Notes on Upper Permian and Lower Triassic strata and structures in east-central and central New Mexico
— R. Douglas Maier

The Middle Triassic Anton Chico Member of the Moenkopi Formation accumulated in east-central and central New Mexico, for the most part, on a very low relief Permian surface that had not been previously deformed. This conclusion is indicated by a general lack of basal coarse-grained facies within the Anton Chico, shallow or no Triassic scouring below this horizon, and Middle Permian sandstone and stromatolite marker beds that can be traced laterally for over 150 km. Post-Triassic deformation appears to have followed preexisting trends, including a reactivated thrust belt. A regional oxidation-reduction front was discovered. Lineaments control the distribution and areas of sinks in east-central and central New Mexico, and one lineament zone can be correlated with those of the west-central United States. The degrees of thermal alteration of organic material in Middle Permian and Middle Triassic strata suggest they were once covered by thick deposits.