Crustal structure determined from a new wide-angle seismic profile in southwestern New Mexico
— Steven Harder and G. Randy Keller

In February 1999, a test of new seismic instruments was conducted using the Tyrone Mine near Silver City as an energy source. This test produced a high-quality, although unreversed, seismic section extending 145 km south from the Tyrone Mine. A number of crustal seismic phases, including P, Pg, PcR, PmP, and SmS, are easily seen in the seismic section. These phases allow us make a one-dimensional, velocity-depth interpretation of the crust under southwestern New Mexico. The crustal thickness is 35 km, at least 2 km thicker than the crust either to the east or west. The thicker crust is reflected in the higher topography in southwest New Mexico.