March 21, 2007: Giant crystal cave in Mexico

Hippie heaven!

[Griff]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Yeah, he's a real flamer.

I wonder if Sheldonrs knows him?

[glatt]

Originally Posted by glatt

Awesome! I'd seen pics of this cave a few years ago, but nothing like these. Thanks for posting the full sized ones.

Well, my sense of time is way off. It was last summer that I posted a link to pictures of this cave in the keen links thread. The pictures were nothing like this though. These images are amazing.

[Sheldonrs]

Originally Posted by Griff

I wonder if Sheldonrs knows him?

Probably. Do you have any pics of him from behind?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Gypsum? Grind 'em up and make drywall.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by Sheldonrs

Probably. Do you have any pics of him from behind?

oh shit! no you di'int!

[bluecuracao]

The crystals probably grew relatively quickly to their immense size within a completely liquid-filled cavern.

This made me think of an elementary school project my class did in the '70s, where you put minerals or chemicals in an aluminum pie plate with ammonia, and the next day the plate was filled with a bizarre sort of 'rock garden.' Anyone else do that?

They probably don't do that in school anymore--I bet there were a few kids who decided to taste it.

[melidasaur]

Originally Posted by seakdivers

Your name is Kal-El. You are the only survivor of the planet Krypton. Even though you've been raised as a human being, you are not one of them. You have great powers, only some of which you have as yet discovered.

coke just came out my nose due to a large laugh!!! thanks.

[BigV]

Admitting on the internet to snorting coke can be a career limiting move, melidasaur.... I'm just sayin...

[wolf]

If somebody sings at excatly the right pitch will the whole cavern begin resonating and then collapse, or will you just find the lost chord?

[Elspode]

Frankly, I don't believe that this place exists. This is obviously the result of some secret Mexican government miniaturization program. The subject has clearly stumbled into some salt spilled on a table...

[Karenv]

When entering the cave our group is issued helmets, lanterns, rubber boots, and gloves. We are then driven by truck into the main mining tunnel called Rampa Sn. Francisco. While the vertical drop is approximately 1000 feet, the drive is almost a half mile long. The heat steadily increases and the ladies could be observed to begin "glowing". The truck stops in front of a concrete wall with a steel door. I start working frantically to put the final touches on my pre-prepared camera outfit. I usually have four separate camera units, but they must be padded for the trip and then receive a last minute detail check. Every single item is preset before entering the cavern, as every moment inside is precious and concentration must be focused strictly on the crystals and people. The photographic machinery must work perfectly as the heat almost immediately begins to impair brain function.

At the end of the tunnel there are three or four steps into the aperture of the cavern itself. It is in this short tunnel that I move very quickly and concentrate on focusing my mind and that of my group on the task of photography. In this short distance the temperature and humidity goes from being uncomfortably warm to literally a blast furnace. Almost immediately our clothing is so soaked in sweat that it becomes heavy and starts to slide off our bodies. On my first trip it was really hard to keep my pants up, which was a new and unexpected experience.

Momentarily, the penetrating heat is forgotten as the crystals pop into view on the other side of the newly named "Eye of the Queen". The entire panorama is now lighted and the cavern has a depth and impressive cathedral-like appearance that was not visible on earlier trips with just our headlamps.

When inside the great cathedral of crystals, the pressure of intense heat makes my feelings run up and down the emotional scale from shear religious awe to outright panic. The ladies are no longer "glowing" and indeed are "red hot". When I'm done working after three trips into the great cavern, my friends almost have to carry me out. We want to see more, but physically cannot. When the experience is over there is a great relief, but all we can think about is when can we go back in.

When I talk to professional geologists about crystals they tell me that these natural forms are incredibly complex, yet so simple. They have a magical or metaphysical personality independent of their chemical structures. These geologists have explained to me that there is a magma chamber two to three miles below the mountain and that heat from this compressed lava travels through the faults up into the area of the mine. Super heated fluids carry the minerals the miners are seeking as well as form the crystals. The mine is ventilated; otherwise, it could not be worked. Some parts, however, are not air-conditioned, such as the Cave of the Crystals, and there you feel the heat from the magma deep below.

[Undertoad]

Jacquelita: Why is it so hot?

UT: *shrug* It must be, like, geothermical.

Jacquelita: Geothermical? That's not a word!

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by Karenv

When I talk to professional geologists about crystals they tell me that these natural forms are incredibly complex, yet so simple. They have a magical or metaphysical personality independent of their chemical structures. These geologists have explained to me that there is a magma chamber

I'm guessing that the highlighted bit is not from the gologists... hopefully.

[MayMayTheDancer]

That is so freaking AWESOME! I wasn't really impressed until I saw the guy in the seconde picture, but WOW!