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Giant Crystal Cave
SUN OCT 12 9P
A
team of scientists explore a Mexican cave filled with giant crystals;
some of the largest ever discovered. With temperatures near 120 degrees
Fahrenheit, and over 80 per cent humidity, the cave is one of the
deadliest environments on earth.
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/04/photogalleries/giant-crystals-cave/
https://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/giant-crystal-cave-3569/Overview
Sunday 9:00 PM ET - National Geographic Channel
- Giant Crystal Cave
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.
The Naica mine was first discovered by early prospectors in
1794 south of Chihuahua City. They struck a vein of silver at the base
of a range of hills called Naica by the Tarahumara Indians. The origin
in the Tarahumara language seems to mean "a shady place". Perhaps here
in the small canyon there was a grove of trees tucked away by a small
canyon spring.
From that discovery, until around 1900, the primary interest
was silver and gold. Around 1900 large-scale mining began as zinc and
lead became more valuable.
During the Mexican Revolution the mine was producing a great
deal of wealth. Revolutionary troops entered the town and demanded
money from the owners. One of them was assassinated when he refused to
pay, causing the mine to shut down from 1911 to 1922.
Just before the mine was closed, the famous Cave of Swords was
discovered at a depth of 400 feet. Due to the incredible crystals, it
was decided to try to preserve this cave. While many of the crystals
have been collected, this is still a fascinating cave to visit. In one
part there are so many crystals on one of the walls, they appear to be
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 made a truly spectacular discovery. While Naica
miners are accustomed to finding crystals, Juan and Pedro were
absolutely amazed by the cavern that they found. The brothers
immediately informed the engineer in charge, Roberto Gonzalez. Ing.
Gonzalez realized that they had discovered a natural treasure and
quickly rerouted the tunnel. During this phase some damage was done as
several miners tried to remove pieces of the mega-crystals, so the
mining company soon installed an iron door to protect the find. Later,
one of the workers, with the intention of stealing crystals, managed to
get in through a narrow hole. He tried to take some plastic bags filled
with fresh air inside, but the strategy didn't work. He lost
consciousness and later was found thoroughly baked.
When entering the cave our group is issued helmets, lanterns,
rubber boots, and gloves. One must then be driven by truck into the
main mining tunnel called Rampa Sn. Francisco. While the vertical drop
is approximately 1000 feet, the drive is almost a half mile long. The
heat steadily increases and women have been observed to begin
"glowing". The truck stops in front of a concrete wall with a steel
door. The intense heat can prevent brain functioning.
At the end of the tunnel there are three or four steps into the
aperture of the cavern itself. It is in this short tunnel. In this
short distance the temperature and humidity goes from being
uncomfortably warm to literally a blast furnace.
Momentarily, the penetrating heat is forgotten as the crystals
pop into view on the other side of the "Eye of the Queen". The entire
panorama is now lighted and the cavern has a depth and impressive
cathedral-like appearance that was not visible on earlier trips with
just our headlamps.
When inside the great cathedral of crystals, the pressure of
intense heat create a gamut of emotions and perhaps hallucinations. One
can only remain for a short period of time.
Geologists report that these natural crystal formations are
incredibly complex, yet so simple. They have a magical or metaphysical
personality independent of their chemical structures. There is a magma
chamber two to three miles below the mountain and that heat from this
compressed lava travels through the faults up into the area of the
mine. Super heated fluids carry the minerals the miners are seeking as
well as form the crystals. The mine is ventilated; otherwise, it could
not be worked. Some parts, however, are not air-conditioned, such as
the Cave of the Crystals, and there you feel the heat from the magma
deep below. The fluids travel along the Naica fault, enter voids in the
bedrock, and then form entirely natural structures that are not easily
explained scientifically.
In April 2000, the mining company became confident that the
water table on the other side of the fault had been lowered
sufficiently to drill.
When they did this, it is almost as if a magical veil of reality was
breached and an entirely new world was discovered. Two caverns filled
with the Earth's largest crystals were immediately revealed. More
discoveries are expected to be made in this magical kingdom of intense
natural beauty.
Selenite, the gypsum crystal, named after the Greek goddess of the moon, Selene,
due to its soft white light, is said to have many metaphysical and
healing benefits. Selenite powder has been used cosmetically for
thousands of years to enhance one's natural beauty. It is believed that
this crystal assists with mental focus, growth, luck, immunity, and
soothes the emotions.
June 12, 2000 - BBC
A gigantic cave of crystals has been discovered in an old
silver mine in Spain.
The geode, which is eight metres (26ft) long and
crammed full of gypsum prisms, has been put under police
guard to prevent souvenir hunters from raiding the
extraordinary natural phenomenon.
The geologist who announced
the find, Javier Garcia-Guinea,
wants to turn the site into a
tourist attraction.
He told BBC News Online that
up to 10 people could sit
inside the geode - an object
normally small enough to hold
in your hands.
"Bending your body between
the huge crystals is an incredible sensation," he said.
"When I was young I dreamt of flying, but never to go into
a geode internally covered with transparent crystals."
Throughout history, primitive peoples have made use of caves for
shelter, burial, or as religious sites. Since items placed in caves are
protected from the climate and scavanging animals, which means caves
are an archaeological treasure house for learning about indigenous
people.
Cave paintings are of particular interest. One example is the Great
Cave of Niah, in Malaysia which contains evidence of human habitation
dating back 40,000 years. The main cave is one of the largest limestone
caves in the world. The cave system is an important prehistorical site
with human remains dating to 40,000 years ago. Painted Cave has rock
paintings dated at 1200 years. The caves are also well known for the
birds' nest collection.
Caves are also important for geological research because they can
reveal details of past climactic conditions in speleothems and sediment
layers.
The word 'cave' is sometimes a metaphor for the mind, hidden within is sacred knowledge that yearns to be discovered.
Caves around the world contain information in various forms about the
ancient history of planet Earth as if markers in time. Hidden within
caves we find:
- Chambers - Catacombs
- Cuneiform - Ancient Tablets
- Scrolls
- Texts
- Relics linked to ancient folklore that have magical and mystical powers, amulets
- Paleontology - Evidence - Fossils - Mummies
- Extraterrestrial Artifacts
- Interdimensional Portals - Indwell and Outwells of Energies - Electromagnetic Energy Vortexes
https://www.crystalinks.com/sacredcaves.html continues......
