)*Sandia*granite*is*overlain*by*Pennsylvanian*sedimentary*

rocks.*The*gap*in*the*rock*record*between*the*ancient*granite*and*the*

limestones*on*Sandia*Crest*represents*nearly*a*quarter*of*the*earth's*

geological*history.*–New!Mexico!Bureau!of!Geology!and!Mineral!Resources*During*the*Carboniferous,*New*Mexico*was*an*archipelago*of*uplifted*

islands*amidst*shallow,*warm*seaways.*Dense*forests*and*swampy*areas*

lush*with*seed*ferns*and*other*vegetation*gave*way*to*muddy*and*limy*

sea*bottoms*in*this*ancestral*Rocky*Mountain*basin*and*range.*Clams*

and*brachiopods*are*typical*marine*fossils*from*this*time*period.*–The!Paleontology!Portal*

The%upper%right%photographs%show%a%Miriapod%from%Illinois%and%a%fern%from%New%Mexico;%underneath%is%a%photograph%of%a%Great%Unconformity%exposure%in%the%Sandia%Mountains%near%Albuquerque,%with%a%Pennsylvanian%deposit%atop%a%1.4%BYBP%layer%of%granite%;%the%bottom%right%phtograph%shows%coal%tailings%from%the%Madrid%deposits%in%central%New%Mexico.%



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Large%reef%complexes%develop;%subduction%in%the%western%ocean%begins%prolonged%volcanic%activity.%The%climate%becomes%drier%and%the%vast%swamplands%are%replaced%by%forests%of%dryFtolerant%plants,%including%the%first%conifers.%Pelycosaurs%and%amphibians%dominate%the%land;%insects%diversify,%with%the%first%beetles%and%dragonflies%appearing.%This%period%ends%with%the%largest%mass%extinction%yet,%hitting%the%marine%environments%hardest%with%up%to%90%%of%the%existing%species%dying%out;%the%trilobites%had%survived%for%250%million%years%but%are%now%gone,%along%with%many%brachiopods,%corals,%mollusks%and%echinoderms.%

The*Permian*began*with*broad*river*floodplains*lying*north*of*a*

coastline*that*ran*eastHwest*across*part*of*southern*New*Mexico*(at*

about*the*latitude*of*Las*Cruces).*Drier*climates*followed,*and*dune*

fields*appeared,*but*were*eventually*replaced*by*shallow,*salty*seas.*

More*normal*marine*conditions*returned*during*the*middle*of*the*

Permian*and*a*huge*reef*began*to*develop*at*El*Capitan*in*southeastern*

New*Mexico.*Brachiopods,*clams,*and*ammonites*are*typical*marine*

fossils*from*this*time*period.*–The!Paleontology!Portal*The%upper%right%photograph%shows%a%fern%imprint%from%New%Mexico;%underneath%is%a%photograph%of%a%probable%Dimetrodon%track%from%New%Mexico;%the%bottom%right%photograph%shows%Permian%limestone%deposits%near%Carlsbad%Caverns,%New%Mexico.%



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Pangea%begins%breaking%apart%while%erosion%begins%leveling%mountains%and%raising%lowlands.%The%western%ocean%subduction%continues%to%build%up%future%mountain%chains%beneath%the%waters.%Life%is%recovering%from%the%Permian%extinctions;%reptiles%diversify%and%dominate%the%land,%water%and%eventually%the%air.%The%reign%of%dinosaurs%begins,%enduring%for%180%million%years.%The%mammals%begin%as%tiny%shrewFlike%animals.%

In*the*Mesozoic*era,*New*Mexico*saw*a*drying*trend*and*dinosaurs*

roamed*much*of*the*state.*Many*of*the*rocks*of*the*northern*part*of*the*

state,*including*the*colorful*red,*green,*gray,*brown,*and*white*

sandstone*and*shale,*were*deposited*by*rivers*that*flowed*toward*the*

seas.*–University!of!New!Mexico**HeavilyHvegetated*floodplains*covered*most*of*New*Mexico*during*the*

Triassic.*Huge,*MississippiHsized*rivers*flowed*across*the*state*from*the*

southeast*to*the*northwest.*One*of*the*earliest*dinosaurs,*Coelophysis,*

thrived*in*this*seasonally*arid*climate,*as*did*cycads,*ferns,*and*the*large*

amphibian*Buettneria.*–The!Paleontology!Portal*The%upper%right%image%shows%some%Coelophysis%in%New%Mexico;%underneath%is%a%photograph%of%a%Dicynodont%and%a%Phytosaur;%the%lower%right%photograph%shows%Triassic%layers%near%Ghost%Ranch,%New%Mexico.%



