2008 Joint Meeting of The Geological Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies with the Gulf Coast Section of SEPM

Paper No. 12
Presentation Time: 8:00 AM-4:45 PM

Stratigraphic and Structural Control of Cave Development In Sinkhole Flat, Eddy Co., New Mexico


MIDDLETON, Lucas, Science Department, Carlsbad High School, 3000 W. Church St, Carlsbad, NM 88220, hardcorecaver@gmail.com

The stratigraphy and passage trends of caves in Sinkhole Flat, Eddy County, New Mexico were studied to determine their role in cave development. Stratigraphic sections were measured in each cave and correlated between caves. The primary layer where cave development occurred was determined for each cave and compared to others in the area. Lineation rosettes of each cave were drawn using the survey data. The rosettes show the total length of cave passage in 10-degree intervals and show dominant passage trends. The rosettes were placed on a surface map correlative to entrance locations to compare passage trends throughout the basin. It was observed that there are no basin-wide passage development trends. There are no common stratigraphic layers controlling development among the caves in Sinkhole Flat area.