Cave of Crystals, Mexico
Entering this next cave is like preparing for a space walk. T e amount of protective gear you’ll need to wear is overwhelming. But all of it is essential. You’re about to enter a cave that’s
super hot. It’s about 44º Celsius. You slip into a vest that is layered with small
ice packs. A second vest prevents the ice from melting quickly. You step into a bulky orange jumpsuit. You put on boots, gloves, and helmet with a headlamp. Inside your helmet, you wear a respirator that blows cool air on your face. Even with all this protective gear, your tour
of the cave will last no longer than 20 minutes. T at’s all a body can take at these extreme temperatures before risking heat stroke. You’re already starting to sweat. T e deeper
you go, the hotter it gets. T at’s because this cave sits on top of a river of magma that’s about 1.6 kilometers below the surface. You’re entering the Cave of Crystals.
22 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER Miners looking for silver discovered the
cave. T is mine yields tons of lead and silver each year. T e geologic processes that create lead and silver also provide raw materials for crystals. As the miners were digging a new tunnel, they hammered into a chamber filled with enormous crystals. How did these crystals grow here, and why
are they so big? For hundreds of thousands of years, groundwater filtered through the limestone. T e water contained a mineral called calcium sulfate. Warmed by heat from the magma below, the minerals in the water began to form crystals. Leſt unchecked, they grew and grew. Now sharp as blades, these crystals jut out from the ceiling and fl oor. T e largest crystal found to date is 11 meters long and weighs 55 tons. Due to the cave’s challenging conditions, it remains largely unexplored. And sadly, your 20 minutes are up!
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