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The%North%American%continent%begins%to%take%shape.%The%western%ocean%subduction%volcanic%activity%breaks%the%water%surface%as%island%chains,%while%great%dunes%form%along%the%eastern%coast.%Dinosaurs%continue%diversifying%and%the%supergiants%become%abundant.%Ammonites%dominate%the%ocean%invertebrates.%%

During*the*Middle*Jurassic,*a*desert*covered*northern*New*Mexico*and*

was*replaced*by*a*shortHlived,*hypersaline*lake*that*lasted*about*40,000*

years.*After*that,*the*northern*part*of*the*state*became*an*arid*coastal*

plain.*In*Late*Jurassic*times,*huge*rivers*flowed*to*the*east*and*formed*

muddy*floodplains.*Dinosaurs,*such*as*gigantic*Seismosaurus*and*

carnivorous*Allosaurus,*roamed*the*land.*–The!Paleontology!Portal!The%upper%right%photograph%shows%a%closeup%of%the%herbivore%Seisomosaurus;%underneath%is%a%photograph%of%a%full%Seismosaurus,%one%of%the%lengthiest%known%dinosaurs%at%33%meters,%along%with%the%largest%New%Mexico%predator%of%the%time%Saurophaganax.%The%lower%right%photograph%shows%Jurassic%layers%on%a%northern%New%Mexico%cliff%face.%



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An%enormous%shallow%sea%splits%North%America%from%north%to%south.%The%western%ocean%subduction%activity%intensifies,%building%up%the%mountains%along%the%western%coast,%while%the%Rocky%Mountains%begin%uplifting%(again).%The%last%great%extinction%event%brings%this%period%to%an%end,%starting%with%an%asteroid%impact%in%the%Gulf%of%Mexico%which%leads%to%the%extermination%of%most%land%flora,%all%land%fauna%larger%than%a%German%Shepard%and%about%70%%of%all%marine%fauna.%

Later*in*the*[Mesozoic]*era,*the*inland*sea*once*again*returned*and*New*

Mexico*was*on*the*western*shore*of*a*great*shallow*ocean*covering*

most*of*the*central*United*States.*North*America*broke*away*from*the*

remaining*part*of*the*Pangaea*landmass*and*started*its*drift*to*the*west,*

eventually*colliding*with*the*Farallon*plate.*–University!of!New!Mexico*During*the*Cretaceous,*New*Mexico*was*split*by*a*seacoast,*with*sea*to*

the*east*and*land*to*the*west.*Huge*rivers*flowed*from*the*west*to*a*

coastline*hugged*by*dense*jungles*and*coalHforming*swamps.*Dinosaurs*

roamed*the*area.*The*muddy*sea*floor*to*the*east*filled*with*oysters*and*

other*mollusks.*Ammonites*and*other*sea*creatures*swam*in*the*warm*

shallow*waters.*–The!Paleontology!Portal!The%upper%right%image%illustrates%some%of%the%marine%flora%and%fauna%from%the%New%Mexico%seas;%underneath%is%a%photograph%of%the%northwestern%New%Mexico%badlands%layers%formed%from%the%sea%floors;%the%lower%right%image%illustrates%the%asteroid%that%ended%the%Cretacous%with%a%global%mass%extinction.%



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Sea%levels%drop%and%the%midFNorth%American%shallow%sea%is%replaced%by%tropical%forests%and%small%mountain%ranges.%Tectonic%activity%in%the%west%leads%to%rapid%mountain%uplift%along%with%volcanic%activity;%this%contributes%to%the%beginnings%of%the%Rio%Grande%Rift.%Mammals%evolve%rapidly,%diversifying%to%fill%the%niches%left%by%the%dinosaurs.%

The*Cenozoic*is*characterized*by*tremendous*changes*in*the*New*

Mexico*landscape,*in*response*to*the*collision*of*the*North*American*and*

Farallon*Plates.*The*Rocky*Mountains*of*today*rose*and*volcanoes*

produced*a*thick*layer*of*igneous*rock*that*covered*much*of*New*Mexico.*

In*addition,*stresses*in*the*crust*produced*the*large*central*depression*

that*divides*the*state*in*half,*called*the*Rio*Grande*rift.*–University!of!New!Mexico!During*the*Early*Tertiary,*a*mountainHbuilding*event,*referred*to*as*the*

Laramide*Orogeny,*turned*much*of*New*Mexico*into*ranges*and*basins.*

River*floodplains*and*lakes*covered*the*lowlands.*–The!Paleontology!Portal*

The%upper%right%photograph%shows%a%giant%bird,%Diatryma,%from%New%Mexico.%Alongside%is%a%fish%and%Apatemyid%from%Wyoming;%Apatemyids%were%petite%longFtailed%insectivores.%Underneath%is%a%butterfly%from%Colorado.%The%bottom%right%photograph%shows%Eocene%layers%in%the%San%Juan%Basin%of%northwestern%New%Mexico.%



