Crystal Cave

Most people know that I have a love of geology, specifically mineralogy and Karst Topography (caves, sinkholes etc.) I started writing why I love caves and minerals so much, but it got rather mushy... and nobody wants to read that! Anyway today I discovered these pictures of the "The Cave of the Crystals" (cueva de los cristales). WOW, I know that caves are magnificent but this cave really out did its self... it's the supermodel of caves. Some of these selenite gypsum crystals in this cave are over 12 meters large! The crystals were able to get so large because of a really warm temperature, water, and some remnant calcium sulphate left by volcanic activity millions of years before . The anti-chamber of the cave has an area called the cave of swords because of the 400ft deep walls of dagger shaped crystals (more naturally sized) from ceiling to floor. When the cave was discovered, it was used to mine gold, silver and copper and zinc, and the water (that was needed to grow the crystals) was pumped out. Scientist were able to study the cave (that's good) but some people have started to break and steal many of the crystals (that's bad) and it makes me sad. Hmmm, I didn't know that Superman's Fortress was underground in Mexico?!