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Simpson Desert Coral

Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 10:58

Ando79

Sorry if this has been asked before, but on a trip though the desert this year I noticed some coral like fragments exposed on the surface of some sand dunes, usually locally abundant. Does anyone know what they are? They look for all money like broken up pieces of coral.
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AnswerID: 207523   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 11:12

Dave198 replied:

I can't speak with any authority Ando as I haven't been there, but I would suspect maybe pieces of gypsum crystals.
Gypsum is reasonably common in sandy environments. The crystals can be clear or many other colours.
Near where I live we can find them varying from nearly clear, through to nearly white and through to the deep red of the surrounding sand.
They take all sorts of forms.
Do a google on gypsum and see if you recognise any of the shapes.
Dave
Reply 1 of 10
FollowupID: 467451   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 12:09

Ando79 posted:

Yeah you're probably right. It doesn't look like the gypsum we put on fields up here to help break up the clay, but it could be another form.
FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 467460   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 12:41

Dave198 posted:

The ceilings and interior walls (gyprock) of most houses are gypsum as well, but that is just another form.
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 467497   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 16:11

Member - Davoe (Nullagine) posted:

yet another form is Gypssum dunes you find around saltlakes - very finre powder with no bottom if you drive on a bare gypsom dune dont expect to get out reeeel soon
you dont need to leave perth to go bush
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You dont need to leave Perth to go bush
FollowUp 3 of 3
AnswerID: 207525   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 11:19

Notso replied:

Most of the inland of Aus was a sea at some stage so it wouldn't be too surprising of there were bits of Coral around.

Reply 2 of 10
FollowupID: 467549   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 20:03

Member - Oldplodder (QLD) posted:

Interesting that Sturt had the right idea, was just a few thousand years too late.

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John C - aka Oldplodder
In touring mode, the way it should be.
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FollowupID: 467554   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 20:08

Notso posted:

Yep, some bloke reckons we should flood it again with water from the top end as most of it is still below mormal sea level.

Then we could dig a channel South out through SA and the Gulf. Make a nice sort of Riviera in the middle EH

FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 207529   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 11:22

Scubaroo replied:

There's coral fossils mixed throughout the sand in NSW at Lake Mungo NP - so it could easily have been fossils you saw.
Reply 3 of 10
AnswerID: 207532   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 11:26

equinox replied:

Remnants of lightning strikes??
Near Hastys Grave
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Outcrop west of Hastys Grave...
Reply 4 of 10
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AnswerID: 207535   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 12:03

Member - MUZBRY (VIC) replied:



Gday
I'll go with Dave on this one,,,more likley Gipsum ,,looks like coral in its formation..
About 1 hr past Huggets Crossing
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MUZBRY
Reply 5 of 10
AnswerID: 207536   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 12:05

Notso replied:

Could be fuzed particles from where the aliens landed to take Aussie tourists captive to perform strange experiments on
Reply 6 of 10
FollowupID: 467452   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 12:12

Member - MUZBRY (VIC) posted:



Gday nutso...sorry i spelt that wrong.....
Let me know when they are coming next and i will send my son ..............
About 1 hr past Huggets Crossing
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MUZBRY
FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 467455   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 12:17

Notso posted:

Mate, if he's anything like mine, theyve already got at him??
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 467473   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 13:36

Member - Duncs posted:

If he's anything like mine they won't take him.

Duncs
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Content with where I am but looking for somwhere else to go. Pic 1 Eric the Emu at home Pic 2 camped on Cooper Cr
FollowUp 3 of 3
AnswerID: 207538   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 12:19

Member - Stephen L (SA) replied:

Hi Ando79,
What part of the desert did you see these formations. Was this in the area near the Knolls? or on one of the many salt clay pans?

In the Knolls area there is a lot of gypsum in the area, being white in colour, being either exposed or just under the surface of the sand. The only other area very similar to that of the Knolls that we have come across is an area approx 150kms north of the Knolls and well out of the way for the normal Simpson Desert Trip. When you pick up a large lump, of say 8" diameter, it will crumble in your hands.

Stephen

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Reply 7 of 10
FollowupID: 467465   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 13:00

Ando79 posted:

On the French Line, after the rig road turn off and towards Birdsville, before you get to Poepells corner from memory.

It's definately calcium carbonate as I just dropped it into conc HCL and it gave off CO2.

FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 207540   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 12:34

Member - Davoe (Nullagine) replied:

there a re fossalized tree roots around Elliston which could look a bit like coral
you dont need to leave perth to go bush
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You dont need to leave Perth to go bush
Reply 8 of 10
AnswerID: 207560   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 14:43

Richard W (NSW) replied:

A few years ago on the way to Birdsville just after Poeples Corner we came across Gypcrete deposits in the riverbed.
Awaba
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Richard
Reply 9 of 10
AnswerID: 207586   Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 at 16:53

Member - Andrew W (SA) replied:

I think it is the gypcrete idea ... plants grow through this highly salty environment and the moist setting of the roots draws water and salts which dry out and set like concrete.

The hot wind blows the plant to extinction, roots dry up and wither to nothing but the surrounding concrete like dry salt stays.

The wind blows some more and the sand blows away leaving these coral-like, stallegmite thingamees.

I don't think it is a pre-history thing ... I think they are largely modern.

They crunch under your feet and make for quite an interesting landscape. Perhaps i'll put up a shot two.

I have seen them in coastal areas too, as well as Great Victoria Desert, Mungo as was mentioned by someone else, Nullabor and Simpson.

The kids picked the biggest one to bring home (I'm sure this was technically illegal) from Twilight Cove general vacinity, but they fell to bits on the Anne Beadell.

Cheers
Andrew.
Andrew Weller
Reply 10 of 10