Online guide to the continental Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the Raton basin, Colorado and New Mexico

Description of the Route from Denver to Raton

Colorado Springs to Pueblo

Proceeding south from Colorado Springs, the route continues on the Pierre Shale to Pueblo. The immense training grounds of Fort Carson Army Base lie to the west of the Interstate for many miles south of Colorado Springs. About midway to Pueblo, the sharp eye will observe the Tepee Buttes in the Pierre Shale outcrops on the horizon to the east across Fountain Creek. These conical-shaped buttes are capped by large resistant concretions in the Pierre Shale.

The Canyon City Embayment, which is about 20 mi west of the Interstate, is a topographic and structural feature that reflects the en-echelon arrangement of mountain ranges. The Front Range terminates south of Cheyenne Mountain and the Wet Mountains form the eastern front of the Rocky Mountains farther south. The Canyon City Embayment occupies the intervening space.

The Florence oil field, which was discovered in 1862, was the first oil field found west of the Mississippi River. Oil from this field was produced from fractured Pierre Shale (Upper Cretaceous) and was in great demand as a lubricant for wagon wheels and sold for more than $5 per gallon.

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