2023: Evaporite Karst of the Lower Pecos

Eighty-six photographs from the 2023 Annual Fall Field Conference. One additional source record has no usable image file on the original site. Select an image to open the full-size version.

Kevin Hobbs and Nels Iverson

Kevin Hobbs (left) and Nels Iverson at Bottomless Lakes State Park.

Photograph by Frank Sholedice · 2023

Lewis Land

Lewis Land gives a talk.

Photograph by Frank Sholedice · 2023

Lewis Land

Lewis Land gives a talk along the banks of the Pecos River in Carlsbad.

Photograph by Frank Sholedice · 2023

Taking a dip

NMGS FFC participants taking a dip at the Cottonwood Day Use Area.

Photograph by Frank Sholedice · 2023

Rattlesnake Spring

Jon Krupnick (left) and Evan Owen at Rattlesnake Spring.

Photograph by Frank Sholedice

Snapping a portrait

Adam Read (left) snaps a pic of Nels Iverson.

Photograph by Frank Sholedice

Hike on

NMGS FFC attendees exploring Camp Washington Ranch near Carlsbad.

Photograph by Frank Sholedice

Travertine dam

Matt Zimmerer stands atop a travertine dam at Camp Washington Ranch near Carlsbad.

Photograph by Frank Sholedice

Examining a travertine dam

Snir Attia (left) and Lewis Land examine a travertine dam at Camp Washington Ranch near Carlsbad.

Photograph by Frank Sholedice

Guadalupe Peak pre-meeting hike

NMGS members at the summit of Guadalupe Peak

Photograph by Jessica Hubbling · 10/03/2023

Pond at Washington Ranch, NM

The 2006 and 2023 NMGS Fall Field Conferences were based here.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/04/2023

Bonnie Frey — NMGS Secretary - 2023

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/04/2023

James Cearley, NMGS Foundation Outreach Officer

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/04/2023

Brian Hampton — NMGS President - 2023

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/04/2023

NMSU students at the 2023 Fall Field Conference

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/04/2023

Connie Apache and Gina Rone

Connie handles memberships and registrations, among other things, for NMGS. Gina designs T-shirts for the Fall Field Conferences and serves on the Scholarship Committee.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/04/2023

Washington Ranch at dawn

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Ochoan Castile gypsum

The consensus is that each layer in this gypsum deposit represents an annual sedimentation cycle. This roadcut is very near the state line on US-180 south of White's City.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Castile gypsum

The consensus is that each layer in this gypsum deposit represents an annual sedimentation cycle. This roadcut is very near the state line on US-180 south of White's City.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Kate Zeigler laughing with Luke Martin

Kate owns Zeigler Geologic Consulting, LLC. and is an NMGS Foundation Director. Luke is a Senior Petroleum Geologist at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Kevin Hobbs and Snir Attia looking at a sample of Castile gypsum

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Snir Attia holding a fine hand sample of Castile gypsum

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Johanna Blake

Johanna is the 2023 NMGS Treasurer

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Day 1, Stop 2 of the 2023 FFC

NMGS members examine the outcrop of the Rader member of the Bell Canyon Formation. The large limestone blocks in this roadcut are the result of a massive submarine debris flow.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

The lowdown on the basin processes

Jerry Kendall lectures on the Permian Basin origin processes with expert poster support, Adam Read.

Photograph by Bonnie Frey · 10/05/2023

El Capitan

El Capitan is at the southern tip of the Guadalupe Mountains.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

NMGS caravan

Stop 3 on Day 1 of the 2023 Fall Field Conference.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Brian Hampton

Brian is an Associate Professor at NMSU and the President of NMGS in 2023.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Examining a channel margin

Sandstone channel cut into the Bell Canyon Formation.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Ricky and Connie Apache

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Jerry Kendall

Speaking on Day 1 of the 2023 Fall Field Conference

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Mudcracks on the Salt Flat gypsum playa

This was Stop 4 on Day 1 of the 2023 Fall Field Conference.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Mike Petronis and Jennifer Lindline

At Stop 4 on Day 1 of the 2023 Fall Field Conference. Mike and Jennifer are professors at NM Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

The southern escarpment of the Guadalupe Mountains viewed from Salt Flat

Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas, and the massive cliffs of El Capitan are on the right. Clearly, this part of the Guadalupes should have been part of New Mexico.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Bill McIntosh, Nelia Dunbar, and Nels Iverson

Stop 4 on Day 1 of the 2023 FFC

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

James Cearley, 2023 Honorary Membership awardee

The NMGS Executive Committee awarded James Cearley III, outreach officer for the NMGS Foundation, the 2023 NMGS honorary membership.

Photograph by Bonnie Frey · 10/05/2023

Matt Zimmerer and Kelsey McNamera

View of El Capitan in the background. Stop 5 on Day 1 of the 2023 Fall Field Conference.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Friendly geologists

Matt Zimmerer, Kelsey McNamara and Adam Read hard at work on the foothills of the Guadalupe Mountains.

