A 3‐D seismic modeling study of the Ladron Horst near Socorrro, New Mexico

Abstract

Three‐dimensional seismic modeling demonstrates that the intragraben horst‐like feature imaged on COCORP's Socorro‐Abo Pass survey in the Albuquerque Basin, New Mexico likely corresponds to the northeast‐plunging continuation of the Ladron uplift. This accords with the original interpretation which was expounded with reservations that the feature might be a result of side reflections off a nearby exposed basement uplift. This domed feature on Socorro Line 1A, referred to hereafter as the Ladron horst, cannot be a consequence of side reflections from the nearby Ladron Mountains. Three‐dimensional modeling defines a minimum northeastern extent of the Ladron uplift in the subsurface, confirms some aspects of previous interpretations, and offers a new interpretation of the apparent western boundary of the horst. Second‐order discontinuities in the reflections off the horst are modeled as normal faults within the subsurface basement uplift.