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Great Salt Plains, Jet, Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, USAi
Regional Level Types
Great Salt PlainsPlains
JetTown
Alfalfa CountyCounty
OklahomaState
USACountry

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PhotosMapsSearch
Type:
Mindat Locality ID:
4056
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:4056:6
GUID (UUID V4):
cf9bb57b-0e33-4650-9bf4-8cdefc9d01f0


Great Salt Plains Lake is a reservoir located within the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma in the United States named because of the salt flats in the area and for the Salt Fork Arkansas River, which is dammed to form the lake. It is notable for the variety of birds that are attracted to Ralstin Island (not open to the public) and also for the selenite crystals that can be collected along the shoreline. Recent droughts, most notably that of 2011, have had an adverse effect on the future of the lake.

A study made in 1931 for the United States Army Corps of Engineers proposed building a flood control dam in the Great Salt Plains area. Congress authorized its construction in 1936. Design studies began in 1937 and the Corps broke ground for construction in September 1938. The dam was completed in July 1941, with a water capacity of 31,420 acre-feet (38,760,000 m3). The lake covers 9,300 acres (38 km²) and has 91 miles (ca. 146 km) of shoreline. The average depth is 4 feet (1.22 m). The saline content is reportedly one-fourth that of the ocean.

Ralstin Island, created at the same time as the lake, is home to blue heron, great egret and ibis. The island is considered one of the most important colonial bird nesting habitats, and is the largest breeding site in the state for the white-faced ibis. The fish vary from catfish, saugeye (related to the walleye) sandbass and hybrid striped bass.

The State of Oklahoma leased 800 acres (3.2 km²) on August 1, 1958, for a state park.

On the west edge of the lake, visitors can dig for selenite crystals. These crystals feature an hourglass inclusion, which is unique to the Great Salt Plains. 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. This process also plays a role in the formation of selenite crystals that visitors covet.

The lake is subject to periodic mass fish kills, most recently in 2011. During the extreme drought of that year, the average depth decreased to 2 feet (0.61 m). According to John Stahl, northwest fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the lake has grown more shallow since its creation because of silting and agricultural runoff. That and extremely hot, dry summers cause the brine to become more concentrated. Oxygen in the water is mostly consumed by bacteria that break down organic matter in the water, leaving insufficient oxygen to support the fish.

According to officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the future of the lake appears grim if no remedial action is taken. Proposed solutions are:

- Open the dam and allow the lake to flow into the river.
- Dig the silt out of the reservoir, which could cost $5 – 10 million.
- Plug the dam to raise the water level.

There is a law requiring that a non-federal partner help pay for restoration. The Corps regards this as an unlikely event. If no action is taken, the Corps has said that the seafood source will be depleted and the birds will abandon the lake.

Also located along the shores of Great Salt Plains Lake is Great Salt Plains State Park. Recreational opportunities at Great Salt Plains State Park include boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, mountain biking and exploring. The park has RV and tent sites, comfort stations with showers, cabins, picnic sites, group shelters, swimming beach, playgrounds, boat ramps, fishing dock and equestrian trails.

The Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States system of national wildlife refuges. It is located in Alfalfa County in northern Oklahoma, north of Jet (pop. 230), along Great Salt Plains Lake, which is formed by a dam on the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River.

The refuge was established March 26, 1930, by executive order of President Herbert Hoover, and contains 32,080 acres (130 km²) of protected land as habitat to about 312 species of birds and 30 species of mammals. It was designated a national natural landmark in June 1983.

A designated area of the 11,000 acres (45 km²) of salt flats at the refuge has gypsum concentrations high enough to grow selenite, a crystalline form of gypsum. The selenite crystals found there have an hourglass-shaped sand inclusion that is not known to occur in selenite crystals found elsewhere in the world. Digging for crystals is allowed, but only from April 1 through October 15 to protect this vital Whooping Crane habitat.

To help fund a backlog of deferred maintenance and park improvements, the state implemented an entrance fee for this park and 21 others effective June 15, 2020. The fees, charged per vehicle, start at $10 per day for a single-day or $8 for residents with an Oklahoma licence plate or Oklahoma tribal plate. Fees are waived for honourably discharged veterans and Oklahoma residents age 62 & older and their spouses. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all 22 state parks charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state visitors or $60 for Oklahoma residents.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


1 valid mineral.

Detailed Mineral List:

Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
Gypsum var. Selenite
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
References:

Gallery:

CaSO4 · 2H2O Gypsum

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
Gypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
var. Selenite7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
H GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
H Gypsum var. SeleniteCaSO4 · 2H2O
OOxygen
O GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
O Gypsum var. SeleniteCaSO4 · 2H2O
SSulfur
S GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
S Gypsum var. SeleniteCaSO4 · 2H2O
CaCalcium
Ca GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Ca Gypsum var. SeleniteCaSO4 · 2H2O

Fossils

This region is too big or complex to display the fossil list, try looking at smaller subregions.
This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

 
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