© Speleoresearch & Films / Oscar Necoechea.
Spectacular freely developed gypsum crystals up to 12 m, possibly the largest in the world
Cave of the Crystals or Giant Crystal Cave (Spanish: Cueva de los Cristales) is a cave connected to the Naica Mine 300 metres (980 ft) below the surface in Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico.
The main chamber contains giant selenite crystals (gypsum, CaSO4·2 H2O), some of the largest natural crystals ever found.
The cave’s largest crystal found to date is 11 m (36 ft) in length, 4 m (13 ft) in diameter and 55 tons in weight.
The cave is extremely hot with air temperatures reaching up to 58 °C (136 °F) with 90 to 99 percent humidity. The cave is relatively unexplored due to these factors. Without proper protection people can only endure approximately ten minutes of exposure at a time.
Giant gypsum crystals up to 12 m in the lower levels of Naica mine
© Speleoresearch & Films / Oscar Necoechea.
The Naica gypsum crystals in a nutshell:
- Mineralogy: Gypsum, possibly some sulfide minerals
- Crystal Size: mostly freestanding prismatic crystals up to 12 m
- Geology & Origin: Possibly hydrothermal replacement of limestone by sulphuric acids, more research is certainly warranted
- Current status: Active mine, access to upper crystal caves for tourists possible, access to lower crystal caves remain restricted
- Remarks: Spectacular freely developed (!) gypsum crystals up to 12 m, possibly the largest in the world
Subject Related Links:
http://www.naica.com.mx/english/index.htm
Do you know what the largest crystal actually is and if so can you tell me what it is because I am really intressted and I study crystals but I cant find the largest and im dying to know. Please email me if you can find the largest crystal because even my professaor will like to know
Kind Regards Rose Dawson
p.ps. Not related to the Rose dawson from the titanic but close.