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SubFtropical%forests%give%way%to%grasslands%as%climates%become%more%arid.%Volcanic%activity%intensifies,%which%weakens%the%Rio%Grande%Rift%area%lithosphere,%allowing%for%further%rift%development.%Mammals%continue%to%diversify%and%adapt%to%a%savannah%ecosphere.%Many%land%and%marine%animals%begin%looking%similar%to%their%currentFday%descendants.%Mammalian%megafauna%are%plentiful,%including%Mastodons,%SaberFtoothed%Cats,%Camels,%Horses%and%Giant%Wolves,%Beavers%and%Bears.%

Within*the*last*10*million*years,*New*Mexico*has*seen*tremendous*

volcanic*eruptions,*such*as*those*that*produced*the*Jemez*Mountains,*

Capulin*Peak*and*Mt.*Taylor.*In*addition,*the*continuous*erosion*and*

deposition*of*sediments*in*recent*times*have*produced*many*of*the*more*

scenic*landscapes*of*the*state,*such*as*its*colorful*mesas,*badlands*and*

deserts.*–University!of!New!Mexico*The*middle*of*the*Tertiary*was*a*time*of*pervasive*volcanism,*and*the*

eruptions*left*behind*huge*calderas.*By*the*Late*Tertiary,*plate*

movements*fractured*the*earth’s*crust,*pulling*it*open*along*the*Rio*

Grande*to*form*a*chain*of*rift*basins*in*which*rivers,*lakes,*and*dune*

fields*deposited*sediment.*–The!Paleontology!Portal*The%upper%right%image%shows%Oreodonts,%small%ungulates%that%lived%in%the%New%Mexico%grasslands.%Underneath%is%a%photograph%of%Oreodont%animal%tracks.%The%bottom%right%photograph%shows%Shiprock,%a%volcanic%neck%formed%in%northwest%New%Mexico%from%volcanic%activity%during%the%beginning%of%the%Oligocene.%



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Glacier%sheets%sweep%down%from%the%north%several%times,%gouging%out%the%Great%Lakes%and%approaching%within%500%miles%of%New%Mexico’s%northern%border,%creating%colder,%wetter%climates.%Volcanic%activity%continues%throughout%parts%of%New%Mexico.%Homo%sapiens%evolves%in%Africa%and%populations%begin%migrating%across%the%world,%with%hunterFgatherers%arriving%in%North%America%in%several%waves.%Megafauna%populations%continue%to%flourish%but%begin%to%wane%and%go%extinct%at%about%11,000%years%BP.%

The*final*integration*of*the*Rio*Grande*as*the*main*river*system*in*New*

Mexico*took*place*during*the*Quaternary.*Alpine*glaciers*were*present*

in*the*northern*mountains*and*even*as*far*south*as*Sierra*Blanca*in*

south*central*New*Mexico.*This*represented*the*southernmost*extension*

of*any*glacier*in*North*America.*Large*land*mammals,*such*as*

mammoths*and*camels,*roamed*a*landscape*rich*with*forests*of*willows.*

–The!Paleontology!Portal!The%upper%right%photograph%shows%Quaternary%lava%fields%near%Albuquerque,%New%Mexico;%underneath%is%an%artist’s%rendering%of%the%climate%and%geography%in%New%Mexico%during%the%last%Ice%Age.%The%bottom%right%photograph%shows%a%Mastodon%from%New%Mexico’s%Ice%Age.%



Part*2*New*Mexico*During*the*Quaternary*

%

Note%that%the%illustration’s%timeline%for%the%Quaternary%period%has%been%expanded;%this%is%because%the%scale%used%with%the%rest%would%make%the%rise%of%humans%too%tiny%to%see.%Keep%this%in%mind%as%we%continue%looking%at%Terra%during%the%D’ni%era.%



%

Quaternary%geology%in%New%Mexico:%In%New%Mexico,%there%has%been%significant%volcanic%activity%during%the%Quaternary.%On%the%left,%the%map%depicts%all%the%volcanic%features%in%the%state,%using%colors%of%red,%blue,%orange%and%brown.%On%the%right,%the%map%depicts%all%the%Quaternary%volcanics%in%red.%The%two%red%features%boxed%in%yellow%show%volcanic%activity%over%the%past%10,000%years,%since%the%D’ni%arrived.%The%small%yellow%square%at%the%bottom%marks%the%location%of%Carlsbad%Caverns,%which%had%begun%forming%in%the%late%Tertiary.%Note%that%it%is%nowhere%near%any%of%the%volcanic%features.%

