Surficial features and late Cenozoic history in southeastern New Mexico

Abstract

Since deposition of the Ogallala Formation during Pliocene time, southeastern New Mexico has been subjected to erosion, solution, subsidence 1 and widespread eolian activity. These processes have combined to influence the formation and morphology of major drainage systems. Alined drainage patterns resulted from solution of caliche localized by longitudinal sand dunes. San Simon Swale appears to have formed by processes of erosion and solutionsubsidence of Permian evaporites, and was formerly an important tributary to the Pecos River. the combination of processes that formed San Simon Swale was similar to the combination of erosion and coalescing sinks that formed the lower Pecos Valley in southern New Mexico. \ ,. ...