The second photo has oh so obvious cross-beds.

Note on this thread about impacts. Sulfates are rather incompetent rocks. Much of the spactacular landscapes in the Arches-Canyonlands area of Utah come from the lateral and upward motion of salts and gypsum once overburden pressure is applied. An impact on this strata would be much different than basalt.

I'm still thinking about hotsprings deposits for the outcrop, but, given the cross beds, a gypsum dune deposit seems more likely. Look into the gypsum sands of the White Sands National Monument in New Mexico.

I'm on the road, more thoughts next in a few days...