Abstract
In the northwest Hueco bolson (basin), in west Texas, and in the southern Tularosa and Mesilla bolsons of New Mexico, sets of longitudinal depressions join to form large closed linear troughs. In the Hueco and Tularosa bolsons the lengths of these features can be up to 30 km (19 mi) long, and widths can be 1, 200 m (4000 ft) or greater. The troughs have subtle but significant topographic expression when viewed on aerial photos and from the air, and are marked by lines of vegetation concentrated at their lowest elevation. They are asymmetric in cross section. The large linear troughs have been interpreted and mapped as a series of intrabasin westward tilted fault blocks, with age of most recent movement within the last 0.5 m.y. Speculation about the origin of these troughs has included faulting, subsidence, and paleo stream channels. More than one process is involved. The investigations in this study indicate that in addition to apparent faulting, adjustments including piping, and fissure collapse, have been and are now taking place along the length of the troughs. Those adjustments act to offset the effects of aeolian processes, preserving the troughs over time as areas of depression. Several minable sand and gavel deposits have been located within these troughs. Field evidence indicates that these deposits were in place prior to deformation. The pattern of growth and development of El Paso over the last 50 years has been toward the east, into the Hueco basin. There has been more recent encroachment further east, and also west of the Franklin Mountains. Aeolian transport of sediments is the dominant recent geomorphologic process shaping the three basins in question andhas been for some time in the past, but troughs in these basins have remained unfilled over time. It was important in this study from an engineering geology standpoint of construction development, to identify the mechanisms acting to maintain the topographic expression of the troughs in the basin.
Burrell, Jonathan K (1996). Evolution and preservation of closed linear troughs in the Hueco bolson of west Texas. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1996 -THESIS -B876.