The%D’ni%came%to%a%geologically%active%corner%of%our%world;%at%least%three%significant%volcanic%events%occurred%in%New%Mexico%after%they%arrived%



%

Quaternary%changes%in%climate%and%vegetation%in%New%Mexico:%20,000%years%ago,%it%was%much%wetter%and%cooler%in%New%Mexico,%with%snowFcapped%mountains%year%round.%Over%the%next%20%millennia,%the%climate%became%drier%and%drier,%gradually%progressing%to%the%high%desert%we%see%today.%

The%upper%left%image%shows%New%Mexico’s%Rio%Grande%valley%terrain%at%20,000%YBP;%to%its%right,%we%see%the%same%location%at%10,000%YBP,%as%it%was%when%the%D’ni%first%arrived.%The%lower%left%image%shows%the%Rio%Grande%valley%at%5000%years%ago,%after%the%D’ni%had%been%here%for%five%millennia;%to%its%right,%we%see%the%same%location%as%it%was%in%Ti’ana’s%time%and%as%it%is%today.%



%

Human%evolution%and%migration:%Here%we%bring%humans%into%the%picture.%On%the%right,%the%chart%shows%the%gradual%evolution%of%hominids%over%the%course%of%4.5%million%years.%Homo%Sapiens,%marked%at%the%top%with%a%red%box,%showed%up%only%200,000%years%ago.%We%are%barely%a%blip%in%the%Terran%timeline.%

The%chart%on%the%left%shows%the%human%migration%paths%from%our%African%homeland%since%the%origin%of%our%species.%

The%D’ni%arrived%to%one%of%the%more%newly%settled%areas%of%Terra.%Humans%had%existed%as%a%species%only%a%relatively%short%time.%



%

The%map%on%the%left%shows%some%of%the%earliest%known%human%settlement%sites%in%the%New%World.%Most%are%in%the%range%of%19,000F11,000%years%ago%and%fit%well%with%the%prevailing%theory%that%humans%followed%migrating%megafauna%from%Asia%across%the%Beringer%Strait%when%it%was%above%sea%level.%These%early%inhabitants%were%hunterFgatherers,%often%living%continuously%at%the%same%sites.%So%we%know%the%New%World%was%well%populated%by%humans%when%the%D’ni%arrived.%

A%fascinating%and%important%exception%to%this%is%the%site%of%Pedra%Furada%in%Brazil%which%shows%evidence%of%continuous%occupation%from%60,000F42,000%years%ago.%There%is%strong%evidence%that%these%people%did%not%emigrate%through%the%Beringer%Strait%at%all.%%The%emerging%pattern%seems%to%be%that%Beringer%immigrants%wandered%southward%along%the%western%areas%of%the%continents,%and%that%an%earlier%nonFBeringer%migration%settled%on%the%eastern%areas%of%the%continents%and%spread%north%and%south%from%there.%

The%lower%right%image%shows%some%cave%paintings%from%the%Pedra%Furada%area.%Above%it%are%the%earliest%known%petroglyphs%in%North%America,%incised%into%some%boulders%at%Pyramid%Lake%in%Utah.%These%glyphs%date%to%at%least%10,500%YBP%and%possibly%to%14,800%YBP.%The%projectile%points%are%examples%of%Clovis%(above)%and%Folsom%(below)%styles,%used%by%ancient%mastodon%hunters%here%in%New%Mexico.%

As%an%interesting%side%note,%the%New%Mexico%petroglyphs%from%more%recent%times%are%pecked%onto%the%rock%face%rather%than%incised.%This%difference%in%technique%most%



likely%is%explained%by%the%relative%hardness%of%the%Pyramid%Lake%limestone%(with%a%hardness%of%3)%to%the%New%Mexico%volcanic%basalt%(with%a%hardness%of%6).%

%

The%map%shows%a%broad%timeline%of%human%occupation%across%Terra.%Keep%in%mind%that%there%is%a%huge%difference%between%human%occupation%and%human%culture.%Although%ancient%hunter%gatherers%certainly%had%skills%and%customs,%such%as%knapping%projectile%points%beautifully,%when%archeologists%talk%about%culture,%it%tends%to%be%a%reference%to%the%development%of%writing,%architecture,%sciences,%agriculture%and%the%like.%Culture%in%this%sense%flourished%in%the%New%World%during%the%last%4000%years.%

The%photographs%show%examples%of%this%sort%of%culture%in%South%America,%Mesoamerica%and%the%Southwestern%United%States.%From%oldest%to%most%recent:%

