6.7 RATON BASIN

Chapter 6.7, Page 2 of 4

Hydrogeologic Units

Surficial geologic formations range from the Cretaceous Dakota Sandstone to the Eocene age Cuchara Formation, which crops out in the vicinity north of the Spanish Peaks. A generalized cross-section showing the geology in the southern part of the basin is presented as Figure 6.7-2.

Figure 6.7-2 Generalized geologic cross section through the southern Raton Basin.
From Geldon, 1989.

The major aquifers in the Raton Basin are the river valley alluvium; the sandstones and siltstones of the Raton, Vermejo, and Trinidad Formations, which are classified as a single aquifer; and the sandstones and siltstones of the Cuchara and Poison Canyon Formations, which likewise are classified as a single aquifer. The Trinidad Sandstone and the Vermejo Formation of the Raton Basin are stratigraphic equivalents of the Fox Hills Sandstone and Laramie Formation of the Denver Basin. The physical and hydrologic characteristics of the bedrock aquifers in the Raton Basin are summarized in Table 6.7-1.

Table 6.7-1 Hydrogeologic Units of the Raton Basin

Chapter 6.7, Page 2 of 4