White Sand Dune Field, White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

The dunes in White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, make up the largest gypsum dune field in the world. The white sand dunes are comprised of gypsum crystals, which is rarely found as sand because it is water-soluble. But the Tularosa Basin is surrounded by mountains and there is no direct outlet to the sea for any rain that falls there. Any water eventually drains through the ground leaving the gypsum behind in a crystalline form called selenite.

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The dunes in White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, make up the largest gypsum dune field in the world. The white sand dunes are comprised of gypsum crystals, which is rarely found as sand because it is water-soluble. But the Tularosa Basin is surrounded by mountains and there is no direct outlet to the sea for any rain that falls there. Any water eventually drains through the ground leaving the gypsum behind in a crystalline form called selenite.