In the Miocene and Pliocene, Basin and Range extension formed the Verde Valley of central Arizona. Once an enclosed basin, the valley hosted a marshy lake environment that resulted in deposition of lacustrine (lake) sediments that formed the Verde Formation. In some locales, rock salt deposits formed. These were important to local fauna and were also exploited by PaleoIndians inhabiting the valley.
Photographer: Lee Allison
Photo Date: February 2011