DECIPHERING A SEQUENCE OF ANDESITE LAVAS AND LAHARIC BRECCIAS

Middle Miocene volcanism in the Jemez Mountains generated andesite-dacite
composite cones with flanking aprons of interbedded lavas and coarse-grained
sediments typical of those seen adjacent to many modern and acient volcanoes.
Students learn the rudiments of distinguishing breccias of different origins and
relating sediment composition to the lithologies represented in lava flows.