Surface/Soil question about EP area... (El Paso, Carbon: live, floor, garden)

[TheLastVigilante]

Hey dudes I was looking at a soil map of Texas yesterday and it got me wondering about the El Paso region.Can anybody out there let me know exactly what type of ground layer/floor the city of El Paso sits on?I know it's not soft and clay-like like the southeastern Texas area is but I've never really got a clear cut answer on the subject.I would appreciate it.

[painless]

El Paso used to be on the bottom of a prehistoric sea. it is a limestone base, covered by loose sand, volcanic soil, with granite mountians jutting up from the tail end of the Rockies.

No great amounts of gold or silver. Mining is still a big industry. (talc, borax, some mercury.)

There is more agriculture than you would expect. (Very dependent on water availability.)

There are 45 miles of pecan orchards running South along the Rio Grande river. periodic flooding has created a fertile sandy loam. It turns into sandhills as you move away from the river. Farther north, it turns into a caliche ( Calcium Carbonate) base, covered with a thin layer of sand.

There are exposed lava flows here and there. decomposed lava makes a good garden soil amendment.



From what I remembered having lived there from 1968-1974 and 1981_1987.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by painless

...along the Rio Grande river. periodic flooding has created a fertile sandy loam.

In the historic flood plain along the Rio Grande the soil is very fertile and contains a good deal of clay that is excellent for making adobe bricks (sun-dried mud). The red sand found in the desert areas is also a very fertile soil when there is enough water to sustain vegetation. Caliche isn't good for anything in agriculture but makes a fine road base when watered down and compacted.

[TheLastVigilante]

painless and joqua thank you very much for your detailed answers and contributions.i really appreciate well thought out input like what I read above.peace....