Post by L Roebuck on Feb 12, 2009 21:52:40 GMT -5
The Caves of Naica
Since it began operation in the late 1800s, the Naica Mine in Chihuahua, Mexico has proven to be one of the richest silver deposits in the world. In 1910, at a depth of 120 meters, a small cave was discovered. Named the Cueva de las Espadas (Cave of the Swords), this cave was completely covered with gypsum crystals, some reaching up to 2 meters in length. The cave was quickly stripped of a large part of its treasures, and many are exhibited today in mineralogical museums around the world.
In 2001, at a depth of 290 meters, three new caves were discovered that contained truly gigantic gypsum crystals. In one cave, the Cueva de los Cristales (Cave of the Crystals), even larger, very transparent gypsum crystals were discovered, some of which reach up to 12 meters in length and almost 2 meters in diameter, creating a true forest of crystals.
Full Article
A 2.469Mb PDF of this article with images as it appeared in the magazine
Since it began operation in the late 1800s, the Naica Mine in Chihuahua, Mexico has proven to be one of the richest silver deposits in the world. In 1910, at a depth of 120 meters, a small cave was discovered. Named the Cueva de las Espadas (Cave of the Swords), this cave was completely covered with gypsum crystals, some reaching up to 2 meters in length. The cave was quickly stripped of a large part of its treasures, and many are exhibited today in mineralogical museums around the world.
In 2001, at a depth of 290 meters, three new caves were discovered that contained truly gigantic gypsum crystals. In one cave, the Cueva de los Cristales (Cave of the Crystals), even larger, very transparent gypsum crystals were discovered, some of which reach up to 12 meters in length and almost 2 meters in diameter, creating a true forest of crystals.
Full Article
A 2.469Mb PDF of this article with images as it appeared in the magazine
