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Data Release for Geologic Framework and Hydrogeology of the Rico Rico and Nogales 7.5’ quadrangles, Upper Santa Cruz basin, Arizona, with 3-Dimensional hydrogeologic model

Metadata Updated: September 17, 2025

Rapid population growth and declining annual recharge to aquifers in the upper Santa Cruz basin area of southern Arizona, has increased the demand for additional groundwater resources. This demand is predicted to escalate in the future due to higher temperatures, longer droughts, less aquifer recharge, and decreased river and stream base flow. We conducted geologic studies to help evaluate and better understand groundwater resources in the basin. Results of these studies are presented in this report, which summarizes the basin geologic framework and hydrogeology, and presents a 3-D hydrogeologic model for the Rio Rico and Nogales 7.5’ quadrangles. Three major hydrogeologic units are displayed in the 3-D model; a lower basement confining unit, consisting of Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Tertiary (Paleocene and Oligocene) rocks; a middle unit composed entirely of the Miocene Nogales Formation; and an upper unit consisting of late Miocene to Holocene surficial deposits. The Nogales Formation and the Late Miocene to Holocene sediments are the main aquifers in the Santa Cruz basin. The 3-D model integrates the hydrogeologic units and structural features to define the geometry, structure, and thickness of the aquifer system that provides water to Nogales and surrounding communities of southernmost Arizona. The report includes an EarthVision 3D Viewer, consisting of software enabling viewing data interactively in three-dimensional space, in order to help understand the internal complexities of the basin geometry, structure, stratigraphy, and hydrology. The 3-D model is a synthesis of geologic data from geologic maps, cross sections, and lithologic descriptions and interpretations, and geophysical data including gravity, magnetic data, and airborne electromagnetic data.

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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Dates

Metadata Created Date September 14, 2025
Metadata Updated Date September 17, 2025

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI USGS DCAT-US

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date September 14, 2025
Metadata Updated Date September 17, 2025
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
Identifier http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/usgs-5a58ffc6e4b00b291cd6a8e1
Data Last Modified 2020-08-20T00:00:00Z
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://ddi.doi.gov/usgs-data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id 1295b227-8f0f-493e-861f-58e733015f52
Harvest Source Id 2b80d118-ab3a-48ba-bd93-996bbacefac2
Harvest Source Title DOI USGS DCAT-US
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial -111.0, 31.33, -110.875, 31.5
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash e51791727b1bbdb04ae65ed4ee3e5071194a5a64c402202a44c8f55b925c0d83
Source Schema Version 1.1
Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": -111.0, 31.33, -111.0, 31.5, -110.875, 31.5, -110.875, 31.33, -111.0, 31.33}

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