Life in the Fast Lane

Buried 1000 feet below the Naica mountain in the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico’s Cueva de los Cristales — known as the Crystal Cave of Giants — is a magnificent natural wonder of the largest crystals of selenite (gypsum) on Earth, up to 4 feet in diameter and 50 feet long, weighing as much as 55 tons. Two miners excavating a new tunnel through the Naica fault made the spectacular discovery in 2000.

The crystals were formed by hydrothermal fluids emanating from the magma chambers below. The Cave of Swords is another chamber in the Naica Mine, containing similar monumental crystals.

The Naica mine was first discovered by early prospectors in 1794 south of Chihuahua City when they struck a vein of silver at the base of a range of hills called Naica by the Tarahumara Indians.

The major interest was silver and gold up to around 1900 when large-scale mining began as zinc and lead became more valuable.

The mine was producing a great deal of wealth during the Mexican Revolution. Revolutionary troops demanded money from the owners and one was assassinated when he refused to pay, which caused a shut-down of the mine from 1911 to 1922.

The renowned Cave of Swords was discovered just before the closure at a depth of 400 feet. Due to the incredible crystals, it was decided to try to preserve the cave. In one part there are so many crystals on one of the walls, they appear like an underwater reef moving in a gentle undulating motion in an ocean current.

In April 2000, brothers Juan and Pedro Sanchez were drilling a new tunnel when they discovered the cave and informed the engineer in charge, Roberto Gonzalez. Gonzalez realized that they had discovered a natural treasure and quickly rerouted the tunnel. Some damage was done during this phase as several miners tried to remove pieces of the mega-crystals, so the mining company installed an iron door to protect the find.

The vertical drop is approximately 1000 feet from the main mining tunnel — called Rampa Sn. Franciscofor — for the near half-mile long drive which ends in front of a concrete wall with a steel door. The heat steadily increases and women have been observed to begin ‘glowing.’

The temperature and humidity goes from being uncomfortably warm to near unbearable from the short tunnel of 3 to 4 steps into the aperture of the cavern itself.

Richard D. Fisher — American consultant for the mining company to develop tourist attractions — said that most people can endure only a few minutes in the caves due to their high temperatures. The smaller of the 2, which is about the size of 2-bedroom apartment is 100 Fahrenheit. The large chamber — which Fisher describes as the size of a Cathedral — is 150 F.

But one quickly forgets about the penetrating heat as the crystals come into view on the other side of the ‘Eye of the Queen.’ The panoramic view of the impressive cathedral-like cavern is now supplied with modern lighting.

It’s said that when inside the paradise of crystals, the pressure of intense heat creates a gamut of emotions and even hallucinations.

Geologists report that these natural crystal formations are simple yet incredibly complex. They have a magical or metaphysical personality independent of their chemical structures. Heat is compressed from a magma chamber 2 to 3 miles below the mountain and the lava travels through the faults up into the area of the mine.

Super heated fluids carry the minerals the miners are seeking and form the crystals. The fluids travel along the Naica fault, enter voids in the bedrock, and then form entirely natural structures that are not easily explained scientifically.

Selenite, the gypsum crystal — named after the Greek goddess of the moon, Selene — is said to have many metaphysical and healing benefits. Selenite powder has been used cosmetically for 1000’s of years to enhance one’s natural beauty. It’s believed that these crystals improve mental focus, growth, luck, immunity, and soothes the emotions.

More discoveries are expected to be made in this magical kingdom of intense natural beauty.

Scientist García-Ruiz thinks he can explain how these marvels acquired their immense form after studying tiny pockets of fluid trapped inside the crystals. He claims the crystals thrived because they were submerged in mineral-rich water with a very narrow, stable temperature range — around 136 degrees Fahrenheit (58 degrees Celsius). At this temperature the mineral anhydrite, which was abundant in the water, dissolved into gypsum, a soft mineral that can take the form of the crystals in the Naica cave.

The researchers’ analysis leads them to believe there are other dramatic caves waiting to be discovered in the Naica mine complex.

“If the theory we propose for the ‘genetic’ mechanisms of the crystals is right, then I would not be surprised if miners find more of these caves in the next few years.” said Juan Manuel Garcia-Ruiz, from the University of Granada, Spain.

Both caves owe their origin to the volcanism which laid down the metal sulphides — the ores — that have proven so valuable.

Bountiful amounts of calcium sulphate would also have been created towards the end of the mineralization process more than 20 million years ago. But in the hot fluids that infused the cracks and cavities in the rock, this calcium sulphate would have taken the form of anhydrite.

Anhydrite has the same chemical formula as gypsum, except that it excludes water. Only as the magma chamber deep under the Naica mountain cooled did the hot fluids above start to fall to a temperature at which anhydrite could switch to gypsum.

Garcia-Ruiz and colleagues say their studies indicate that the Crystal Cave of Giants must have been kept just below the transition temperature for many hundreds of thousands of years.

“The conditions were perfect. By maintaining the temperature just below 58 degrees for a very long time you get a few, very big crystals.” said Garcia-Ruiz.

“You can see that many areas on the cave’s walls are empty; they have no crystals. The walls are red because of the iron oxide. The reason we know this happened for many years is because we studied the fluid inclusions inside the crystals.”

It’s likely the upper Crystal Cave of Giants fell below the transition temperature much more rapidly and consequently grew many, smaller crystals.

The particular crystalline form taken by the gypsum is selenite, known for its translucency. Their future depends on the fate of the mine which is continually pumped to keep the caves clear of water. If 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 begin to grow once more.

“I’ve recommended to the mining company that they try to preserve them and I would like to see Unesco get involved.” explained Garcia-Ruiz. “Later on we should decide whether to keep them available for people to visit and enjoy, or let the natural scenario return.”

Some of the crystals have been 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.

Crystal Cave of Giants – Largest Crystals on the Planet

Sources: Cryatalinks, BBC, and Discovery News. Photos Javier Trueba / Madrid Scientific Films

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