The Crystal Caves Of Chihuahua
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The Mexican State of Chihuahua has become quite famous, thanks to its namesake dog. However, it is also home to one of the most amazing Crystal Caves - Unlike any other found in the world.
The cave is located in a working mine, 1000ft below the ground in the Naica mountain which lies in the Chihuahan desert. It was found in 2000 by two brothers, Juan and Pedro Sanchez, who were drilling a mining tunnel, when they stumbled upon it. Knowing they had found something quite amazing, the duo reported it to the engineer, who quickly re-routed the tunnel, so that the cave could be preserved.
Often called The Sistine Chapel of Crystals, the cave contains over 170 of the largest natural crystals ever found, with the tallest one measuring about 37 feet and weighing in excess of 55 tons. The entire cave is covered with the shiny ice-like crystal beams jutting from the cave sides, as well as the floor.
After years of research, scientists were able to solve the mystery of how the crystals here grew so large. The Naica Mountain was formed as a result of volcanic activity about 26 million years ago. The magma, saturated with a mineral called anhydrite dissolved with the gypsum (the mineral which the crystals are made of) to produce tiny crystals. Because the temperature in the cave is consistently warm and stable, the crystals thrived and grew to these amazing levels.
The ice-like crystals make these caves look deceptively cool. In reality the temperatures here exceed 112 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity is 80-90%. It is so warm that the mineworkers who visit, have to wear protective suits and carry backpacks of ice-cooled air. However, this and the fact that it takes twenty minutes to get to the caves, has not deterred would-be thieves from trying to steal some of the crystal. In order to preserve them, the authorities had to construct a thick-iron gate outside the caves.
Scientists believe that there are many other caves like this, just waiting to be discovered. Meanwhile we have the Cueva des los Christales or Cave of Crystals that definitely ranks amongst one of the most amazing natural wonders of the World today.
Sources: crystallnks.com, nationalgeographic.com
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99 Comments
- OMGabout 14 yearsum...OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those are awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They areBEAUTIFULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(:(:(:(:(:(:(: Iwish I could be a crystal so big and without worries(sigh).......
- lauren k.about 14 yearsThese caves are gorgeous! They are very big! Its surprising to me that they were accidentally found! they sound very cool. If you look at them all together in the cave in the cave they look a lot like icicles in an igloo! I can't believe that the miners found one that weights 55 tons.
- lauren k.about 14 yearsMexico's Crystal Caves were discovered accidentally when miners were digging a tunnel underground, they found huge crystals! This cave is about 1,000 feet under the earth's surface, and it is under the Naica Mountains. The cave temperature is almost always 112 degrees fahrenheit. It was founded by two brothers named Juan and Pedro Sanchez. Mexico's crystal discovery has a about 170 of the worlds largest crystals. The largest crystal weighed weighs about 55 tons!! It is about 37 feet tall! The cave that holds these wonderful sites is located under the Nacia Mountains. Those mountains are in the Chihuahian Desert.
- Sera G.about 14 yearsThe crystal caves of chihuahua are pretty stable. A lot of the people say that the caves are deceptively cool. The people that work in the caves say the caves are really hot and humid.
- Kate C.about 14 yearsThe Caves actually were discovered by two men in the year 2000. Two brothers found it while driling away below Mexico. They found the caves to be 1000 ft. below the surface. The men were drilling until they came upon this magical beauty.
- Kate C.about 14 yearsThe Crystal Caves of Chihuahua They have fascinating unusual crystals that stick out on the cave wall- and even the floor! They are definently rare and unusual crystals. Some may notice that the crystals grew up to amazing levels, it's because of Nalca Mountain. It was formed as a result of Volcanic Activity about 26 millions years ago The magma which was saturated with a mineral known as anhydrite dissolved with the gypsum to produce tiny crystals. The crystals also thrived and grew up to large levels because the temperature in the cave is constinely warm and stable. The reality temperature exceeds 112 degrees Farenhight, and the humidity exceeds up to 80 and 90%. Sice it's so hot, workers and miners have to wear special protective suits an have ice-cooled air. The most important characteristic is the unusual odd-shaped crystlas that stick out on the walls and the floors. The Crystal Caves of Mexico Their most important characteristic is also the unusual odd-shaped crystals, Their shiny-ice like beams emerge from all sides of the cave- and floors, gives the cave an icy, shine to the underground heaven. The Queens Eye cave is also very important in the Crystal Caves of Mexico. The Queens Eye cave got it's name from it's eye-like appearence due to the way the light shines in on it. Both of these Crystal Caves of very important to our economy for riches, entertainment, and just knowing that there is a place in this world where behold it lays magical beauty, right at our fingertips.
- anna Dabout 14 yearsMexico's Crystal Caves was discovered in 2000, by miners drilling a tunnel.The cave lies about 1000ft. below the surface of the Naica Mountains, two hours south of Chihuahua. with the tallest one measuring about 37 feet and weighing in excess of 55 tons.
- Marta Mabout 14 yearsMexico's Crystal Caves and The Crystal Caves of Chihuahua were both discovered in 2000 in Mexico. Mexico's Crystal Cave was discovered accidentally when miners were drilling a tunnel. Mexico's Crystal Caves is home to over 170 of the crystals ever found. The tallest crystal is measured about 37 feet and weighs about 55 tons. The shiny -ice beams come together from all sides of the cave. The Crystal Caves of Chihuahua was found by two brothers, Juan and Pedro Sanchez ,when mining a tunnel,when they stumbled upon it. The ice-like crystals make these caves look very fascinating. The temperature in the cave is 112 degrees fahrenheit.The temperature in the cave is constantly warm so it helps the crystals grow to these amazing levels .
- Camryn Sattlerabout 14 yearsI think it is so cool how Mexico's crystal cave was discovered on an accident in 2000 by miners that drilled threw a wall and found the crystal cave. The tallest crystal is 37fft tall and weighs 55tons. That's really heavy! The cave is the largest natural crystal ever found. The crystal cave of chihuahua was found also in 2000 by two brothers named Juan and Pedro Sanchez. They were also mining when they came across this cave of crystals. I think these caves are very similar. This articles were very cool and taught me a bunch about the caves
- Christian C.about 14 yearsThe Crystal Caves are very beautiful. They look like giant wedding rings. I like the fact that they were accidentally found. They look like ice all over! They hold some of the world's largest crystals, which is amazing. I can't believe the largest one is 55 tons!