Selenite Crystal Digging CLOSED

The Salt Plains NWR Birding and Crystal Festival is the last weekend of April. Join us in crystal digging contests! View the events page for more information on times and dates.

Crystal digging is permitted from April 1 through October 15, sunrise to sunset. The digging area is closed from October 16th through March 31st, as the entire refuge is designated critical whooping crane habitat. No exceptions will be made to these dates.

When collecting, no special permit is required. Collectors are permitted to remove up to 10 pounds of crystals plus one large cluster for their personal use in any one day. Crystals taken from the refuge cannot be sold, under penalty of law.

Safety Precautions

Once in the digging area, please drive your car only on the prescribed lanes of travel.

Due to the white salt surface, it is easy to get sunburned. Sunglasses and protective clothing are recommended.

How is it Done?

1. Use a shovel to dig a hole about 2 feet deep and 2 feet across until you reach wet sand. You may feel the shovel break through the crystals as it goes down. This cannot be helped as there is no way of predicting exactly where a bed of crystals is located.
2. Allow 2 or 3 inches of water to seep in from the bottom.
3. Use your hand or a container to splash water gently against the sides of the hole. The agitated water will wash the soil away from the crystals.
4. When you find a crystal formation, continue splashing to wash it free of the supporting sand and clay.
5. At this stage of the process, the newly exposed crystals are wet and fragile. Use great care in removing them.
6. After removing crystals from sand, place them where sun and wind will dry them. Egg cartons or other containers may be used for transporting the crystals.

Recommendation:
Bring a change of clothes.