From Deming, NM we drove to City of Rocks State Park. The rocks forming City of Rocks were produced by a very large volcanic eruption that occurred millions of years ago. During this violent eruption large volumes of ash and pumice were deposited on the earth surface. This would have been followed by a hot molten layer that welded the ash and pumice into dense rock. Over time cooling caused long perpendicular cracks to occur. These cracks widen with erosion processes such as freeze-thaw and wind, along with roots of vegetation that eventually grew in the cracks.
The end result are the large pillar-shaped rocks that appear to jump up from the surrounding desert floor.
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