• The%middle%right%white%pyramid%is%the%Mayan%city%Chichen%Itza%in%Mexico%dated%at%3800F300%YBP%

• Somewhat%above%it%is%an%Olmec%head%in%Mexico%dated%3500F2400%YBP%• The%lower%middle%image%is%of%Tiwanaku%in%Bolivia%dated%1600F1000%YBP%• The%top%right%corner%is%an%Anasazi%settlement%at%Chaco%Canyon%in%northwestern%

New%Mexico%dated%1200F800%YBP%• The%middle%right%gray%pyramid%is%the%Toltec%city%Tula%in%Mexico%dated%1000F800%

YBP%• The%lower%left%image%is%the%Incan%settlement%Winay%Wayna%in%Peru%dated%700F

500%YBP%



• The%lower%right%image%is%the%Aztec%city%Tenochtitlan%in%Mexico%dated%500F200%YBP%%

Part*3*Where*is*the*Cavern?*

%

Here,%we%are%getting%to%the%identification%and%analysis%of%all%the%clues%we%have%so%far%regarding%the%Cleft%and%D’ni%Cavern%location.%

Whether%one%only%considers%RAWA’s%comments%about%how%the%Cleft%is%necessarily%in%New%Mexico%rather%than%Arabia,%or%whether%one%also%considers%the%Tree%of%Possibilities%and%how%it%Linked%Ri’neref’s%Descriptive%Book%here%to%New%Mexico,%there%seems%to%be%something%significant%about%New%Mexico%and%some%place%in%New%Mexico%that%drew%the%D’ni%here.%

So%what%might%those%things%be?%What%sets%our%universe,%our%galaxy,%our%solar%system,%our%world%and%some%place%in%the%state%of%New%Mexico%apart%from%the%other%countless%possibilities?%What%characteristics%came%together%here%that%made%it%one%of%the%best%matches%for%Ri’neref’s%description?%



%

Let’s%start%with%the%geological%clues%we%find%from%the%D’ni.%

When%we%follow%Watson’s%quest%footsteps,%we%see%that%there%is%water%associated%with%the%Cleft%caldera.%So%right%away,%we%find%that%there%is%a%meeting%of%ancient%magma%and%underground%water,%though%the%caldera%itself%is%probably%long%dormant.%There%are%a%series%of%seeps%at%work%inside%the%caldera%itself%as%well%as%at%the%bottom%of%the%Cleft.%Once%underneath%the%caldera%floor,%we%find%flowstone%and%an%active%river%of%water%inside%a%small%stalagmite/stalactite%cave.%

As%we%journey%downward,%we%are%informed%that%the%bottom%of%the%Great%Shaft%is%three%miles%below%the%Terran%surface.%When%we%reference%Aitrus’s%map,%we%can%see%that%we%are%less%than%halfway%down.%Following%the%map,%we%see%a%magma%chamber%at%a%slightly%higher%elevation%than%the%lake%surface%in%the%main%Cavern%6%½%miles%beneath%the%Terran%surface.%

So%we%know%there%is%water%near%the%surface%as%well%as%6%½%miles%beneath%the%surface;%and%there%is%an%active%magma%chamber%about%6%miles%beneath.%



%

Next%let’s%look%at%the%geological%clues%from%the%surface.%One%of%the%most%important%geological%features%in%New%Mexico%is%the%Rio%Grande%Rift.%%

