The largest natural crystals on Earth have been discovered

[M.D. Holloway]

The largest natural crystals on Earth have been discovered in two caves within a silver and zinc mine near Naica, in Chihuahua, Mexico, according to mine officials. Reaching lengths of 50 feet, the clear, faceted crystals are composed of selenite, a crystalline form of the mineral gypsum.







The Naica Mine of Chihuahua, Mexico, is a working mine that is known for its extraordinary crystals. Naica is a lead, zinc and silver mine in which large voids have been found, containing crystals of selenite (gypsum) as large as 4 feet in diameter and 50 feet long. The chamber holding these crystals is known as the Crystal Cave of Giants, and is approximately 1000 feet down in the limestone host rock of the mine. The crystals were formed by hydrothermal fluids emanating from the magma chambers below. The cavern was discovered while the miners were drilling through the Naica fault, which they were worried would flood the mine. The Cave of Swords is another chamber in the Naica Mine, containing similar large crystals.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Very cool.

Any dilithium?

[M.D. Holloway]

In April 2000, brothers Eloy and Javier Delgado found what experts believe are the world’s largest crystals while blasting a new tunnel 1,000 feet down in the silver and lead Naica Mine of southern Chihuahua. Forty-year-old Eloy climbed through a small opening into a 30- by 60-foot cavern choked with immense crystals. "It was beautiful, like light reflecting off a broken mirror," he says.




He said that the sight was beautiful “…like light reflecting off a broken mirror”. The translucent crystals lie pitched atop one another, as though moonbeams suddenly took on weight and substance. One month later, another team of Naica miners found an even larger cavern adjacent to the first one.



As a professional photographer who specializes in environmentally difficult, narrow and wet canyons worldwide, it was almost impossible to obtain clear photographs even using every trick and technique I know, because of the extreme ambient environment. These crystals are probably stable, as the temperature in the cave is over 150 degrees Fahrenheit with 100% humidity. In other words, these structures are enveloped in steam.

[M.D. Holloway]

The smaller of the two caves, which is about the size of two-bedroom apartment, is 100 Fahrenheit. The large chamber, which Fisher describes as the size of a Cathedral, is 150 F. Both are located approximately 1200 feet below the surface.





The largest previously known crystals were found in the nearby Cave of the Swords, part of the same mine system. Some of these are now on display at the Smithsonian Institution. The local government and mine owners hope to avoid removing any of the new discoveries for museum displays or private collections, Fisher said.

[IROC]

Some of that looks like kryptonite...

[M.D. Holloway]

While the mine company is currently limiting visitation of the caves to scientific experts, mineral hunters have destroyed locks and broken into the chambers twice since they were first opened by mining equipment last April. One man was killed when he attempted to chop out a gigantic crystal that fell from the ceiling and pinned him.”The heat did him in” according to Fisher.






"We need more onsite protection of mine caves," said geologist Carol A. Hill, co-author of the book Cave Minerals of the World, who calls the new discoveries "by far the largest selenite crystals I have ever heard of."

Hill applauds the tourism plan. "Without it, the mining company would probably destroy the caves. Museums have enough crystals," she said. "It's important to preserve discoveries like this where they occur." The mining company plans to air-condition the caves before opening them to the public next year, Fisher said. He adds that reducing the heat gradually will not harm the crystals.






Officials of the Penoles Company, which owns the mine, kept the discoveries secret out of concern about vandalism. Not many people, however, would venture inside casually: the temperature hovers at 150 degrees, with 100 percent humidity. A person can stay inside the cave for only six to ten minutes before becoming disoriented.

These mountains are 200 million year old limestone massifs hosting networks of caves crossed by very deep hot and mineralized thermal waters. When these waters reached the relatively colder and closer to the surface environments they deposited much of their salt content as lead,zinc and silver .

Groundwater in these caves, rich with sulfur from the adjacent metal deposits, began dissolving the limestone walls, releasing large quantities of calcium. This calcium, in turn, combined with the sulfur to form crystals on a scale never before seen by humans.

*In addition to 4-foot diameter crystal columns 50 feet in length, the cavern contains row upon row of shark-tooth-shaped formations up to 3 feet high, which are set at odd angles throughout. This crystal form of the mineral gypsum, is known as selenite, named after Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon.





When Naica's ores are no longer viable, the mine is closed and the pumping is stopped, then the caves will be submerged - and the crystals will start growing again. The only reason humans can get in the caves at all is because of the ongoing pumping operations that keep them clear of water.

A forest of crystals, the largest on the Planet. An unreal world, beyond imagination, beyond a dream. A cave with a temperature of 50° C and 100% humidity; an infernal place, where man can survive just a few minutes. Still mostly unexplored.

[sammyg2]

150 degrees with 100% humidity? Is that in the cave that the men are standing in? if so I gotta call BS. A human being could only stand those conditions for a few seconds.

[M.D. Holloway]

Sammy,
Check out the pics with the guys in orange are in the big cave. The smaller cave is only 100F - a little more tolerable

Those temps and RH would be rough for sure.

[Superman]

While working in a plywood mill, I used to hose out a veneer dryer every Friday. The dryer was the size of a very large two-story house. 350 degrees inside. At the top was a small metal room with a large squirrel cage fan and some heating elements. The ceiling was not high enough to stand up. But the real problem was air to breathe. Near the ceiling, the air was useless. The air withing three feet of the floor did contain enough oxygen. The fire hose I used was, no doubt, supersaturating the air. This environment was probably similar.

[Noah930]

Incredible pictures, nonetheless. (Barring any photoshopping.)

[M.D. Holloway]

I do not believe these were photochopped - they came from a mining presentation that was done at a conference. One thing that some of you may know when dealing with underground miners, you do not BS them.

[Aerkuld]

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

The largest natural crystals on Earth have been discovered in two caves within a silver and zinc mine near Naica, in Chihuahua, Mexico, according to mine officials...

Chihuahua - amazing, the coolest, biggest crystals and the stupidest, smallest dogs!

Those are really great. I can see why people think they are photoshopped, it just looks surreal andthere is nothing except the people to give you any sense of scale. It would be amazing to see those.

[on-ramp]

that looks like Superman's place

[dhoward]

No. There's no closet full of dresses...

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by dhoward

No. There's no closet full of dresses...

Quote of the week! Good one!

[masraum]

This is actually really old news, at least a year old. All of the pics are real except for the last which looks like it's out of a video game. This is also not the only cave with these types of crystals in the world. There's another set in Chile and some in Spain IIRC.

Here's another link, but if you do a search for naica cave or naice crystals you'll find more info.
http://giantcrystals.strahlen.org/america/naica.htm

[rammstein]

The very last picture is not photoshopped, but rather a screenshot from World of Warcraft. Thats the crystal cave, located in the Un'Goro Crater.

Cool spot, but not real.

The rest of the pics look real to me.

[M.D. Holloway]

tough crowd

[Z-man]

Unbelievable -- a Mexican named Elroy.

The caves look cool too.

-Z

[livi]

Nature still has a few surprises left. This one is beautiful. Fantastic pics!