Accidentally Discovering a Giant’s Treasure Trove: Exploring Mexico’s Crystal Caves

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network Editorial Department Compiled Report
 

In 2000, two Mexican miners accidentally discovered a cave resembling an alien world while digging an underground tunnel. The cave was filled with numerous and massive crystal pillars, the largest of which measured up to 11 meters in length and weighed 55 tons — truly astonishing.

The Naica Crystal Cave is a horseshoe-shaped limestone cavern approximately 10 meters wide and 30 meters long — about the size of a basketball court. Located nearly 300 meters beneath the Naica Mine in Mexico’s Chihuahua Desert, it is the world’s largest underground crystal cave. The crystals grew at an incredibly slow rate of 0.02 mm per year due to the long-term exposure to high temperatures and mineral-rich water. It took one hundred thousand years for the crystals to reach heights of ten meters.

Most of the crystals found in the cave are square-shaped and relatively softer compared to typical crystals. These stunning formations can grow as tall as 11 meters and develop at irregular angles. The cave is divided into two main zones, and the shape of the crystal pillars varies depending on their proximity to the magma — forming either square or pillar-like structures. Additionally, although the photos may look cool, the actual underground environment is extremely close to molten rock, resulting in indoor temperatures as high as 58°C and humidity nearing 100%. Staying inside for more than ten minutes can be life-threatening, so visitors must wear specially designed cooling suits and even carry heavy air-cooling devices on their backs.