The*Rio*Grande*Rift*is*the*result*of*the*northern*portion*of*the*Mexican*

land*mass*moving*westward.**The*northward*pressure*being*applied*by*

the*subducting*Cocos*Plate*on*the*southernmost*Pacific*coast*of*Mexico*

is*causing*the*landmass*to*pivot*on*the*central*highlands*heavyHspots.****

The*Rio*Grande*Rift*is*a*northHsouth*fracture*in*the*earth's*surface*

extending*from*Leadville,*Colo.,*to*Las*Cruces,*NM*The*450*mile*Rift*was*

formed*by*the*sinking*of*a*large*block*of*the*earth's*crust,*creating*a*

trough*bounded*by*mountains.***

Here*in*the*Rio*Grande*Rift*we*find*much*evidence*that*these*pressures*

are*both*steady*and*current.*The*faults*along*which*this*downward*

motion*occurred*experience*many*small*earthquakes,*establishing*that*

the*Rift*is*still*actively*growing.**Although*it*began*to*move*upward*

about*seven*to*ten*million*years*ago,*more*recent*geologic*events*such*

as*the*formation*of*volcanoes*in*the*last*190,000*years*have*raised*the*

ante*in*our*bet*against*dramatic*change.*These*volcanoes*have*emerged*

through*the*middle*of*the*rift,*which*has*become*a*significant*aquifer.*A*

return*to*activity*could*be*accompanied*by*explosive*eruptions.*In*

geological*terms,*the*volcanoes*are*recent,*occurring*in*just*the*last*

fiftieth*of*the*life*of*the*rift.******



The*seven*to*ten*million*years*age*of*the*Rio*Grande*Rift*is*similar*to*the*

age*of*the*Grand*Canyon*and*the*Gulf*of*California,*both*also*products*of*

the*same*set*of*forces*driving*the*Mexican*Disconnection.*–Dane!M.!Arr,!2001*

The%two%bottom%maps%show%the%volcanic%landforms%in%New%Mexico%and%the%aquifer.%The%Rio%Grande%Rift%functions%as%the%course%for%the%Rio%Grande%River.%Upon%first%glance,%one%might%wonder%why%the%Rio%Grande%River%is%such%an%important%waterway,%for%it%rarely%looks%mighty.%Yet%agriculture%abounds%all%along%its%course%from%Colorado%through%New%Mexico,%along%the%southern%border%of%Texas/northern%border%of%Mexico%all%the%way%to%the%Gulf%of%Mexico.%This%apparent%paradox%is%answered%by%knowing%that%most%of%its%waters%flow%underground.%

Continuing%to%view%the%maps,%all%along%the%westward%side%of%the%rift%and%the%state%are%volcanic%landforms,%with%a%smattering%also%on%the%eastward%rift%side.%The%eastern%parts%of%the%state%are%quite%bereft%of%volcanism%until%we%get%to%the%northeast%corner.%

In%explanation%of%the%illustration%in%the%upper%right%corner:%

According*to*researchers,*the*region*has*been*gradually*stretching*for*

the*past*30*million*years,*but,*more*so*at*the*bottom*of*the*measured*

area*than*at*the*top.**Spread*at*the*base*of*the*crust*is*approximately*

four*times*that*at*the*surface*rift.*

The*researchers*believe*the*new*data*may*clarify*alternate*theories*

about*how*and*why*the*rift*formed,*as*stretching*appears*to*be*pulling*

the*rift*apart*from*below.*Another*theory*suggests*the*rift*was*created*

when*rock*layers*sheared*apart.*

This*illustration*shows*the*result*of*data*collected*by*La*RISTRA*

researchers*and*reveals*the*properties*of*the*crust*and*upper*mantle*

beneath*the*Rio*Grande.*From*the*information,*researchers*suspect*the*

pure*shear*model*is*the*more*probable*explanation,*with*a*"taffyHlike"*

thinning*of*the*lower*crust*and*the*upper*crust*faulting*in*many*places*

to*produce*the*rift*valley.*This*scenario*is*in*contrast*to*the*"simple*

shear"*model*wherein*a*single,*large*detachment*fault*controls*

continental*rifting.*–Nicolle!Rager,!2005*The%upper%left%illustration%shows%a%crossFsection%of%the%Albuquerque%Basin%portion%of%the%Rio%Grande%Rift.%The%Albuquerque%Basin%is%marked%on%both%maps%with%a%cyan%outline.%This%is%a%particularly%large%portion%of%the%Rift,%both%in%terms%of%depth%and%breadth,%measuring%at%its%maximum%about%6%miles%deep%and%30%miles%wide.%

The%last%item%of%note%is%an%inset%on%the%volcanic%map%to%the%left.%Although%it’s%not%marked%prominently,%there%is%a%crossFhatched%area%on%that%map%toward%the%bottom%of%the%Albuquerque%Basin.%This%is%the%Socorro%Magma%Body,%which%is%illustrated%in%3D%on%the%inset.%The%main%pool%of%the%Magma%Body%is%12%miles%beneath%the%surface,%however,%there%is%a%smaller%pool%only%a%few%miles%beneath%the%surface.%It%is%uplifting%slowly,%at%a%rate%of%about%2.5mm%per%year%and%is%responsible%for%frequent%micro%earthquakes%in%that%area%of%the%state.%%



