Abiquiu Formation
The Abiquiu Formation is a geologic formation found in northern New Mexico. Radiometric dating constrains its age to between 18 million and 27 million years, corresponding to the late Oligocene to Miocene epochs.
| Abiquiu Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Oligocene to Miocene | |
Abiquiu Formation at Plaza Blanca, north of Abiquiu, New Mexico | |
| Type | Formation |
| Unit of | Santa Fe Group |
| Sub-units | Pedernal Chert |
| Underlies | Tesuque Formation |
| Overlies | El Rito Formation |
| Thickness | 400 m (1,300 ft) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Sandstone, siltstone |
| Other | conglomerate, mudstone |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 36.240°N 106.298°W |
| Region | New Mexico |
| Country | United States |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Abiquiu, New Mexico |
| Named by | H.T.U. Smith |
| Year defined | 1938 |
Abiquiu Formation (the United States) Abiquiu Formation (New Mexico) | |
The formation is composed mostly of volcanic debris from the Latir volcanic field, and records the early stages of the opening of the Rio Grande rift in northern New Mexico.
Artist Georgia O'Keeffe drew inspiration from her study of the formation at Plaza Blanca.
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