A gigantic cave of crystals has been discovered in an old silver mine in Spain. By BBC News Online´s Jonathan Amos. The cave, which miners only discovered 13 years ago, sits above magma residing about a mile from the earth’s surface. Each crystal has a diameter of at least 12 feet and weights over 55 tons. Cave Of Crystals ‘Giant Crystal Cave’ Discovered By Chance In Mexico. ", All photos courtesy of Javier Garcia-Guinea, The next possibility is to drill a hole to fix a window in the geode to show the tourists. The cave located at the Naica Mine in the Mexican state is called Chihuahua. Penn State University. In 1887 a Mr. Gustav Heineman emigrated from Baden-Baden, Germany, to Put-in-Bay, Ohio, where he established a winery. Other, similar caves are nearby: the Ice Palace, Cave of Swords, Queen's Eye, and Candles Cave. Giant Crystal Cave was discovered in 2000 by miners excavating a new tunnel for the Industrias Peñoles mining company located in Naica, Mexico, while drilling through the Naica fault, which they were concerned would flood the mine. The Naica Mine of the Mexican state of Chihuahua, is a working mine that is … It was an eerie sight. Gypsum: It's the main ingredient in drywall and frequently added to the water when brewing pale ale and India pales. One day in 1910, the Peñoles Mining Company discovered a wondrous cave just 394 feet (120 meters) below the surface. We are always were academically ineligible after Mitch, who, in way to finish getting another half an ice and out. Situated near a mining area, the Giant Crystal Cave was discovered in the year 2000 by two miner brothers Eloy and Javier Delgado. Giant Crystal Cave in the Mexican Desert Kaushik Patowary Jul 25, 2010 17 comments Nearly 1,000ft below the Chihuahua Desert in Mexico, a gigantic cave was discovered by two brothers drilling in the Naica lead and silver mine in 2007-2008. Cave of Crystals “Giant Crystal Cave” at Naica, Mexico is all a form of Gypsum Discovered by chance, the secret Mexican crystal caves big enough to drive a car through. he made sense, since she know he was that his hair. The Giant Crystal Cave: a Mexican Wonder Underground, Cave-In-Rock, Illinois: A Natural Wonder With a Dark Past. 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. Formation of the crystals Naica lies on an ancient fault and there is an underground magma chamber below the cave. Later on, at the beginning of the 20th century, large scale mining began. It is located at a depth of 120 m, above the Cave of Crystals, and contains spectacular, smaller (1 m long) crystals. Links to more Sci/Tech stories are at the foot of the page. In the Naica mine dozens of large crystals have been lying for over a century. 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 huge giant crystals were discovered in 2000 after water was pumped out of the cave by a mining company. Almeria is little town with nice beaches just four kilometres from the mine and is well known to English holidaymakers. Mexico's Cave of Giant Crystals. Located just below the Naica Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico, this cave is literally ‘full’ of gigantic natural crystals that can easily overshadow anything that is about the size of a human. Situated in Chihuahua, Mexico nearly 1,000 feet below ground in the Niaca mine, Mexico’s Cave Of Crystals (known locally as La Cueva de los Cristales) contains some of the world’s most incredible crystals to date. Great article, I just found your website, you have great content ! "The crystals are absolutely transparent and perfect," he said. It lies almost 300 meters (900 feet) below the surface of the Earth and it contains the largest crystals known in the world, by far. The massive giant crystals were discovered in 2000 after water was pumped out of the cave by a mining company. giant crystal cave buildings This cave is estimated to be the size of a football stadium and the height of a two-story building. The Crystal Cave of Giants was accidentally discovered in 2000 by miners working in the silver and lead mine at Naica, Mexico. June 12, 2000 - BBC A gigantic cave of crystals has been discovered in an old silver mine in Spain. That is the superman’s house !! Even though the cave is singularly referred to as the Cave of the Crystals or the Giant Crystal Cave, it is made up of three co-joined cave chambers, one of which is much bigger than the other two. While the cave provides anyone with a once-in-a-lifetime view, staying there is nearly impossible without the proper equipment. Two of the miners, brothers Pedro and Juan Sanchez, were the first to see the crystals when they entered the drying cave on foot. The geologist has searched the international literature and can find no other object to compare in size. How the Crystal Caves Were Discovered . Just before the Naica mine was officially closed in 1911, the Giant Crystal Cave was discovered. The geode - essentially a rock cavity which has become lined with crystalline deposits - is eight meters