The*area*of*Socorro,*New*Mexico,*is*one*of*the*most*geophysically*

anomalous*examples*of*the*Earth's*continental*crust.*It*is*located*on*the*

intersection*of*the*Rio*Grande*rift*(one*of*the*four*largest*active*

continental*rifts*in*the*world)*and*the*Socorro*fracture*zone.*This*area*

is*expressed*in*high*seismicity,*elevated*topography,*and*electric*

conductivity*anomaly*in*the*middle*crust.*Perhaps*the*most*spectacular*

geophysical*feature*of*the*Socorro*crustal*block*is*the*presence*of*an*

unusual*seismic*reflector*at*depth*of*~19*km,*established*based*on*

studies*of*local*microseismicity,*and*deep*seismic*sounding*using*active*

sources.*Several*leveling*surveys*conducted*in*the*Socorro*area*between*

1911H1981*revealed*a*broad*crustal*uplift*directly*above*the*crustal*

reflector.*The*measured*uplift*rate*is*a*few*millimeters*per*year*in*the*

center*of*the*anomaly.*Available*geomorphologic*data*indicates*that*the*

crustal*uplift*may*have*continued*in*Socorro*at*a*similar*rate*for*the*

last*several*tens*of*thousands*of*years.*These*geophysical*data*have*

been*interpreted*as*indicating*the*presence*of*a*large*sillHlike*magma*

body*in*the*middle*crust*beneath*the*Rio*Grande*rift.*The*estimated*

volume*of*the*Socorro*magma*body*is*at*least*several*thousand*cubic*

kilometers.*Because*the*available*leveling*data*are*too*sparse*in*space*

and*time,*the*spatial*correlation*between*the*uplift*and*the*inferred*

magma*body,*as*well*as*the*inferred*constancy*of*the*uplift*rate*have*

been*uncertain.*–Yuri!Fialko!%



%

We%know%from%the%Book%of%Atrus%(and%presumably%Katran’s%journals,%and%perhaps%Atrus%and%Anna’s%journals%too)%that%the%Cleft%is%located%within%a%reasonable%walking%distance%of%a%trade%route.%

Back%in%those%days,%New%Mexico%was%part%of%the%territory%known%as%New%Spain,%that%enormous%portion%of%the%Spanish%empire%existing%in%the%New%World.%All%official%trade%was%through%the%crown%and%done%via%official%royal%trade%routes,%or%Caminos%Reales.%The%official%route%that%connected%New%Mexico%to%the%seat%of%royal%power%in%what%is%now%Mexico%was%known%as%the%Camino%Real%de%Tierra%Adentro,%the%Royal%Road%of%Interior%Land%(marked%in%red%on%the%lower%map),%which%stretched%from%Mexico%City%in%the%south%to%San%Juan%Pueblo%in%northern%New%Mexico.%There%were%two%sister%routes%(marked%in%blue%on%the%lower%map),%El%Camino%Real%which%connected%the%Baja%Sur%(Baja%peninsula%south%of%California)%to%Sonoma%California;%and%El%Camino%Real%de%los%Tejas,%stretching%from%Mexico%City%up%and%across%Texas%to%Nachitoches%Louisiana.%

The%crown%was%responsible%for%providing%safe%passage%to%the%official%trade%convoys,%thus%soldiers%always%accompanied%each%expedition.%The%traders%provided%vital%supplies%to%colonists%on%the%route%and%collected%goods%and%resources%to%take%back%to%the%viceroyalty%in%Mexico%City.%Each%round%trip%into%New%Mexico%took%about%three%years%to%complete%via%ox%cart.%

The%map%in%the%upper%right%shows%the%settlements%along%the%Rio%Grande%corridor%that%were%serviced%by%these%traders.%The%relatively%large%distance%between%stops%toward%the%bottom%marks%the%portion%of%the%route%known%as%the%Jornada%del%Muerto,%



or%Journey%of%the%Dead.%This%was%a%particularly%hazardous%part%of%the%route,%a%significant%shortcut%away%from%the%Rio%Grande%and%its%narrow%canyons%and%occasional%quicksand,%but%across%a%desolate%and%waterless%stretch%of%desert.%The%photos%on%the%left%are%from%the%last%days%of%the%active%use%of%this%trade%route%in%the%1800s;%the%arrival%of%the%railroads%in%1881%made%the%old%royal%road%obsolete%after%nearly%300%years%of%service.%

%

The%illustrations%on%the%left%show%what%has%been%identified%as%a%ZoneFTailed%Hawk%along%with%a%map%showing%its%migratory%territory.%We%see%this%bird%at%the%Cleft,%riding%the%thermals%when%the%day%is%sunny.%

Along%with%what%we%can%observe%for%ourselves%at%the%Cleft,%we%have%two%known%photographs%of%the%location%from%the%DRC%records.%The%photographs%in%particular%provide%important%information%about%the%botanical%species%present%at%the%Cleft%location.%The%landscape%is%dominated%by%sagebrush%and%snakebush,%along%with%various%grasses,%which%helps%to%narrow%down%the%possible%elevations%for%the%Cleft.%The%relevant%elevation%zone%is%marked%on%the%upper%right%map%in%yellow.%



