(36°41'52.68"N, 99°8'51.72"W)
Gypsum Cave, Permian Blaine Formation.
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| Location: |
10km South of Freedom, Hwy 50.
(36°41'52.68"N, 99°8'51.72"W) |
| Open: | All year daily 8-17. [2006] |
| Fee: | Adults USD 8, Children (6-12) USD 5, Children (0-5) free, Seniors (62+) USD 6. [2006] |
| Classification: |
Gypsum Cave, Permian Blaine Formation.
|
| Light: | electric |
| Dimension: | L=1,200m. |
| Guided tours: | D=60min, L=800m, T=10°C. |
| Bibliography: | Arthur J. Myers, Arrellm. Gibson, Bryan P. Glass, and Carol R. Patrick (1994): Guide to Alabaster Cavern and Woodward County, Oklahoma [revised edition]. Guidebook 15 of the Oklahoma Geological Survey, 38 pages, 41 figures. 1969; 7th printing, 1994. $1.00. |
| Address: |
Alabaster Caverns State Park, Route 1, Box 32, Freedom, OK 73842-9618, Tel: +1-580-621-3381, Fax: +1-580-621-3572,
Toll Free in US 1-800-654-8240, in Oklahoma City 405-521-2464 E-mail: |
| Last update: | $Date: 2008/07/01 20:32:13 $ |
| 1898 | first recorded exploration. | |
| 1939 | the land was bought by Charles Grass. | |
| 1953 | Grass sold the land to the state of Oklahoma for $34,000. | |
| JUN-2004 | closed for the installation of a new lighting system. | |
| OCT-2004 | reopened. |
This is one of the most unusual show caves of the United States, as it is the only gypsum cave open to the public!
Gypsum caves are typically rather big, and so the first room of Alabaster Caverns has 60 m in diameter and is 23 m high. The tour leads from the entrance in a rock cliff, overlooking a canyon, through huge rooms to the ground of a sinkhole, where the roof of the cave collapsed.
Being a gypsum cave, Alabaster Caverns has no formations as known form limestone caves. The special feature of this cave are selenite crystals, the crystallized form of gypsum, which are rather impressive. The walls are covered with this glass-like mineral up to 50 cm thick, and single crystals of 35 cm length are found.
Gypsum is used in the manufacture of wallboard and plasters. Oklahoma is the largest producer of gypsum in the United States, it is mined from the Blaine Formation. The best places to see the gypsum are Roman Nose State Park and Glass Mountains State Park, both located along the Blaine escarpment.
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