Naica Mine

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The Naica Mine of the Mexican state of Chihuahua is a working mine that is known for its extraordinary selenite 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.

Contents

[edit] The Crystal Cave of Giants

Also known as the Cave of Crystals (Cueva de los Cristales) is a chamber approximately 1000 feet down in the limestone host rock of the mine. The chamber contains giant selenite crystals, some of the largest natural crystals ever found.[1]. The selenite 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.

[edit] The Cave of Swords

The Cave of Swords is another chamber in the Naica Mine, containing similar large crystals.

[edit] References

  1. ^ National Geographic, 2007. [1] Giant Crystal Cave's Mystery Solved

[edit] External links

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