There are many amazing and little-explored places on Earth that amaze the imagination. A striking example of this is the Cave of Crystals, the existence of which became known only in 2000. It is notable for being home to some of the largest natural crystals ever discovered on Earth. The cave is located in Mexico in the city of Nike at a depth of 300 meters. Perhaps humanity would never have known about its existence if it were not for the mine located nearby. While drilling a ventilation tunnel to it, the ore miners came across a hall that struck them with its beauty. The view of the cave is truly mesmerizing, but staying in it for more than 10 minutes is deadly.
Geologists explore the crystal cave. Photo source: www.livescience.com
Mine with the largest crystals
When researchers entered the mine in 2000, they discovered huge milky white crystals. The largest of them was 11 meters long and more than 1 meter wide. The crystals consist of selenite gypsum, a sulfate mineral formed from salts dissolved in groundwater. This mineral is very soft, so it can even be scratched with a fingernail.
It must be said that this is not the first cave with crystals discovered in Nike. Mining began here in 1974. Since then, several similar caves have been discovered. The first of them was the Cave of Swords, which is located 120 meters above the Cave of Crystals. It is filled with crystals from floor to ceiling, and their shape resembles daggers, hence its name.
The cave of crystals turned out to be the largest. Its width is about 110 meters, and its volume reaches 6 thousand cubic meters. The cave was formed in limestone rock and has the shape of a horseshoe.
Crystals the size of trees have formed in the cave. Photo source: www.nationalgeographic.com
How the Cave of Crystals came to be
The Cave of Crystals is located on a fault line above a magma reservoir, which is located in the bowels of the Earth at a depth of 3 to 5 kilometers. Scientists estimate that about 26 million years ago, magma began to rise from its reservoir, causing mineral-laden waters to rush up through cracks in the rock. The hot mineral solution eventually filled the cave, causing sediment to form.
Over thousands of years, these sediments crystallized as the water cooled. At one point the temperature stabilized at 58 degrees Celsius. This created ideal conditions for the growth of crystals from a mineral known as anhydrite. As a result, by the time the cave was discovered, the crystals were already the size of trees.
It must be said that about ten years ago, mine workers accidentally drilled into the aquifer, as a result of which water rushed into the mine, and it was flooded . However, the Cave of Crystals is located higher, so the water has not reached it, and is currently not in any way threatening it. This allows geologists to carry out their research without hindrance.
The crystals are covered with condensation and are very slippery
Why it is deadly to be in the Cave of Crystals
The cave had ideal conditions for crystal growth, but not for people. It's really dangerous to be there. The fact is that after the water left the cave, the temperature in it did not change, that is, it exceeded 50 degrees. At the same time, humidity reaches 90%. In the article about the wet bulb thermometer, we explained in detail the dangers of high humidity, when the temperature is higher than a person’s comfortable norm.
In short, sweating does not have a cooling effect, since the moisture does not evaporate or evaporates very slowly. This is due to the fact that the air already holds too much moisture. Therefore, a person quickly begins to overheat, which can ultimately lead to tragic consequences.
Therefore, a person can stay in the Crystal Cave for no longer than 10 minutes. For longer stays, special protective suits are required. In addition, as Live Scince reports, it is dangerous to walk in the cave because the crystals are covered with condensation and for this reason are very slippery.
You cannot stay in the Cave of Crystals for more than 10 minutes without special suits. Photo source: udivitelno.com
It is not surprising that given such extreme conditions, the Cave of Crystals is uninhabited, unlike many other caves where you can meet amazing animals. However, scientists suggest that microscopic crystal cavities filled with liquid may contain ancient microorganisms.
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It is quite possible that there are other caves in the area of the flooded mine. For example, in 2009, a new hall was discovered, called the “Ice Palace”. But the stalagmites here are the smallest and thinnest. This may be due to the fact that the cave is located at a depth of only 150 meters. Crystals are known to grow more slowly when they are not immersed in water, and their appearance without water also changes over time as they become increasingly dehydrated.