Naica Mine
4 · 2 H
2O) in the most spectacular Naica cavern, found during mining. Note the size of the person at the bottom right for the scale.
The Naica Mine of the
4 · 2 H
2O (calcium sulfate dihydrate, gypsum, also sometimes called selenite. Peñoles announced in October 2015 that it was indefinitely suspending operations due to uncontrollable flooding at the Naica Mine.[6]
The peak underground air temperature was 58°C (136°F) with 100%
Cave of the Crystals
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Naica_Ubicaci%C3%B3n_de_las_cuevas_en_la_mina.jpg/310px-Naica_Ubicaci%C3%B3n_de_las_cuevas_en_la_mina.jpg)
The Cave of the Crystals is a cave approximately 300 m (1,000 ft) below the surface in the limestone host rock of the mine, about 109-metre (358 ft) long, with a volume of 5,000 to 6,000 cubic metres (180,000 to 210,000 cu ft).
The selenite crystals were formed by
Reports in 2017 stated that scientists had found "long-dormant microbes" in the crystals and removed them for further research. The cave was closed in 2015 and some of the chambers were allowed to flood again to continue the process of crystal growth.[11] If the mining company decides to open another entrance, researchers might again enter to continue their work, according to a February 2019 report.[12]
The Cave of Swords
The Cave of Swords (Cueva de Espadas) is the second-largest chamber in the Naica Mine, at 104-metre (341 ft) long, with a volume of 1,400 cubic metres (49,000 cu ft).[7] It also contains gypsum crystals that are each about a meter long, due to the fact that these crystals are younger and had been growing for much less time by the time they were discovered in 1910.[9]
Gallery
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Selenite crystals from Naica mine. Scale unknown.
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Sphalerite and galena ore specimen from the Naica mine. Size: 4.7 cm × 3.6 cm × 2.6 cm (1+3⁄4 in × 1+1⁄2 in × 1 in).
References
- hdl:10261/3439.
- PMID 21911400.
- ^ "The Naica Mina". Archived from the original on 25 November 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Inicio". Industrias Peñoles (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ Maple mine, known also as Naica, "under Peñoles control since 1964.", Corporate mining operations, Retrieved June 15, 2019.
- ^ "Penoles suspends operations at Naica mine in northern Mexico". Reuters. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
- ^ a b c Badino, Giovanni; Sanna, Laura (1 July 2009). "The Naica caves survey". International Congress of SpeleologyProceceedings: 1764–1769. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ National Geographic, 2008. Cavern of Crystal Giants.
- ^ a b National Geographic, 2007. Giant Crystal Cave's Mystery Solved.
- ^ "Danger and wonder in Nat Geo's "Giant Crystal Cave"".
- ^ "Naica's crystal caves hold long-dormant life". BBC News. 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "Naica's crystal cave captivates chemists". Chemical & Engineering News. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Naica mine at Peñoles
- Naica Mine at Mindat.org
- Naica Project, comprehensive website on the Crystal Caves with geology, history, photos and videos
- "Naica Crystals Project". Archived from the original on 2007-01-07.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - Let's Talk about Crystallization in the Naica Mine, at Wikijunior books for children