in length, 1.8 metres wide and 1.7 metres high (26 feet by six by six). The giant cave crystal additionally known as caves of the crystals is a natural marvel situated in Chihuahua in Mexico. The legend says that selenite, which is gypsum crystal, provides people with healing benefits and makes people, who touch them look younger. The city of Chihuahua, Mexico, hides one of the world’s greatest treasures, which became a landmark for the location. In addition, we feature unusual hotels and restaurants. It lies beneath another smaller crystal cave that was discovered in 1910. Just before the Naica mine was officially closed in 1911, the Giant Crystal Cave was discovered. So clear, you can read text through the crystals. The crystals are said to be 500,000 years old and were formed from the underground magma (situated below the cave) which maintained the water at a stable temperature of 50°C, saturating it with minerals, including gypsum. Thank you. Required fields are marked *. A gigantic cave of crystals has been discovered in an old silver mine in Spain. Giant crystal cave discovered So clear, you can read text through the crystals. The Crystal Cave, 40 feet under ground, was discovered while workers were digging a well for the winery back in 1897. Your email address will not be published. Giant Crystal Cave's Mystery Solved. Later on, at the beginning of the 20th century, large scale mining began. Back in the 18th century, when silver was worth a lot in Mexico, the Naica mine was discovered, when workers struck a silver vein. Caverns discovered during mining operations contain crystals of selenite (gypsum) as large as 4 feet (1.2 m) in diameter and 50 feet (15 m) long. Im one of the giant crystal cave discovered prize. The giant geode may have formed at the same time as a geological event called the Messinian salinity crisis. Your email address will not be published. The same, salt-saturated fluids could have filled up the Spanish geode, which lies near the coast. It is speculated that at this level, transition temperatures may have fallen much more rapidly, leading to an end in the growth of the crystals. "Bending your body between the huge crystals is an incredible sensation," he said. A gigantic cave of crystals has been discovered in an old silver mine in Spain. In time, natural phenomena shaped them uniquely and the result is definitely amazing to anybody who gets to see them. Rumours of the existence of a giant gypsum geode had been circulating among mineral collectors since December. Since it was discovered, it has attracted the attention of different scientists and researchers from around the world, who have conducted research on the composition of crystals and the conditions of the environment in which they emerged. ... the cave was discovered by two miners excavating a new tunnel for the Industrias Peñoles company in 2000. Back in the 18th century, when silver was worth a lot in Mexico, the Naica mine was discovered, when workers struck a silver vein. In 1897 he dug a well beneath his winery and discovered a large vug at a depth of 30 feet (10 m). At this time, about six million years ago, the Mediterranean Sea evaporated, depositing thick layers of salts. Giant Crystal Caves. In 1897 he sank a well beneath his winery and discovered a … Giant Crystal Cave was discovered in April 2000 by miners excavating a new tunnel for the Industrias Peñoles mining company located in Naica, Mexico, while drilling through … After a period of scientific study, he hopes the cave can be turned into a major local tourist attraction. But it was only on 28 May that Javier Garcia-Guinea, from the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) in Madrid, finally managed to track down the cave. Some of the crystals are longer than telephone poles and 10 times as heavy. The Greek goddess of the moon, named Selenite, offered luck and emotional stability, which is why the Giant Crystal Cave is thought to be not only a spectacular, unique place, but also a magical one. Giant Crystal Cave was discovered in 2000 by miners excavating a new tunnel for the Industrias Peñoles mining company locat… It occupies a space of 10.7 m³ (8 m long by 1.8 m wide by a 1.7 m average high) and is located at a depth of 50 m in the Pilar de Jaravía lead mine, in the Sierra del Aguilón, in the municipality of Pulpí, coinciding with the sea level, 3 km from the coast. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); UnusualPlaces.org is your guide to quirky, weird and beautiful places to visit around the world. The mining complex in Naica … Crystal Cave. By BBC News Online's Jonathan Amos A gigantic cave of crystals has been discovered in an old silver mine in Spain. Since most of the crystals weight over 55 tons, they hold a record for the largest selenite crystals in the world. Normally flooded with water, ... Geologists discovered how the crystals formed by studying tiny pockets of fluid trapped inside them . 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