Description

This report and accompanying maps describe the geology, geomorphology, and geologic hazards of the Maricopa area in western Pinal County, central Arizona. This mapping covers all of the Antelope Peak NE 7 ½’ quadrangle and most of the Maricopa 7 ½’, and includes the community of Maricopa (Figure 1). The map area encompasses part of the basin floor occupied by Santa Rosa Wash and the Santa Cruz River, the gently sloping piedmonts flanking the west side of the basin floor, and a few bedrock hills (inselbergs) outboard from the Haley Hills, Palo Verde Mountains and Table Top Mountains to the west and southwest of the map area. Agricultural activity and more recently urban development have substantially modified the surface of the basin floor and most of the piedmont areas. Maricopa is developing into a significant population center and rapid development is occurring on the basin floor and the piedmont in the northern part of the map area. The map area includes part of the Maricopa- Stanfield sedimentary basin, from which tremendous amounts of ground water have been extracted primarily for agricultural purposes