Rainbow Gardens Gypsum EarthCache
Hidden : 2/28/2008
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
5 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


Access to this location is off of the Rainbow Gardens Road, reached from Lake Mead Boulevard. You will need a 4-wheel drive vehicle with good tires, and this is reflected in the terrain rating. A tape measure or ruler will also be needed to measure veins of gypsum at this site.

Gypsum is a soft mineral composed of hydrated calcium sulfate, and is formed through a process called evaporative deposition. In this process, salts precipitate out of very concentrated solutions and settle to the bottom of the lake or sea in which they are formed. Most of the gypsum found in this area is in the form of selenite crystals, which formed within clay lenses. Gypsum found near Las Vegas is thought to have formed in both marine environments (such as the Blue Diamond gypsum deposit), and desert playa lakes (as in the PABCO deposits to the northeast of here).

At this location, the Rainbow Gardens Road passes through a wash in which several veins of gypsum have been exposed. Concrete was placed in the wash to slow erosion, but as you can see, the force of water during flow events has just gone around the concrete and increased the erosion by eating away the gypsum.

South of this location, on the Rainbow Gardens Road, is evidence of the White Eagle Gypsum Mine, an early Las Vegas area gypsum mining concern. The gypsum beds in this area are from the Miocene-aged Horse Spring Formation (5-10 million years old), and the Triassic-aged Moenkopi Formation (about 240 million years old).

When you reach the coordinates for this Earthcache, park your vehicle at the edge of the road and walk down the wash. The gypsum veins are identified by being the white, crystalline material in the bottom of the wash. Using your measuring tape or ruler, measure the width of 10 of the gypsum veins.

To receive credit for this Earthcache, send me an email with the answers to the following questions: 1.) What is the average width of the gypsum veins in this wash? 2.) What do you think is the purpose of the rock which is piled about 300’ to the south of this location?

In addition, take a picture with you and your GPS receiver with Rainbow Gardens in the background. Post your picture with your log when you log your find.

The above information was compiled from the following sources:

Beffort, B. 2006. Afoot and Afield Las Vegas & Southern Nevada.

Castor, B.S., and Ferdock, G.C. 2003. Minerals of Nevada. Online at: (visit link)

Tingley, J.V. et al. Geologic Tours in the Las Vegas Area. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 16.

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