The Only Place on Earth Where You Can Dig for Hourglass-Shaped Selenite Sits in Rural Oklahoma

The Great Salt Plains, Oklahoma

The Great Salt Plains is the only place in America where you can dig up unique hourglass-shaped selenite crystals. This 11,000-acre salt flat looks like a snow-covered desert in summer, complete with a salty lake where you can’t sink. Plus, you get to keep whatever crystals you find.

You Can Only Find These Crystals Here

The hourglass selenite crystals of the Great Salt Plains are truly one-of-a-kind in the world. They get their unique shape when sand and clay particles get trapped in the middle while the crystal grows.

You’ll find these crystals just below the crusty salt surface, where underground water rich in minerals flows through sandy soil. While most crystals are between 1.5 to 3 inches long, some lucky people have found crystals up to 7.7 cm in size.

Native Americans Used These Plains for Salt

Many Native American tribes, including the Osage, Cherokee, Kiowa, and Wichita would travel long distances to gather salt from these plains. They collected the salt by extracting them from soil and sand. Different tribes agreed to keep this area peaceful so everyone could harvest salt safely.

Tools found in the area show that Native Americans used tools for hunting and salt gathering, as well as evidence of past settlement and use of the area. This created important trading routes through Oklahoma.

A WWII Bombing Range Hidden in Oklahoma

The Great Salt Plains in Oklahoma played an unexpected role during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the U.S. Army Air Corps used the vast, flat salt flats as a bombing and gunnery range, making it an ideal training site for bomber crews from Oklahoma City, Enid, Pratt, and Dodge City.

In addition to bombing exercises, troops were trained to recognize chemical agents like mustard gas. Today, remnants of this military past, including unexploded ordnance, can still be found. The Army Corps of Engineers continues to review the area for safety, while the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge now welcomes visitors for birdwatching and crystal digging.

Animals Here Can Live in Super Salty Water

Special types of tiger beetles and brine flies thrive in the salt plains’ harsh environment. These insects can have high tolerance for salinities. Tough plants grow in The Great Salt Plains like saltgrass, pickleweed, alkali bulrush, and Olney three-square bulrush.

The plains are also an important rest stop for over 300 kinds of birds, including waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds with the rare species like Whooping Cranes and American.

The Plains Make Their Own Salt Every Day

Underground water flows through ancient salt deposits and brings dissolved minerals to the surface. When this water reaches the surface, the hot Oklahoma sun makes the water evaporate, leaving salt crystals behind.

This natural process creates about 2,310 to 3,300 tons of salt each day during the hottest part of summer. Some spots in the plains have water that’s saltier than the ocean, creating interesting patterns that show up best after it rains.

The Plains Change Color Through the Year

Spring brings patches of pink to the white salt crust from special bacteria that live there. When summer arrives, green algae appear in the mineral-rich pools, adding new colors to the landscape.

In the morning, bits of crystal on the surface sparkle like fresh snow in the sunlight. After rainstorms, pools of water form perfect mirrors that reflect the sky, creating double images of clouds and horizon.

When and How to Dig for Crystals

The best time to dig for crystals is from April 1st to October 15th when the ground is just right. Try to go early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the bright glare from the sun bouncing off the salt.

Pack a shovel, buckets, lots of water, and good sun protection – the white salt reflects almost all of the sunlight that hits it. The crystal digging area is accessible via 66003 Garvin Road, Cherokee, OK 73728. You can collect up to 10 pounds and one large cluster of crystals per day.

Swim and Explore at Great Salt Plains Lake

There’s a designated swimming area at Sandy Beach Recreation Area in Salt Plains State Park that offers a refreshing spot to cool off. Beyond swimming, visitors can enjoy birdwatching, hiking, camping, and fishing, all while taking in the park’s unique salt flats and semi-salty waters.

The park features campsites, cabins, picnic areas, boat ramps, and fishing docks. For camping reservations, call (580) 626-4731. To learn about crystal digging or the wildlife refuge, contact (580) 626-4794. Whether you want to swim, explore, or unwind, this hidden gem has something for everyone!

Signs of an Ancient Ocean

Right under the salt crust, you can see wave patterns frozen in stone from millions of years ago, when this was all underwater. These marks were made by waves in the ancient Permian Sea.

The deepest layers of salt match the deepest parts of the old seabed. In some places, you can even find fossils from sea creatures that used to swim here long ago.

How the Plains Handle Extreme Weather

Summer heat creates mirages that make the white salt plains look wavy, like water. While the surface can get as hot as 100°F (38°C), it stays cooler just inches below where the crystals form.

The way temperature changes from top to bottom helps create the crystals. To cope with the heat, many animals that live here are most active at night during the hottest months.

How Life Survives in the Salt

Bacteria in the plains survive by accumulating compatible solutes or inorganic ions to maintain osmotic balance, and by having specialized membranes and ion efflux systems.

Local insects have special glands that help them get rid of extra salt, and killer birds build their nests on higher spots to keep their eggs safe from sudden floods. These clever adaptations show how plants and animals can survive in tough conditions.