Great Salt Plains State Park

Scientists believe that salt was deposited during repeated water-level rises of a shallow sea millions of years ago. The supply of salt is kept intact by saline groundwater that flows just a few feet below the surface. When the water evaporates, a layer of salt remains on the surface.

4 feet

Open April 1 – October 15, daily. For information and map, please click here. From the Great Salt Plains State Park: Eight miles south on State Hwy 38 to Jet, OK. Six miles west of Jet on State Hwy 64 (look for a sign).

Visitors can take their pick of activities in the park, such as swimming in Great Salt Plains Lake or trekking along bike trails. You can also bring your canoe or kayak and enjoy a trip around the lake viewing the many migratory birds that pass through the area.

Visitors can cool off by wading in the shallow waters of Great Salt Plains Lake,which is about half as salty as the ocean. Activities: Birdwatching and Crystal Digging at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, Equestrian Trails, Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Swimming.

Make sure you bring buckets, shovels and clothes you don’t mind getting very dirty, salty and sandy. Also bring plenty of sunscreen and wear it! There is absolutely no shade out there, and the reflection from the salt and sand can cause severe sunburns!

Are pets allowed? Pets must be on a leash or in your vehicle. Releasing any animal (wildlife or unwanted pets) on Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is illegal and subject to a fine.

The Great Salt Plains

Bring lots of water, more than you think you’ll need. Pack a lunch and snacks. The clothes you wear to dig in will most likely be stained with the iron in the soil. Wear old clothes you don’t mind ruining.

Amethyst Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

• Hiddenite, North Carolina.
• Murfreesboro, Arkansas.
• Spruce Pine, North Carolina.
• Franklin, North Carolina.
• Philipsburg, Montana.
• Amelia, Virginia.
• Virgin Valley, Nevada.
• Denio, Nevada.

6 Places You Can Collect Your Own Crystals

• Emerald Hollow Mine, North Carolina.
• Craters of Diamonds State Park, Arkansas.
• Jade Cove, California.
• Graves Mountain, Georgia.
• Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine, North Carolina.
• Wegner Quartz Crystal Mine, Arkansas.

Beach gemstones, are often a great surprise for beachcombers. The beach gemstones in the picture above are semi-precious beach pebbles (agates and amethyst) which were carried ashore by the waves. There is an incredible variety of beach stone gems that could be found while beach combing for shells.

Tell-Tale Signs of a Geode

1. Geodes are usually spherical, but they always have a bumpy surface.
2. Geodes will sometimes have loose material inside, which can be heard when shaking the rock.
3. Geodes are usually lighter than their size would indicate since the interior doesn’t contain any material.

According to Answers.com, the value of a geode “… Large amethyst geodes can go for thousands. Baseball sized geodes with non-spectacular quartz or calcite crystals can be purchased for $4-$12. Geodes with uncommon minerals that are sold on mineral auction sites range in price from $30-$500.

Rare geodes can be filled with beautiful blue gem silica, pink rhodochrosite, spectacular opal with vivid play-of-color or other rare materials. From the outside most geodes look like common rocks, but when they are opened the sight can be breathtaking.

Geodes are found throughout the world, but the most concentrated areas are located in the deserts. Volcanic ash beds, or regions containing limestone, are common geode locations. There are many easily accessible geode collecting sites in the western United States, including in California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada.