Salt, Plain and Simple EarthCache
Hidden : 7/1/2010
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:


Can you believe a seven-mile long and three-mile wide ocean of salt exists in the grassy plains of northwestern Oklahoma? Well, believe it.

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, in northern Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, is one of the largest salt flats in North America. Watch this video for more information on the refuge.



Created by continuous sea water flooding millions of years ago, per scientific theory, the area is a unique geological wonder. After flooding, the sea water was unable to recede and it evaporated. The product deposited by the evaporating sea water are the thick layers of salt that make up the over 10,000-acre area known as a saline flat.

Below the salty surface, ground water flows through the mixture of salt and sand to the surface. The water evaporates leaving a crusty by-product with a high salinity.

These saline deposits interact with gypsum and spur the creation of unique crystals.



Taking on the characteristics of their environment, the iron oxide in the salt plain soils give the crystals their chocolate brown color.

Due to the wet soil, sand and clay are trapped in the crystals and form a unique shape. In fact, this area is the only place on earth where this unique shape is found in the crystals.

Crystals measuring seven inches long and clusters weighing up to thirty-eight pounds have been discovered at this site. Also, due to the immense thunderstorms that occur in Oklahoma, large amounts of freshwater fall to the plains. The heavy rainfall converts some of the crystals back to a salt solution until the water evaporates. The cycle of flooding and evaporation generates the crystalization process all over again.



The posted coordinates are at the Visitor's Center, where you can learn more about the area geology and collect the required data. The map shows where the observation towers and crystal-digging areas are located. Watch this video for digging tips in the salt plains.




To log this earthcache, please visit the site and submit your answers to the following questions:

1. What is the scientific name of the crystals formed at this site?

2. What is the unique shape, formed by the sand and clay, found in the crystals?

OPTIONAL: Photos of yourself or surroundings will be met with giddy earthcache-geek excitement.


FTF honors go to BliminOnion!

Resources and credits:
Hourglass Productions. "Great Salt Plains Wildlife Refuge" Online Posting. YouTube, 1 Aug. 2006. Web. 14 Oct. 2011. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRW50vv9UWw&feature=related].
Hourglass Productions. "Let's Go Crystal Digging" Online Posting. YouTube, 30 Jul. 2006. Web. 14 Oct. 2011
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qYDZ3ehNz8]
Jason Perry. Great Salt Plains near Jet. Digital image. F**k Yeah Oklahoma. ©Tumblr, Inc., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2011. [http://fyoklahoma.tumblr.com/page/7].
Rob Lavinsky. Gypsum. Digital image. irocks.com. ©1996-2010 The Arkenstone, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2011.
[http://www.irocks.com/render.html?species=Gypsum&page=9].
Salt Plains Map. Digital image. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 1 Jul. 2010. [http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/oklahoma/saltplains/images/mapfast.jpg]
Placed by a member of D.A.W.G.S.
Denton Area Wayward Geocache Seekers

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