THE COMPLEX SPELEOGENETIC HISTORY OF THE GYPSUM PLAIN OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO WITH IMPROVED REMOTE SENSING METHODOLOGIES FOR IDENTIFICATION AND DELINEATION OF KARST FEATURES

The Gypsum Plain of West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico is the site of extensive, widespread karst development within Guadalupian and Ochoan evaporite strata. A variety of karst manifestations are present here, all formed by differing speleogenetic processes. Within Ochoan Castile evaporites, many features form as traditional epigene or hypogene karst; however, other features exhibit a complex suite of morphological characteristics indicative of multiple formational processes, including caves consistent with epigenetic overprinting and paleokarst erosional remnants. The presence of such a variety of features culminates in an area featuring a complex speleogenetic history that has experienced multiple episodes of hypogene porosity development with variable epigene overprinting within a highly compartmentalized hydrogeologic system.

Traditionally, karst features have been located and studied through a combination of physical ground and aerial photography surveys. Previous fieldwork has established a correlation between karst features of the Gypsum Plain and host lithology in which they are most commonly formed. Advances in satellite capabilities and remote sensing technology have allowed for increased spatial and spectral resolution of multispectral imagery. New methodologies for geologic mapping through analyses of color-infrared imagery allow for identification and delineation of surficial lithologies across the Gypsum Plain, enabling delineation of paleokarst features that represent collapse structures, regions of extensive secondary mineralization where evaporite calcitization has occurred, and hydrologically-active recharge/discharge features. This process greatly increases the efficiency of karst delineation across the landscape, improving characterization of spatial trends within such a complex system.