Transactions of the Regional Archeological Symposium for Southeastern New Mexico and Western Texas: 1983 Page: 41
This book is part of the collection entitled: Texas History Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Southwestern Federation of Archaeological Societies.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Thicker deposits of Judkins usually contain caliche pebbles and
a caliche horizon at the base; however, it is often impossible
to determine whether or not such a caliche zone belongs to the
Judkins or to the subjacent Pliocene.
In the Monahans Dunes belt, the stratigraphic position of the
Judkins clearly falls between the Pliocene Ogallala caliche and
later Pleistocene pond deposits. The Judkins-Ogallala contact is
usually a well-marked nonconformity, but the upper boundary of
the Judkins is less striking. There are indications of erosion,
reworking and redeposition at the top of the Judkins prior to
the deposition of the lacustrine sediments. The best exposure
of Judkins is in Andrews County where a maximum of eighteen
feet of reddish-brown sand with a thick caliche zone was measured.
Excellent exposures of the light greenish-gray and mottled phase
of the Judkins occur in blowouts in eastern Winkler County and
in north-eastern Crane County.
ln the Monahans Dunes area, the Judkins formation was not derived
entirely from sources to the west, but has received minor contributions
of materials from the Cretaceous escarpment which borders the dune belt
on the east. Evidence pointing toward such a source consists of the
presence of very coarse sands, gravels, and some pebbles in blowouts
near the escarpment.
GEOGRAPHY
Crane County is located in the western part of Texas. It is mainly
in the Trans-Pecos and High Plains area. A small area in the south-
eastern part of the county is in the Edwards Plateau area.
The county is roughlyv rectangular in shape, measuring about twenty-
nine miles from north to south and about twenty-eight miles from east to
west. It covers about 850 square miles or 540,080 acres. The land
surface is nearly level to rolling. Most of the drainages flow south-
west through Landreth Draw into the Pecos River. The Pecos River flows
from the northwest to the southeast forming the southern border of Crane
County,
o-thirds of the county is dunes, active and stabilized and the
remainder of the county lays in the Pecos River valley. The dunes
consist of active and stabilized dunes that are sixteen to twenty-five
feet high and long and narrow. Individual dunes are three to twenty
acres in size, but are connected with others in a series covering one-
hundred sixty acres or more. These dunes consist of noncalcareous,
very pale brown fine sand that has been reworked by wind. Between the
dunes are small, concave blowout areas that have soil material mixed
on the surface of Judkins and Monahans sand. Each time strong winds
cause a sandstorm, the dunes change in position and shape, but they
remain oriented with the prevailing southwesterly winds.
In the south one-third of the county is the Pecos River valley
which has been flood filled with calcareous and saline, clay- soils.
The ancient terrace adjacent to the Pecos River flood plain is less41
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current book.
Transactions of the Regional Symposium for Southeastern New Mexico and Western Texas: Index to Volumes 1-57 [1965-2024] (Book)
Index to the proceedings of the regional archeological symposium including separate lists by subject, title, author, and volume along with subject categories, a map of regions, and Texas county abbreviations.
Relationship to this item: (Is Referenced By)
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Transactions of the Regional Archeological Symposium for Southeastern New Mexico and Western Texas: 1983, book, 1984; United States. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1661464/m1/49/?q=+date%3A1945-1972: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Southwestern Federation of Archaeological Societies.