Cave of Crystals in the Mexican state of Chihuahua (22 photos)

Crystal Cave (Cueva de los Cristales) - underground cavity in the Naica mine in the south of the Mexican state of Chihuahua, filled with the world's largest selenite crystals, reaching 15 m in length and 1, 5 m in diameter. The high temperature (about 60 ° C) and 100% humidity make it difficult to access for tourists, but there is still climbing ...






Naica - operating mines of lead, zinc and silver.



Located at a depth of 300 meters the cave was discovered in 2000 by two miners - Sanchez brothers, burivshimi new tunnel for the Industrias Penoles. Affected finding brothers immediately reported it to the responsible engineer, Roberto Gonzalez. Gonzalez realized that they had discovered a real treasure, and quickly changed the route of the tunnel.



At this stage, a few crystals were damaged, as miners tried to pick up the pieces with a megacrystals, so the company quickly established an iron door to protect the find.



Later, one of the workers, with the intention of stealing crystals, climbed through a narrow opening. He took a plastic bag filled with fresh air. But this strategy has not worked. He lost consciousness and was later found completely baked.



Subsequently, it was found close to another such cavity smaller - Cave of Swords.



Selenite - a kind of plaster, wherein the characteristic of parallel-fibrous structure.



The name of selenite received a beautiful yellow-silvery moonlight play on the surface (in ancient Greece the moon goddess Selene was called).



The softness of selenite makes it a magnificent stone cutting.



It is believed that a variety of figures from selenite help in love, give eloquence and persuasiveness. In the East of selenite do not cut articles. There he considered the "spiritual stone" whose soft subtle vibrations purify and soothe the mind, sets it to the perception of higher cosmic forces.



Megacrystals selenite were formed by hydrothermal fluids emanating from the caves located below.













Without special equipment a person can be in a cave no more than six to ten minutes, and then heat stroke can occur and loss of consciousness.