Photograph by Bonnie Frey · 10/05/2023

Selfie time

The lunch-time rest stop offered a great venue for selfies in front of El Capitan, a magnificent exposure of the Capitan Reef Formation. Here we see the BLM's own Michael McGee.

Photograph by Bonnie Frey · 10/05/2023

Mike Petronis and Jennifer Lindline talking on the spoils dump of the Yeso Hills selenite mine.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Jim Goodbar talking about gypsum karst near the entrance to Parks Ranch cave

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Yeso HIlls selenite mine

Well behaved geologists respect the selenite mining claim at the Yeso Hills quarry and stay out.

Photograph by Bonnie Frey · 10/05/2023

Selenite flooring

Yeso Hills quarry provided collection worthy outcrops of selenite that remained untouched for the next visitor. Sony camera lens cover for scale.

Photograph by Bonnie Frey · 10/05/2023

Rillenkarren formed in gypsum near an entrance to Parks Ranch cave

These small ridges and rills form on soluble rocks like gypsum and limestone from erosion by rainwater. They can be very sharp.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Bill McIntosh in Parks Ranch cave

This is the second longest gypsum karst cave in the USA.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Saj Zappitello in Parks Ranch cave

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Almost out!

Daylight in the entrance to Parks Ranch Cave.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Emerging from Parks Ranch cave

Thankfully, the water wasn't any deeper...

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/05/2023

Cynthia Connolly examining a travertine dam

Stop 1 on Day 2 of the 2023 FFC

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Stop 1 on Day 2 of the 2023 FFC

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Steve Skotnicki

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Kevin Hobbs and Bill McIntosh

At the 2023 FFC

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Lewis Land

Lewis is standing on a tufa dam with a footbridge wrapped around it. This was Stop 1f on Day 2 of the 2023 Fall Field Conference

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Kelsey McNamara and Matt Zimmerer

On Day 2 of the 2023 FFC

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Quadruplets

Jessica Hubbling, Kelsey McNamara, Bill McIntosh and James Cearley set the style for the 2023 Fall Field Conference, with matching sage field shirts (mostly).

Photograph by Bonnie Frey · 10/06/2023

Rattlesnake Spring

The spring is the water source for the facilities at Carlsbad Caverns National Park as well as the nearby Washington Ranch.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Rattlesnake Spring

The spring is the water source for the facilities at Carlsbad Caverns National Park as well as the nearby Washington Ranch. This was Stop 2 on Day 2 of the 2023 FFC.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Johonna Blake

Johanna, the NMGS Treasurer in 2023, works for the USGS.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Bass man Martin

Luke Martin daydreaming about the bass in the Rattlesnake Spring pond.

Photograph by Bonnie Frey · 10/06/2023

Rattlesnake Spring

Conference leaders Lewis Land and Kate Zeigler enjoy the sun and surf at Rattlesnake Spring with Jessica Hubbling, Zeke Salaz, Marine Foucher, Bill McIntosh and Nelia Dunbar (from left to right).

Photograph by Bonnie Frey · 10/06/2023

Evan Owen

Evan is an Economic Geologist at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Carolyn Ritchie, Hannah Hunt, and Amy Dunn

At the Cottonwood Day Use Area, Stop 3 on Day 2 of the 2023 FFC.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Intrepid swimmers

At the Cottonwood Day Use Area, Stop 3 on Day 2 of the 2023 FFC.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Johanna Blake and Saj Zappitello

At the Cottonwood Day Use Area, Stop 3 on Day 2 of the 2023 FFC.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Susan and Nikhil Lucas Kamat

At the Cottonwood Day Use Area, Stop 3 on Day 2 of the 2023 FFC.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Lewis Land speaking with a sharp poker for emphasis

Day 2, Stop 5 of the 2023 FFC

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Carlsbad flume

Evan Owen and Jon Krupnick at the Carlsbad flume (bypassing the Pecos River).

Photograph by Bonnie Frey · 10/06/2023

Lewis Land

Stop 5, Day 2, 2023 FFC

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Standing over a cave

Stop 5, Day 2 of the 2023 FFC

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Frank Sholedice standing over a small cave

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Bill McIntosh, Nelia Dunbar, and Brian Hampton

Stop 5, Day 2 of the 2023 FFC

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Washington Ranch

This was the headquarters for the 2006 and 2023 Fall Field Conferences.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/06/2023

Tepee shaped hill

This hill is composed of the evaporite facies of the Seven Rivers Formation capped by more resistant dolomites.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/07/2023

Nelia Dunbar

Dr. Dunbar is the NM State Geologist and Director of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources. The photo was taken at Stop 1 on Day 3 of the 2034 Fall Field Conference.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/07/2023

Veronique Longmire

Stop 1 on Day 3 of the 2023 FFC.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/07/2023

Bonnie Frey

Bonnie is the 2023 NMGS Secretary.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/07/2023

Bill McIntosh

As an Emeritus - Sr. Volcanologist and Geochronologist, Bill continues to do research at the NM Geochronology Research Laboratory at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources.

Photograph by Adam S. Read · 10/07/2023