Deep in a mine in Southern Chihuahua Mexico, there is a cave with magnificent, gigantic crystals called the Crystal Cave of Giants. Now, thanks to Richard Fisher, you can take a look at some amazing photographs of this natural wonder:
When I first stepped into the cavern it was like walking into the Land of the Giants. I have often admired crystal geodes held in my hand, but when photographing these unique natural structures it was almost impossible to get any sense of scale.
This is a geode full of spectacular crystals as tall as pine trees, and in some cases greater in circumference. They have formed beautiful crystals that are a translucent gold and silver in color, and come in many incredible forms and shapes. Some of the largest are essentially columnar in shape and stand thirty to fifty feet high and three to four feet in diameter. Many of the smaller examples are four to six feet in circumference, have many incredible geometrical shapes, and probably weigh in excess of ten tons.
The columnar pillars are at first the most striking shape, but later I noticed there were thousands of "sharks teeth" up to three feet high placed row upon row and dispersed at odd angles throughout the caverns. While some of the crystals are attached to the ceiling walls and floors of the cave as might be expected, some exist in great masses of spikes and almost float in air. These crystals seem to defy gravity, as they must weigh several tons.
I stumbled upon the original site and am totally confused. Although the site seems legit, the size of these things seem too big from my understanding of crystal formation. Crystals coalesce slowly, from the inside out (so to speak) and bottom to top. They do not form like stalactites or stalagmites, where there is a dripping accumulation. It seems that a crystal of that length would break before becoming thick enough to sustain its own weight. I called a professor of geology at the local university. He had never heard of the caves and was also skeptical of their size. He didn't ask for the URL, though, so he never saw the photos. Regarding the photos, they do seem real at first, but now some seem to be doctored. I don't know...
Regarding the photos, they do seem real at first, but now some seem to be doctored. I don't know...
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/crystal-giants/shea-text