The Flanks of the Rift - Second-day Road Log from Taos of Taos Pueblo, Llano Quemado, Pilar and Return to Taos
— Paul W. Bauer, Adam S. Read, Keith I. Kelson, William R. Muehlberger, and Daniel J. Koning

Day two will focus on the tectonic development of the southern San Luis Basin, including the evolution of rift-bounding structures such as the Sangre de Cristo and Embudo fault zones. This trip will be short on driving time and generous on field time. In addition to touring part of the ancient Taos Pueblo, we have been given permission to visit several sites on Taos Pueblo tribal lands that are normally closed to the public. For that reason, we will not include mileages for road log entries at sites on tribal lands. Please be respectful of the hospitality the people of Taos Pueblo have extended to the New Mexico Geological Society. While at Taos Pueblo, we will discuss the hydrogeology of the Taos Valley and the earthquake history of the Sangre de Cristo fault zone. Upon leaving the pueblo, we travel westward along the northern flank of the Picuris Mountains and the Embudo fault, the best-exposed accommodation zone in the Rio Grande rift. Along the way we will discuss the structurally complex intersection between the accommodation zone and the rift master fault, examine the early rift fill sediments of the Picuris Formation and a Laramide graben, and evaluate seismic hazards along the rift boundary faults. At our last stop in the village of Pilar, we see Proterozoic rocks of the Picuris Mountains, discuss the tectonic development of the Embudo fault zone and its syntectonic sediments, and estimate slip rates and extension rates for the southern San Luis Basin.