Earth: Day Zero • Paper 172 of 512
Rio Grande Rift Observations
The Rio Grande Rift extends through Colorado and New Mexico and represents one of North America's most important continental rift systems.
Regional Geological Context
Key regions include Denver, Colorado; Boulder, Colorado; Alamosa, Colorado; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Relevant institutions include University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, and University of New Mexico.
Observation
The rift preserves evidence of crustal extension, basin formation, uplift, and volcanic activity across the southern Rocky Mountain region.
Constraint Analysis
The Rio Grande Rift provides a useful comparison between active continental extension and ancient preserved rift systems.