%

It’s%worth%reiterating,%for%those%who%might%have%missed%the%implication%on%earlier%slides,%that%the%DRC%claims%to%be%based%in%the%Carlsbad%New%Mexico%area%are%utter%nonsense.%Although%an%enormous%and%tempting%Cavern%is%indeed%located%in%that%vicinity,%the%only%evidence%that%it%is%the%D’ni%Cavern%is%that%it%is%a%stalagmite/stalactite%cavern%near%a%water%source.%It%fails%to%match%up%with%any%of%the%other%evidence%we%have%about%the%Cleft%and%Cavern%location.%

I%have%been%assuming%that%this%was%a%deliberate%misdirection%on%their%part,%to%ensure%that%their%research%was%unimpeded%by%the%meddlesome%or%idle%curious,%as%well%as%to%ensure%that%they%could%continue%working%quietly%without%government%interference.%



%

So%why%did%the%Tree%of%Possibilities%Link%the%D’ni%here?%My%own%theory%is%that%the%Rio%Grande%Rift%coupled%with%New%Mexico’s%volcanics%were%an%extraordinarily%good%match%for%Ri’neref’s%Description.%Yet%even%though%this%combination%is%unique%for%Terra,%it%surely%is%not%rare%within%the%Great%Tree.%Because%of%this,%I%strongly%suspect%that%Ri’neref%included%more%than%a%Description%of%the%Cavern%in%his%Book.%Specifically,%I%think%he%included%a%Description%of%a%surface%species%very%similar%to%the%D’ni%themselves.%Us.%It%is%extremely%unlikely%that%our%genetic%compatibility%with%the%D’ni%is%a%random%coincidence.%It%is%far%more%likely%that%Ri’neref%intended%from%the%very%beginning%for%the%D’ni%eventually%to%coFmingle%with%the%surface%dwellers%and%for%us%to%become%something%more%together.%And%to%accomplish%this,%he%needed%to%Describe%an%indigenous%species%like%us.%%

After%millions%of%years,%the%life%forms%of%Terra%evolved%along%our%own%Tree%of%Possibilities,%many%branches%becoming%strong%and%dominant%only%to%die%out.%Within%the%most%recent%blink%of%a%geologic%eye,%humans%evolved%away%from%the%rest%of%the%mammals%into%sentient%beings%that%just%happened%to%be%very%like%the%D’ni%themselves.%On%the%branches%of%the%Great%Tree,%there%would%be%countless%such%species%across%the%multiFverse.%But%here%on%Terra,%humans%also%happened%to%have%a%very%special%Cavern%in%a%unique%place%called%New%Mexico.%



Afterword*For%those%of%you%who%have%been%working%out%the%mystery%for%yourselves,%you%will%understand%why%I%made%a%sudden%unplanned/unannounced%expedition%last%month.%Although%I%didn’t%find%any%clear%view%of%the%caldera%on%that%trip%and%am%not%convinced%that%the%specific%caldera%I%was%attempting%to%find%and%photograph%that%day%is%indeed%the%one%we%all%know%so%well,%I%have%yet%to%find%a%better%candidate.%If%nothing%else,%I%find%it%immensely%exciting%there%exists%such%a%close%match%to%the%evidence%we%have.%

References*• Geologic%History%of%New%Mexico,%Virgil*Lueth:%

http://mode.lanl.k12.nm.us/forum/?q=node/18596%%• Rio%Grande%Rift,%Dane*M.*Arr,*2001:%

http://www.danearr.com/mexdis/html/rio_grande_rift.html%*• Rio%Grande%Rift,*Nicolle*Rager,*National*Science*Foundation,*March*2005:%

http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_images.jsp?cntn_id=103075&org=NSF%%%• Brief%NM%Geologic%History,%UNM:%http://www.unm.edu/~natsci/NM_history.htm%%• Socorro%Magma%Body,%Yuri*Fialko:%http://sioviz.ucsd.edu/~fialko/research5F

6.html%%• The*Paleontology*Portal:*http://www.paleoportal.org**• New*Mexico*Museum*of*Natural*History*and*Science:*

http://www.nmnaturalhistory.org**• New*Mexico*Institute*of*Mining*and*Technology:*http://www.nmt.edu**• New*Mexico*Bureau*of*Geology*and*Mineral*Resources:*http://geoinfo.nmt.edu**• New*Mexico*Digital*History*Project:*http://www.newmexicohistory.org*%• Wikipedia:%http://www.wikipedia.org%%• National*Geographic:%

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0603/feature2/map.html%%• Essay*Web:%http://essayweb.net/history/ancient/prehistory.shtml%• The*Human*Journey:%http://www.humanjourney.us/america.html%%• United*States*Department*of*Agriculture:%

http://www.nm.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/fotg/sectionF1/maps.html%%

!new!mexico!geology!and!paleontology—a!pre6history!and ...€¦ ·...

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