South Wash, Fremont River, Wayne County, Utah, USAi

Regional Level Types
South Wash	Wash
Fremont River	River
Wayne County	County
Utah	State
USA	Country

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PhotosMapsSearchMineralogy

These mammoth crystals were removed from an isolated deposit in the stretch of desert-land known as the South Wash, in Wayne County, Utah; the discovery was made in the fall of 1892, and the work of removal began six months later. The crystals occurred as the lining of a huge geode which had been
exposed to view by the weathering of the sandstone matrix. Over fifty tons of crystals were taken from the deposit, and of these, specimens are now to be found in many prominent museums of this country and Europe. The first announcement of the discovery appeared in 1893.

The crystals occur in a cave, and this is inclosed by a thick shell forming a mound which stands in relief on the side of a hill bounding the Wash. The mound is somewhat of an egg-shape, 35 feet in length east and west, 10 feet in breadth, and of an average height of 20 feet from the ground on the lower side, all outside measurements. This selenite mass seems to have been left exposed by the weathering of the loosened, friable sand and clay, of which the hill whereon the mound is situated is composed. The mound consists entirely of selenite, the outside having a somewhat battered and roughened appearance from the action of the wind-driven sand; yet the whole exterior is made up of the exposed ends and sides of crystals, and in the sunlight the formation glistens with indescribable beauty.

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

Mineral List

1 valid mineral.